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RAM Troubles

B

Boscolio

n00b
Joined
Sep 1, 2004
Messages
11
I just put together a new computer.
I had the intention of overclocking it, but I'm having soo much trouble with the RAM that I don't know what to do! I'm not particularly experienced at overclocking, so I'm hoping that I'm overlooking something simple.

Here's the pertinent specs:

Motherboard: ASUS P5N32-E SLI Plus
CPU: Q6600 (GO)
Cooler: Thermalright Ultra-120
RAM: Crucial Ballistix Tracer (2x1GB), DDR2 1066

Now, according to Crucual's website: http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=BL2KIT12864AL1065
The timing is 5-5-5-15 and the nominal supply voltage should be 2.2V.

When I use these settings in my BIOS and I set my FSB to 1066 and divider to 1:1 (all other settings AUTO), I cannot post. I actually played around for awhile and eventually got the system to POST by switching RAM slots to channel B (have no idea why that did anything), but the farthest it ever made it is my drive detection before freezing.

The computer is rock solid with the RAM at 800 to 900 mhz.

Is there something that I'm overlooking?! Plenty of people have said that this RAM has tons of head room --1200 mhz, but I can't even get it to run within spec.

Anyone have any ideas? Do I simply have to send the RAM back? Not having another computer system that I can test the RAM in is limiting me. I'd hate to believe it's any other component (especially mobo since I've installed an OEM version of Vista).

Thanks...
 
Make sure you have the latest bios.

Download and burn a memtest86+ CD or make a boot floppy.

From the bios main menu "Load Optimized Defaults"

Then:
Reduce your cpu mulitplier to its lowest possible setting to take the cpu out of the equation by running it as slowly as possible.
(BIOS and I set my FSB to 1066 ) that is a 266 FSB and at 9 x runs the cpu at 2.4 so if there is a heatsink problem it could be the cause. doubt it but /shrug trying to figure this stuff out when one is not in front of the computer is a crap shoot anyway.


set timings and memory voltage per the manuf specs.
all other voltages to auto or defaults.
disable any "sli ready" or memory performance settings to defaults or "normal"

set you FSB to 400MHz (1600) memory mulitplier/divider to 1:1 (this should show an effective memory speed of 800MHz which is a memory underclock.
test both sticks in channel A
if it fails test both sticks in channel B
if they pass B but not A I would suspect an issue with the MB.
If they pass in A and B - change the memory mulitplier/divider to whatever you have available to make the memory run at it's stock 1066 speed and repeat.
Repeat all tests on one stick at a time. take notes.

With the trouble you are having I would think one pass of memtest would do and at the 400MHz setting you report it is stable so maybe just the first 3 tests of a pass of memtest would do.

mark one stick with a peice of tape so you can tell them apart.

Consider raising the NB voltage on a fail indication and retest to see if it helps.

You could also consider using a much lower FSB for testing and the higher available memory mulitpliers to run the memory at speeds (by varying the FSB with a high mulitplier ) between 800 and 1066 ,
 
This morning I turned the multiplier way down and put the RAM at 1066 mhz. My computer would not post. This leads me again to the conclusion that there's something wrong with the RAM. Do you concur?

My motherboard FSB options refer to memory ratios... When I choose the 1:1 option with 1066 FSB, it sets my RAM speed to 1066 (533*2). This seems to be counter-intuitive; according to every article I've read about overclocking the C2Ds the 1:1 option should set my ram to 533 (266*2).
 
My motherboard FSB options refer to memory ratios... When I choose the 1:1 option with 1066 FSB, it sets my RAM speed to 1066 (533*2). This seems to be counter-intuitive; according to every article I've read about overclocking the C2Ds the 1:1 option should set my ram to 533 (266*2).
Click to expand...

I agree, however the Nvidia boards have the ability to link and unlink memory speed to CPU FSB speed. I am guessing you have another setting that needs to be 'adjusted".

The best way to determine if ram is bad is with memtest. But before going to all that work it is important to make sure all the bios settings are correct and the above leads me to think something is still not set up correctly.


Here is the nvidia OCing guide

http://www.nvidia.com/docs/CP/45121/nforce_680i_sli_overclocking.pdf
 
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