3GB works 4GB Doesnt! :S ???

CorannFaun · 15 Jan 2008 at 16:52

hello all,

I have a really odd problem, i have just bought an additional 2GB of GEIL 800MHZ RAM to add to my other 2GB in the following system.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Nvidia 8800GTX 768mb
ASUS P5N-E SLI
3GB/4GB GEIL 800MHz RAM
TAGAN 600W Power Supply

Now I have tested all RAM slots and all ram sticks and they all work fine but the problem is when i install all 4GB of RAM the computer starts up and then does nothing but displays a black screen! Not BIOS nothing. If i take just 1 GB of RAM out it works fine no problem!

I have checked the Voltage, i have reset the CMOS, checked the MOBO manual (capable of up to 8GB) and i have done a lot of research as to why this could happen and i am stumped.

Does anyone have any idea how i could fix this!

Any help would be greatly Appreciated.

Thanks all.

Corann.

LLBDTiberio · 15 Jan 2008 at 16:53

Are u running 32bit or 64bit windows?
4GB only works in 64bit windows im afraid.

misterPK · 15 Jan 2008 at 16:56

LLBDTiberio said:
Are u running 32bit or 64bit windows?
4GB only works in 64bit windows im afraid.

Surely that would only affect the amount of useable ram the system can see, not stop it from POSTing all together?

I know you say you've checked it, but it does sound like a RAM voltage issue to me. Might be worth another look. What voltage is your RAM rated at and what does it say in the bios?

PK!

CorannFaun · 15 Jan 2008 at 17:06

Well i have x64 OS but the point is it doesn't even get to the OS xD plus 4GB of RAM in a x32 OS shows as 3.2GB.

The voltage settings are at Auto at the moment the RAM should be at 1.2v (Sound Right?) there are so many settings i don't want to destroy anything so if i check and see what settings are available will you be so kind and to tell me what to change?

That would be awsome.

Thanks for the Replys.

Corann.

jdat17 · 15 Jan 2008 at 17:13

Im no expert but I think the RAM should be at 1.8v - 2.2v!

That sounds like it could be your problem!
J

mattyrigby00 · 15 Jan 2008 at 17:16

try +0.1v on the RAM and northbridge

DavidB · 15 Jan 2008 at 17:22

Are u running 32bit or 64bit windows?
4GB only works in 64bit windows im afraid.

Yeh, for the record thats wrong, im currently able to use 3.5gb in xp32bit.
Sounds like its a RAM voltage thing, just put it up a notch. Is the system overclocked at all ?

CorannFaun · 15 Jan 2008 at 17:26

Ok i am confused:

the RAM should be at 1.8v - 2.2v

---

try +0.1v on the RAM and northbridge

Are the not very different settings? And whats the worse that could happen if i change it wrong?

And also on the RAM sticks it says VOLTAGE: 2.1v

Thanks again.

Corann.

CorannFaun · 15 Jan 2008 at 17:56

ok...

I went into BIOS and did:

Advanced --> Voltage Control

And set the following Settings:

VCore Voltage = [Auto]
Memory Voltage = [2.178V]
NB Core Voltage = [Auto]
VCore offset Voltage = [Auto]

This did not solve my problem. What other settings could i try?

Thanks all again!

Corann.

slowrunner · 15 Jan 2008 at 19:49

Find out what the NB voltage is under the auto setting, then set it manually but add a little to it.

Cob · 15 Jan 2008 at 20:28

Add 0.1v to the NB Core voltage.

CorannFaun · 15 Jan 2008 at 21:06

Excelent i will try this soon thank you very much!

Corann.

CorannFaun · 15 Jan 2008 at 21:22

Ok i have had a look but it doesnt say what voltage it is currently at just says it is on [Auto] is there any other way to find out?

It then gives the following NB power Voltage options:

[1.208V]
[1.393V]
[1.563V]
[1.748V]

So how can i just add 0.1V?

Sorry about all these questions never done anything like this before and im very carfull lol.

Thanks all again.

Corann,

Greenlizard0 · 16 Jan 2008 at 01:21

Let us know if you solve this problem. I had exactly the same thing happen to me, and as a result I'm stuck on 3GB with an empty slot on XP32. I had concluded that after doing lots of testing that I must have had a faulty RAM slot - as like yourself all four modules worked in the other three slots.

PhillyDee · 16 Jan 2008 at 07:47

I couldnt use 4x1gb of geil ull in my gigabyte ga-965p-ds3 without massive stability issues. Memtest failed all over the shop, but testing the sticks individually, in all slots one at a time (Took 3 days :s) showed that it wasnt a faulty stick or slot. It stumped me, so i sold them and bought 2x2gb ocz instead. Even tried a different mobo and had the same problem. I tried lower / higher volts on the ram / northbridge etc.

mp260767 · 16 Jan 2008 at 13:47

CorannFaun said:
It then gives the following NB power Voltage options:

[1.208V]
[1.393V]
[1.563V]
[1.748V]

Go for 1.563, 1.748 would be ok to try and see if it boots but i wouldnt run the system at that would get a bit too warm for my liking on normal cooling.

slap ed · 16 Jan 2008 at 16:31

hi ,
if its 64 bit vista you need microsoft patch kb 929777
put a clean install off vista on using just 2gb off ram apply the patch then add the rest off your ram and bobs your uncle

uv · 16 Jan 2008 at 16:46

have you looked to see if you have the latest BIOS revision?

PhillyDee · 16 Jan 2008 at 16:59

slap ed said:
hi ,
if its 64 bit vista you need microsoft patch kb 929777
put a clean install off vista on using just 2gb off ram apply the patch then add the rest off your ram and bobs your uncle

That will not work as the machine will not post with more than 1 stick.

Darg · 16 Jan 2008 at 17:10

Hi, I actually have exactly the same board and 4x1GB of Geil RAM as well and it works perfectly fine with me. I have my NB voltage set to 1.563V I think. I had it at that anyway as I was overclocking previously so when I put my 2 new sticks in they worked fine.

I have them at 900mhz at C4 latencys. Excellent sticks.