Programs and dual channel memory

[Azgir]

I'll give ya the rundown on my problem then ask some questions.

I play a game called Shadowbane. Recently I upgraded my MB, CPU, and memory. I put in an Abit NF7-S Mobo, 2600+ AMD, and 2 dual channel sticks of Golden Dragon. Then the trouble started. The game kept causing memory errors. I pulled out the sticks one at a time and found that the errors went away when I took out one of the sticks. I figured I would put it in again in the 3rd slot and the problems still didn't come back. So now I am snookered. Both sticks test fine on DocMemory. Both sticks work fine in slots 2 & 3.

Is slot 1 bad? Is there a way to test this?

Do programs control memory in such a way that there could be errors in Dual Channel mode or a particular slot that is the programs fault?

I don't really get problems in any other program but I think that has more to do with the fact that the game demands more of the computer and memory than any of my other programs.

Any help would be appreciated. I dont want to try and send the Mobo back just to find out it was the programs problem.

[doctorgonzo]

Have you messed around with memory timings in the BIOS? Could be set too agressively.

[Azgir]

I'll check to make sure.

Why would the timings make a difference in one slot but not another?

[Karnevil9]

Check your Abits paperwork to see what memory slot has to be occupied for it to work. I believe on my Soltek it was slot 3 for one stick and slot 3 and either 1 or 2 to activate Dual Channel. You may have been using the wrong slots at first and the right slots now.

[morriswindgate]

I understand your problem. I recently built a machine using the Abit AN-7, two sticks of Kingston 3200, and an ATI 9600XT All-In-Wonder Video card.
When I tried to play Will Rock the game would start, but the moment that the enemies started poping up the game would crash. Game Patches, Video Driver Updates, and working with the settings on the RAM and Video card did not solve the problem.
I feel that the problem lies with the combination of the NForce2 chipset and PC3200 DDR or they have a compatability problem with the high end ATI video cards (which I would not doubt one minute) or a combination of both. I have built systems using the NForce with PC2700 and they ran fine, but there was something about them I just did not like, nothing I could put my finger on, more like a feeling from watching things work.
I solved my problem by selling the board and using an ASUS board with a VIA KT600 chipset and now everything works fine.
I don't trust NVidia one bit and feel that there is more hype than susbstance when it comes to their chipsets and video chips. I have built a bunch of systems using via based boards dating back to the kt133 without any problems in stability or hardware compatability problems. I am through with NForce boards like I was tharough with GForce video cards.

[Azgir]

Yes, I was in dual channel mode to begin with but now I am not. Unfortunately, I am using PC3200 like the above poster.

Would timings make a difference between dual channel and non-dual channel?