Higher Clock Memories runs unstable
Hi,
Got this strange problem with my system...
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3P
Intel E8400 (Not overclocked)
Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800MHz 4x1GB
Antec TPQ850W
Galaxy EN8800GT 512MB
500GB HDD
Windows XP Pro SP3
....
Anyway, i was trying to upgrade my memory from PC6400 800 to PC8500 1066MHz (same capacity e.g. 4x1GB) . But unfortunately encountered stability issues using 1066MHz, erratic Hanging on either BIOS , Windows Startup and even doing normal stuff on windows (e.g netsurfing, downloading, etc...) Tried running memtest on PC8500 memory (one at a time, then all connected) but it all passed (on at least 2 passes).
And when i placed back my PC6400 everything runs normally again (i.e. no instability). I've searched through Corsair knowledgebase but could not find same scenario.
Has anyone experienced this problem/s? Was it solved? Any ideas where to check next after memtest?
Got this strange problem with my system...
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3P
Intel E8400 (Not overclocked)
Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800MHz 4x1GB
Antec TPQ850W
Galaxy EN8800GT 512MB
500GB HDD
Windows XP Pro SP3
....
Anyway, i was trying to upgrade my memory from PC6400 800 to PC8500 1066MHz (same capacity e.g. 4x1GB) . But unfortunately encountered stability issues using 1066MHz, erratic Hanging on either BIOS , Windows Startup and even doing normal stuff on windows (e.g netsurfing, downloading, etc...) Tried running memtest on PC8500 memory (one at a time, then all connected) but it all passed (on at least 2 passes).
And when i placed back my PC6400 everything runs normally again (i.e. no instability). I've searched through Corsair knowledgebase but could not find same scenario.
Has anyone experienced this problem/s? Was it solved? Any ideas where to check next after memtest?
SOLUTION
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Specs on that board are:
1. 4 x 1.8V DDR2 DIMM sockets supporting up to 8 GB of system memory
2. Dual channel memory architecture
3. Support for DDR2 1200 (O.C.)/1066/800/667 MHz memory modules
So, it should be good with that RAM, based on your description.
However, if what the folks above noted doesn't work (it should), it may be a case of BIOS burn-in. There are a lot of claims that BIOS burn-in doesn't happen, but I've seen it far too many times to discount it. The BIOS gets stuck, for whatever reason, on a particular memory and/or CPU configuration, and will not change. Sometimes a BIOS update will correct this. Sometimes a complete CMOS clearing will. But, most often, when I've seen it, the only option was to leave things the way they were.
1. 4 x 1.8V DDR2 DIMM sockets supporting up to 8 GB of system memory
2. Dual channel memory architecture
3. Support for DDR2 1200 (O.C.)/1066/800/667 MHz memory modules
So, it should be good with that RAM, based on your description.
However, if what the folks above noted doesn't work (it should), it may be a case of BIOS burn-in. There are a lot of claims that BIOS burn-in doesn't happen, but I've seen it far too many times to discount it. The BIOS gets stuck, for whatever reason, on a particular memory and/or CPU configuration, and will not change. Sometimes a BIOS update will correct this. Sometimes a complete CMOS clearing will. But, most often, when I've seen it, the only option was to leave things the way they were.
ASKER
Got interested on Coral's suggestion. Tried it and didn't experience problem after windows started up but still got the erratic hanging during BIOS start-up. Haven't totally figured it out but anyway, will try clearing CMOS tonight (Knoxzoo's suggestion) and retry Coral's suggestion again.
By the way, i'd really appreciate the explanation you guys gave. Seems that there so much i don't understand yet when it comes to memory.
By the way, i'd really appreciate the explanation you guys gave. Seems that there so much i don't understand yet when it comes to memory.
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SOLUTION
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ASKER
Goodie...Goodie...Goodie..
Thank you much. : )
While it looks like this mobo doesn't mind 4 sticks of 800 ram, the 1066 is stressing the memory bus,
You can usually fix this by manually loosening the ram timings one step and raising the voltage .05 to .1 higher.
example: if the specs on the 1066 ram is 5-5-5-12 @ 2.2 volts, go into the bios and set it to 6-6-6-12 or 15 @ 2.25 / 2.3 volts.
With unbuffered memory, every memory chip (16 per module with double-sided modules) represents one load on the address and data bus drivers ... with 4 modules that's 64 loads !! The square wave looks more like a very sick sine wave at that point ... with very poorly defined transitions. For a bit more detail, play Item #10 in this presentation:
http://www.corsairmemory.com/memory_basics/index.html