New Build Woes

danza

danza

danza

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GAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!:(:mad::(

My PC went bang a few weeks back, so I've invested in new mobo/ram/CPU/video card/PSU to bring it back up to date(ish).


The new build is an AMD X2 based system (X2 4800+, MSI K9N Neo V3 http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K9N_Neo-F_V3&class=mb (NF 560)). I bought these from a competitor.

The memory I bought from hex on the MM here. He has good trust, so I doubt he's sent me 4 sticks of knackered RAM. It's 2x2gb Geil ULL PC6400 4-4-4-12 dual channel kits (the ones with orange heat spreaders, 4 sticks http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-058-GL).

I built it all up, checked, double checked then triple checked EVERYTHING. Twice.

Time comes to power on. Fans whir up and stay at 100%. Blank screen, nothing. Power off/on then gets to the windows login screen and freezes. Reset and into bios I go. The RAM likes 2.1V, but the mobo defaults to 1.9. I cranked up the voltage to 2.1, but bios freezes before I can exit. After a few more tries, I managed to change/save the voltage to 2.1V. Made no difference at all. I also tried 2.15V, but the same happens. CPU voltage is fine all the time.

Cue numerous attempts to boot using all combinations of sticks of RAM in different slots, but to no avail. The PC either hangs at POST, the bios screen, or flashes a BSOD just as the XP loading screen appears, and resets itself. All 4 sticks of RAM sometimes gets me to the log in screen, but it just hangs there. No other combination gets past the BSOD as mentioned.

The only solution I can think of is to buy a different mobo (one that's known to work with the Geil) and some dirt cheap RAM and try to eliminate the problem.

Any thoughts?
 
What power supply are you using? if it's not clreaing the POST screen it could be that the rails are not staying at constant volts, or there isn't enough power.
 
It's a brand new Jeantech 600W modular jobbie. It's well reviewed, and I've been using it in a lower spec PC for a couple of weeks with no problems.

If it weren't for my dastardly Hiper Type R going pop, I wouldn't be in this mess!
 
Well I've ordered a Gigabyte GA M57SLI mobo and a 2GB Corsair XMS2 kit.

I hope the Geil RAM isn't knackered :(
 
Hi m8

Sorry to hear you are having problems with the mem :(

It deffo needs 2.1V to be stable at 4-4-4-12 800Mhz, but the default mem timings set by the SPD are 1.8V 5-5-5-18 800Mhz which it should be fine at as well.

The mem was 100% A-OK when it left for the post office, it was in my rig chugging along at 833Mhz 4-4-4-12 @ 2.1V doing memtest with no problems only 15mins before I took it out to replace it with the G.Skill i'd just bought and packed it up to post out to you.

I can't see every stick dying during transit so it has to either be a compatability problem, or the mobo is fubar imho.

Is there a new bios for it at all that adds better memory compatability?

Let me know how you get on with that Gigabyte board as i've used that Geil in a DS3 and a DQ6 with no fuss, and it was in a P5K-E after that.

I hate it when things don't work as they should :(
 
I've built up a PC using the Geil stuff you sold me. It seems fine so far ;)

The first new mobo was dead AFAIK, I tried it with some Corsair XMS and it behaved just as badly. I built up a new system around a Gigabyte GA-M57SLI-S4 and all seems well so far.

That's the first (and last time) I buy an MSI motherboard, cheap or otherwise!
 
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