Computer will not run at full 400Mhz.

[murdoc60]

I have just built my first computer.....it is running fine with the RAM speed at 300Mhz. And that is the problem!

POWER SUPPLY: 485W
MOTHERBOARD: Mach Speed N2PAP LITE nForce2 Socket A
CPU: AMD Athlon XP 3000+ 400Mhz
RAM: 2 x 512MB DDR PC3200 (400Mhz) - PNY OPTIMA Memory
VIDEO CARD: Asylum GeForce FX 5200 (256MB PCI Card)
OS: Windows XP PRO

The motherboard, CPU, and RAM, are all suppose to run at 400Mhz. I checked for BIOS updates, I have the latest version, downloaded utilities and check and tweaked the RAM's CAS Latency, precharge, RAS to CAS, and RAS active time. Call the motherboard manufacturer and test my first set of RAM that wouldn't run right, determined that one of the sticks was mislabeled at 333Mhz. Updated drivers for the motherboard itself. If the memory is set at 300 or 333 the processor will function at 400Mhz. If I set the memory to 400 the processor will only operate at 333 or below. Although 300Mhz makes the system more stable, less power down/restarts. One stick of 512 DDR400 (PC3200) will work fine at 400Mhz while running the CPU at 400Mhz. I am at a loss......that is why I bought the components, so my system will run at 400 all around. Please, any help would be appreciated at this point.

Thank you,
Chris.

[wedor]

I am not familiar with that board but I have had problems in the past running a lot of fast memory with too small of a PSU, how many watts is yours?

[murdoc60]

The unit itself says MAX. OUTPUT POWER IS 485W. But the specs say the wattage is 425, I think.

And thanks for replying, any help you can give is great!

[Panama Red]

Just an off the wall observation. That cpu is available as both 400FSB and 333FSB. Is it possible you were sold the wrong cpu? How is it identified when the bios is at default settings? Even if it was 333, I'm not sure what the effect would be. Just grabbing at straws here.

[Markoman01027]

Do you know the brand of the power supply?
You should take a look at your invoice from the store you bought the CPU from, and like PR said, take a good look wheather it is the 400FSB version or the 333FSB.

[MaxRat]

If I am getting what your writing.....The one stick of memory was mislabled (it's actually a 333 stick)......

The reason it won't run right with one stick of 400 and one 0ff 333 is that you confusing the heck out of your board....

run the stick of ddr400 so your system will run at 400 like you want and send the 333 back for replacement....

since your cpu is a 400mhz bus you have to run memory with the same bus or higher or it confuses the chipset....it won't know to underclock one or overclock the other and it becomes a big mess.....simple...

This has nothing to do with the power supply.....swap out the ddr333 for another ddr400 and all will be fine....

[Panama Red]

Guess I was assuming the mislabeled memory was replaced with DDR400. Assumption based on the listed specs of "RAM: 2 x 512MB DDR PC3200 (400Mhz)". So now we need to ask, what are the specs of the memory you are using now?

[yellohut]

this may be a silly point... and forgive me if I'm off.. I just want to make sure we're covering all the bases.
in the bios the memory should be set at 200, (and then that's double to 400 because it's ddr)
I just want to make sure you're not inadvertantly overclocking your system.

[murdoc60]

Thanks for all the input.....I've been away, sorry for not replying sooner.

Okay, here we go. The bios setting is set to 200Mhz for both the chip and the memory.
I have replaced the memory with two brand new modules that are DDR400 (2 x 512 - PC3200).
The CPU is listed as a 400 FSB on the invoice and utility programs I have downloaded and checked it with also show it as 400 FSB, including the one from AMD.
And my board is a 400Mhz board.

Again thank you, I'm about to pull my hair out over this thing! :)

[Cricket]

The bios setting is set to 200Mhz for both the chip and the memory.That's the correct motherboard FSB speed for what you have. You have to remember that the RAM and CPU use DDR technology, so they're effectively doubling the motherboard FSB speed internally. 200MHz motherboard FSB speed equals 400MHz speed within the RAM and CPU...200MHz X 2 (because of the Double Data Rate technology) = 400MHz.

Nothing to worry about.

:) Cricket

[wedor]

Have you tried loading optimized defaults in the BIOS?

[murdoc60]

Yes I have tried that and it sets my memory at 166Mhz (333Mhz running) and the CPU at 200Mhz (400Mhz running).

[wedor]

I looked on the makers site but they are a bit lacking in info, the board also seems identical to a Jetway board of the same name.

[wedor]

The linability of the system to run with both modules installed leads me to think it's a power related issue, perhaps the board can't supply enough voltage to power the two DIMMs sufficiently at the same time.

I would try upping the RAM voltage slightly in the BIOS to see if that helps.

[murdoc60]

Thanks, I will try the voltage idea.......I will try to supply as much info as possible here too.

For the detailed specs from TigerDirect.com, where I purchased the board, please visit:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=672424&Tab=2&NoMapp=0

Thanks.

[murdoc60]

How high should I go with the voltage? I read 2.7 is a MAX. I tried to find the voltage limits for my RAM, but have not found them yet.

[Panama Red]

How high should I go with the voltage? I read 2.7 is a MAX. I tried to find the voltage limits for my RAM, but have not found them yet.

Only high enough to achieve stability. Remember that higher voltage means more heat. Put two sticks of ram near each other with no heat spreaders to act as a heat sink and no fan blowing directly on the ram slots and you have the potential for memory failure. See if you can contact the memory maker or supplier and get their recommendation on max voltage for your memory. Then keep their response on file in case you need it for a warranty claim. ;)

[wedor]

PR is correct, you only need to try raising it the minimum amount to see if it will A.) run and then B.) run stable.

If after raising it a few tenths it still doesn't post I would try cranking it up thinking more is better.

The specs posted by sombody trying to sell you something are rarely useful, it is mostly marketing propaganda, for real useful info always go right to the makers site, if it isn't there it likely doesn't exisit.