RAM Issue...How to Proceed?

[Naja]

Hi Everybody,

Got a small Ram issue here. 4x1GB sticks Ballistix 4-4-4-12 PC6400 800mhz. All 4 sticks have been checked with Memtest overnight--they all come up with zero errors.

Basically, its a timing issue w/ all 4 sticks in. Up to 3 sticks runs great at 800mhz and 4-4-4-12. However, when using the 4th stick--everything goes to crap.

With all 4 sticks in and set to 800mhz and 4-4-4-12--I just get a constant reboot.

I can lower it to 266 (from 333) and set it to 4-4-4-12 and everything seems fine.
I can leave it at 333 and set it to 5-5-5-15 and everything seems fine.

The Ram is sold as 4-4-4-12, but the bios default is 5-5-5-15. It has to be manually set in the bios to 4-4-4-12.

In Short: I don't know enough about these settings to choose the wisest route. I need to "lower" something, but what would be the best choice...?

E8400
Asus P5E-VM HDMI
Ram above
Asus 8800GT
Corsair 620HX
Seagate 7200.11 500GB x2

[shadowpr]

The easiest is to just lower the speed, and leave the timings alone.

I had similar problems when I had 4x1gb, and went from 800 to 667 and all the problems went away.

[Naja]

Thanx for the input, but I'm wondering about this CPU-Z Timing Table--doesn't look right to me:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...nShot010-1.jpg

The Timings are different, the voltages are different.....

What say You....?

[shadowpr]

I would set the timings manually in bios and the voltage to whatever the sticks are rated at.

Then just lower the speed one notch.

I have heard that you can leave the speed at 800 and try upping th voltage a notch and that might work, but I didn't feel it was worth it for me. That's why I just lowered the speed one.

[Naja]

I set the voltage manually to 1.8 and nothing has changed in the CPU-Z timing table--still 2x 1.8v and 2x 2.2v.

I haven't gotten into OCing yet--was planning that in the not so distant future. For now, I been busy with other stuff. Guess its time for a crash course in Ram!

The 333 and 266mhz that I was refering to are for the "FSB Strap to Northbridge".

I just don't understand the differences in the timing table......

[Naja]

Ok, the rated voltage is 2.20v. I've set it to 2.20v and nothing in the timing table has changed--nothing.

Not sure if this matters, but here's a screenshot from "My Computer" properties:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...nShot011-1.jpg

What's the Physical Address Extension? Does that have anything to do with running the 4GB in 32-bit XP?

My other PC shows 3.20GHz with only 2GB of DDR......

[shadowpr]

The timing table merely shows the different timings at different frequecies. On the top there is a box that you can choose which slot to look at. Don't really pay that much mind.

If your voltages, and timings are manually set in bios, run memtest and see if stable, if not, then just lower the speed.

[Naja]

Ok, I lowered the settings to 5-5-5-15. I tried different things and that works fine--so far. I just spend 1.5 hrs on MS Flight Simulator and didn't have any issues. So, I guess for now--I'll just leave it the way it is...

Next, I ordered 2x (2x1GB) "kits". Kit 1=Good, NPs, passed memtest overnight, no sweat. Kit 2=1 bad stick. RMAed the kit and received the replacement yesterday. I ran just those 2 sticks yesterday and did memtest overnight--no errors. As far as I can tell--all 4 sticks are good. Its a 4-way combo problem.

I'll run memtest again tonight with all 4 sticks in and see what happens......!

Thanx for sticking with me here......!

[shadowpr]

There are problems when running 4x1gb configurations. That's one reason I always recommend 2x2gb.

Here is a thread I made when I had that problem: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=187690

I have since swithed to 2x2gb on this rig.

[Naja]

I wanted to go with the 2x2GB for several reasons, but just couldn't pass up the price of the 4x1GB (~$17/GB after rebate).

I just got done running about a 5 hr test with all 4GB in and set to 5-5-5-15--everything is fine. I got it running at the 4-4-4-12, but I could tell that I would have random problems--so, I'll just leave it at the 5-5-5-15. I also played with the voltage. Its rated at 2.2v, but apparently (according the various newegg reviews) it doesn't need that much voltage and that's when people start seeing a lot of failures. Mine's now set at 1.98v. I may lower it a bit, but I'll leave it there for right now.....

Here's a Screenshot

I also did the "memory Remapping" so now the bios shows the full 4GB. Is that anything that I need to be concerned about?




.

[shadowpr]

As long as the voltage is within specs, you should be good. If all 4gb shows in bios, and it passes memtest, then you're good.

EDIT: What are you test the ram with? I recommend this: www.memtest.org

[Naja]

MemTest 3.6

It runs in windows without having to deal with the boot floppy/CD......

[MaxRat]

if it was 2 seperate 2x1gig kits it may not play as nice as you think and may like the 5-5-5-15 timings better... the comand rate should be 2T for optimum

you may have to fine tune the secondaries to get it to play nice with 4-4-4-12 timings...

usually Max async latency will do it

[Naja]

Does the "Command Rate" have another name? I haven't seen it in the bios, so I have no idea how to adjust it....

Keep in mind that I've never gotten into OCing. I understand the general concepts, but get lost in the details. Its all gotten intertwined over the yrs and seems to have become somewhat of an art form.....

[MaxRat]

just look for a setting that will have 1T/2T and some even 3T

could be CPC or something else...seems some boards are labeled different...

[Naja]

Hi Maxrat,

I'm not seeing anything like that. In the bios>Advanced>JumperFree Configuration--I have the following that are all adjustable by "X DRAM Clocks":

DRAM Write Recovery Time
DRAM TRFC
DRAM TWTR
DRAM TRRD
DRAM TRTP

There is no "T" anything. Most of the other stuff deals with "spectrum" or voltages......

I assume its one of the above, but, heck, maybe "JumperFree" isn't were I need to be.....