Asus Striker Extreme & 4x1GB Crosair Dominator

[GmanUK]

Hi

I am having a booting issue with my new Corsair Dominator (QUAD2X4096-8500C5DF version 1.2) Modules (4x1GB) and a Striker Extreme board (Vistax64).

I can run 2 modules without any issues, however as soon as I add the other 2 it gives me a BSOD upon boot up. Using Safe Mode I can see it crashes on crcdisk.sys driver.

The settings I used for the 2 modules are identical to the 4 modules but I have tried increasing and decreasing the voltages (from the 2.2v) and I have also tried by increasing the NB but no go.

To check this was a memory issue I have re-installed the OS and added all drivers one by one with a reboot in between, all work fine. The issue arises as soon as I add the 2 extra modules.

Just to note, this happens whether I try running the modules at 800 or 1066...using both 4-4-4-12/15 or 5-5-5-15/18.

I have ran Memtest (1.7) and the modules are all clear (2 passes no errors).

I am not overclocking the CPU in anyway or any other changes for that matter.

Has anyone got any ideas?

See quotes for more info -

BIOS Settings:

Version: 1305
FSB - Memory Clock Mode: Unlinked
x FSB - Memory Ratio: Auto
FSB (QDR), Mhz: 1333
Actual FSB (QDR), Mhz: 1333
MEM (DDR), Mhz: 800 (tried 1066)
Actual MEM (DDR), Mhz: 800

Vcore Voltage: Auto
Memory Voltage: 2.2v (tried AUTO & 1.9v-2.25v)
1.2v HT Voltage: 1.4v (tried AUTO & upto 1.45v)
NB Core Voltage: 1.5v (tried AUTO & upto 1.55v)
SB Core Voltage: Auto
CPU VTT Voltage: Auto
DDRII Controller Ref Voltage:auto
DDRII Channel A Ref Voltage:auto
DDRII Channel B Ref Voltage:auto

tCL (CAS Latency): 5
tRCD: 5
tRP: 5
tRAS: 15
Command Per Clock (CMD): 2 clock (2T)

Advance Memory Settings
tRRD: AUTO
tRC: AUTO
tWR: AUTO
tWTR: AUTO
tREF: AUTO
tRD: AUTO
tRFC: AUTO
Async Latency: AUTO

CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
MCP PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
SATA Spread Spectrum: Disabled
LDT Spread Spectrum: Disabled

CPU Internal Thermal Control: Disabled
Limit CPUID MaxVal: Disabled
Enhanced C1 (C1E): Disabled
Execute Disable Bit: Disabled
Virtualization Technology: Disabled
Enhanced Intel Speedstep Tech: Disabled
LDT Frequency: 5x

PCIEX16_1 Frequency (Mhz): 100
PCIEX16_2 Frequency (Mhz): 100
PCIEX16_3 Frequency (Mhz): 100
SPP<->MCP Ref Clock, Mhz: 200 (tried AUTO)

USB Legacy Support: Disabled (For Memtest)

Hardware Setup:

Motherboard:
ASUS Striker Extreme (BIOS 1305)
Processor:
E6850
Memory:
QUAD2X4096-8500C5DF
Video Card # 1:
BFG 8800GTS OC2
Video Card # 2:
BFG 8800GTS OC2
Hard Drive # 1:
Spinpoint T166 500GB RAID0
Hard Drive # 2:
Spinpoint T166 500GB RAID0
Hard Drive # 3:
Spinpoint T166 500GB
Optical Drive # 1:
SATA DVDRW
Power Supply:
Thermaltake Toughpower 1000W

 

[Cob]

Which OS?

*edit*


Duuuuurrrrr you said Vista x64 With only 2gb in download and install this Microsoft update. Reboot, then shut down and install the other 2gb.

 

[caithomas44]

this is a known problem as i remember with asus striker extreme, search for it on the asus forums

i was going to get a striker until so many people were talking about errors when trying to use 4gb pc8500.

will it boot with 2gb?

as i remember you had to sintall it with 2gb then update the bios, get windows vista patched and then plug in the extra 2gb

 

[GmanUK]

Thanks for the replies....

Will boot no problems with only 2GB installed.

I downloaded the 4GB Vista fix, installed with only 2GB, rebooted, shutdown...installed the other 2 modules...booted up and it BSOD at the same place

So sadly, still working on a solution....any other ideas?

 

[funksteruk2]

have you tried a slight increase in the memory voltages? that might be your problem. I know your not overclocking the machine but it might be worth a try

 

[GmanUK]

have you tried a slight increase in the memory voltages? that might be your problem. I know your not overclocking the machine but it might be worth a try

Yeah tried that. The voltage should be 2.2v for this RAM so tried 1.9v-2.25v with no change...also just to note that this board gives about .03v over what I choose in the BIOS....So in reality the memory has had from 1.93v to 2.28v.

 

[caithomas44]

hang on isn't that memory sli enabled? don't you need to turn on sli for memory in bios

 

[GmanUK]

No not SLI Ready RAM....now that would have been a damn nice quick fix

**EDIT**

In fact you are right...but Corsair call it EPP....same difference I think. However, you do not need to run it using SLI/EPP, it just helps with automatic overclocks of the ram.

 

[GmanUK]

I have stumbled on to something which might be useful....

After a lot of testing it seems that sometimes the system does boot up...however the settings in the BIOS do not seem to influence when it does boot up!! What I mean by this is that I can set everything to AUTO apart from the RAM Voltage and sometimes it will boot up...and sometimes it will even reboot back up OK too....however if I reboot back in to the BIOS and do not change anything, choose save changes and reboot...it BSOD's!! This is looking more like a hardware conflict with this motherboard every minute. I have read in quite a few places that these Striker Extremes can be a bit hit and miss.

I have just re-inputted all the above settings and it booted....however I then rebooted, made no changes whatsoever and it BSOD yet again!

I know that RAM is not showing any errors in Memtest and I know if I just use 2 sticks of RAM everything runs like a dream....and as stated above, I can use the exact same settings and it boots one minute, the next it will crash.

Does anyone know if this would happen if I had 4GB RAM but in 2 sticks rather than 4?

I'm very nearly going to give up with this motherboard AND memory!!

 

[GmanUK]

OK it looks like I have made a move.....

Will be looking at 2 x 2GB modules within the next few days.....had about enough dealing with 4 x 1GB issue. If I remember rightly someone did post before I made the purchase to buy 2GB sticks....never listen when at the right times!!!