OCZ Compatibility? Or new ram time??

Jamous · 27 Mar 2008 at 10:28

I have recently upgraded my motherboard from an Asus P5B Plus Vista, to this Gigabyte X38 DQ6, as *** Asus went back RMA.

I have 4gb of OCZ VX2 Ram PC8000 (1Ghz)

This ram worked fine in the Asus but I can only run with one stick (1gb) in the Gigabyte. I've tried upping the std (1.8v) to the OCZ spec of 2.3v but still the same; it will POST but then I get a black screen with writing about some windows kernel missing or other file missing (have just re-installed Vista due to mptherboard) or it boots into windows for about 1 second then blue screen and re-boots.
Works completely fine with 1gb ram fitted. I thought something was wrong with my build until lastly I tried the ram. lol

Am I missing something or do I need to buy new ram? Hope not, this VX2 stuff was expensive!!

Any suggestions on new RAM if needed?

Thanks!

yeomansinc · 27 Mar 2008 at 18:33

Have you checked for bios updates? That would be my first place to call at if they worked previously with a different board.

Corsair RAM is always good for compatability IMO, if it comes down to getting new RAM.

Cyber-Mav · 27 Mar 2008 at 19:07

first thing to do is never boot to windows when you have new ram put in or you have tweaked your ram settings. run memtest first otherwise you risk nuking your os install.
now you need to list the full ram settings you have setup in your bios, and the timings for it too, if possible post photos if you can.

download memtest from here: http://www.memtest.org/
it will test your ram for errors and it will also show you your ram settings when you run it. make a bootable disk or usb drive or floppy to get the job done.

Jamous · 28 Mar 2008 at 10:48

I've updated to the latest F8 Bios.

Cyber-Mav, might need the procedure explained a wee bit further please?

yeomansinc · 28 Mar 2008 at 12:54

Roger that.

Have you tried booting into Windows with 1 stick of RAM, installing this hotfix...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929777

...and then adding the other sticks of RAM?

Jamous · 28 Mar 2008 at 18:14

No, will do though and report back, it does boot into windows and runs all day on 1 stick (1gb)

yeomansinc · 28 Mar 2008 at 23:17

Good luck

Jamous · 28 Mar 2008 at 23:29

Right in the process just now.
Installed the update and rebooted, shut down, fitted 1 more stick of ram (now 2gb) on restart, loads windows then immediately BSOD. Tried memory in different slots but still the BSOD or error just before loading windows saying cannot find winload.exe.

Went into bios and I have upped the ram voltage by 0.2v to 2.0v (think this ram can run at 2.3v, but OCZ now say lower)
So far it's running (10 mins) with 2gb in place in slots DDR 1 and 2, will leave it at this for a bit and see.
Should I up the volts a bit more?

Thank you for pointing me to the update!

Mr Paul · 28 Mar 2008 at 23:33

www.memtest.org

This will test your memory and will boot from CD. If it finds any errors then either you've set wrong timings or the wrong voltage or the memory in bad and RMA with OCZ.

If you have any problems post in the official OCZ forum http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=45 The OCZ staff will definately troubleshoot and help you out

Jamous · 29 Mar 2008 at 00:25

Thank you kindly people!
It runs with 2gb but will not take 3gb or 4. Tried auto and manual settings (4-4-4-12 as per) got it at 2.1v.
2gb runs stable, strange that all 4 x 1gb sticks installed together and with "auto" settings worked fine in the old Asus P5B Plus Vista model???

Will have to give this memtest a go.