BSOD with 4GB of ram

Robert1986

Robert1986

Robert1986

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My PC has been BSOD'ing on me with 4gb of ram. It works fine with 3gb.

- Windows Vista 64-bit Home Premium
- Intel Core 2 DUO E6600
- ASUS P5N32-E SLI PLUS Motherboard
- GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Kit
- G.Skill PK (2x1GB) PC2-6400 CAS4 Dual Channel Kit
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Any idea what the problem could be? Do I need to change anything in the BIOS?
 
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First thing to check is the ram voltage and then try upping the northbridge (MCH) voltage a notch.
And mixing different ram manufactures is typicaly a bad idea.
As it works with 3 sticks and not 4 I would lean towards needing more volts on the Northbridge to stabalise the memory controler.
 
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Leave the NB on auto.

You have mixed sticks despite they are both PC2-6400 sticks rated at a latency of 4, they might not quite match causing instability.

Make sure that the DRAM settings are on manual, change the VDIMM to 2.1v and the timings (at the moment) to 5-5-5-18.. This will cut some slack.

Try that as a starting point. If that works, then try 4-4-4-12. If that doesn't then you have a slightly lazy stick. Go back to 5-5-5-18.. will make little difference tbh.
 
I have a P5N-E SLI, and it has issues running 4 sticks of RAM at 800MHz. Perhaps your board has the same...check it on Google/your RAM manufacturer websites. Corsair has a lot about my mobo for example.

On mine I adjusted the speed to 667MHz in my BIOS, loosened the timings to 5-5-5-18. I've heard increasing the NB voltage by the smallest increment also helps some. It's the problem with mixing RAM and/or having an annoying mobo.

Hope this helps
 
Thanks for the help but I really unsure what to change in the BIOS. I didn't see anywhere to change the dram or vdimm let alone how to change the timmings.
 
First thing I would check is that you have the latest version of vista! When I first got vista I had to install an update to enable me to use 4gb of ram. If you have service pack 1 it will be part of that. :)
 
I managed to boot into windows with 4gb of ram without getting the BSOD. The 4th slot wont show in cpu-z though.

dvdo.jpg


vvdvv.jpg
 
Robert1986 said:
Thanks for the help but I really unsure what to change in the BIOS. I didn't see anywhere to change the dram or vdimm let alone how to change the timmings.
Click to expand...


You need to change the overclocking or Advanced settings from Auto to Manual. This will unlock other settings you can't see. You only need to change the VDIM or memory voltage to 2.1v first, then try that. Unless you change a setting, everything remains as auto so you can't upset anything.
 
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