P5N-E SLI 4x1GB memory problem

andyh · 20 Mar 2007 at 15:53

At work we have just ordered a whole load of kit to upgrade our computers.
We have gone for the P5NE SLI with 4x1GB Geil PC6400C4 (2 x matched pair sets) and a E6600.
We have found that the system hangs at the asus logo boot screen and we cannot enter bios if we have all 4 sticks in, at default memory speeds of 800mhz. If I take a stick out it boots fine and if i run all 4 sticks at 667 then thats fine.
I have upgraded to the latest BIOS and have made sure that the memory timings are correct (4-4-4-12) and that the voltage is correct.

Any ideas how to get the 4GB to run at its specced speeds?

andyh · 20 Mar 2007 at 19:51

WJA96 said:
Oddly enough someone else had exactly this problem, but i cannot remember how it was fixed. I think the board or the RAM was faulty. It was in the E4300 overclocking thread in CPUs. 4 stocks does work because I have 4 sticks of Crucial Anniversary in mine and it works fine. Pointless, but it works fine.

What speed is your crucial running at?
I have 15 of the P5N-E's and 30 sets of the memory to play with so I should be able to tell if its an individual faulty board or memory stick.
Out of interest have you tried the 0505 bios. After flashing from the 0202 I found that the time it took windows to load with significantly longer.

andyh · 21 Mar 2007 at 06:13

WJA96 said:
Why 15 P5N-E's?

We have 15 machines that need to be upgraded.

andyh · 21 Mar 2007 at 08:34

Tested memory using memtest and no errors. Tried the memory in another board and still the same issue.
4x1gb @ 800mhz = no post
3x1gb @800mhz = ok
4x1gb @667mhz = ok
I have tried different NB and vdimm voltages but still a no go
It would appear that this is a compatability issue with these components at the 800mhz rated speed of the memory.

andyh · 21 Mar 2007 at 10:37

I ran some tests based on what we will be using the machines for and 4@667 worked out quicker (although not by a lot) than 3@800, so 4 at 667 its going to be.

andyh · 21 Mar 2007 at 12:49

Tuvoc said:
Sounds fine, always slightly disappointing when you can't get what you're supposed to get (i.e. 800) but you're talking a couple of percentage points performance wise depending on what exactly you're doing, so it's not the end of the world (at least it wasn't for me...)

I agree, it should do as it says on the box. I have played around this morning and got all 4 sticks to boot and load windows at 730 but thats as far the fsb will go before bombing out at post.