RAM sockets causing Failed Boot. *HELP*

Sime

Sime

Sime

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I have just purchased an Gigabyte DS3P, when Ive attempted to install the RAM into the new motherboard, I found that RAM in the Third and Fourth Ports on the motherboard the PC will start up but on the entry to BIOS the PC fails and Restarts. There is also no display on the screen as it boots up.

Ive have tried all four various RAM sticks in the first two ports and nothing seems to change. So I've ruled out that any of the RAM sticks are the problem, and this is a newly pruchased motherboard because this problem occoured on the previous motherboard exept instead of restarting it just didnt post. I dont know what the problem could be, is there any advice?
 
sounds like your memory sticks don't get on. I take it you have 2 dual channel kits. Are they the same? What memory do you have?
 
Well 1st of all, with 2 sticks you should be using slots 1 and 3 (colour coded) try using 1 kit like this and then the other. I know all your RAM is the same but just trying to narrow it down a bit.
 
Would updating my BIOS and / or Chipset drivers make the two other slots work? If not, any more ideas?

Ive made a little Paint to show it better. Just for anyone new, its a brand new motherboard.

eroorij2.jpg


PLEASE IM OUT OF IDEAS, HELP!!
 
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As Mame says, try the proper config. Test your memory using slots 1/3, and you can also test 2/4. (Just not all 4 at the same time). That will test the memory slots.

What I would guess is that when running all 4 sticks, you'll need to either give the ram a little more voltage, or slacken the timings a little. 4 sticks is more stress on the memory controler and memory, the faster your memory's rated speed, the more chances that 4 sticks will need a little bit of bios tweaking to get running stable. (Or even at all). Many motherboard default to 1.8V which is official DDR2 specification, however the higher speed memorys are often specified with slightly out of spec requirements. OCZ for instances generally needs 1.9V or higher even with just 2 sticks.

Check the highest voltage permitted for your Geil sticks (should be written on the packaging, or perhaps Geil have a website/forum with the info), set that in bios while you have just 2 sticks installed, and then shutdown and install the remaining memory.

If that doesnt work, go back to 2 sticks of ram, and slacken the timings, If that ram is 4/4/4/12, goto 5/5/5/16, and see if that gets you booting. Once your booting with 4 sticks, you can tighten up the timings again (4/5/5/15, 4/4/5/12) do it by 1 change at a time until it no longer boots, so you can find the fastest stable speed.

Strongly recommend running memtest86 for at least a couple of hours after you find a speed which 'seems' ok.

As a matter of interest, with Corsair ram, I've always found that it improves with age. Memory which starts out needing slack timings, can end up working on tight timings after a few weeks of use. Perhaps the giel will do this as well. (Burning in is one possible explanation, contraversial one, but it does seem to fit the facts)
 
Sime said:
...and this is a newly pruchased motherboard because this problem occoured on the previous motherboard exept instead of restarting it just didnt post.
Click to expand...

I would say from that alone it's a memory issue.
 
Well ive tried ever possiblity with the ram slots, I dont just put them all in.

It dosent work in any other slots than 1 and 2. Dosent with 1 and 3 or 4. Just in 3 or 4. Only 1 and 2.

As for the voltage, ive just set it to "auto" as it was on manual before.
 
To reduce the chances that its the memory thats preventing the system running in dual channel mode (1/3 and 2/4 are dual channel pairs). Goto bios with whatever works (Slot 1 only should be fine. just a single stick of ram).

Go to the memory options (or might be in overclocking section. dont know your motherboards bios).

Anyway, find where it sets the memory timings, its probably set to auto or SPD. Override this and put in 5/5/5/16 timings (Should be obvious which number goes where when your in bios).

Then find where the memory speed is set, It may be defaulting to 800mhz memory, as thats what you have. However set your processor to 'stock' speeds, and your memory to 533mhz (If you have a 1066FSB CPU, thats 1:1 ratio) Save that, and make sure the PC boots.

Then try running with slots 1 and 3, to activate dual channel mode with 2 memory sticks. If it doesnt work with the memory seriously underclocked and slack timings, then I'd say its a motherboard issue. Dual channel with 2 sticks should pose no problem at all for the ram at 533. Anyway if that works, stay with the really underclocked memory speeds and timings, and try 4 sticks. It should work as well.

Auto on memory voltage may not help(it might.. but manual is better than auto), it will likely just pick 1.8V on auto anyway. You may need to manually force 1.9V or even 2V onto the memory to get all 4 slots running at a full speed, and tight timings. However at 533mhz the ram should be totally stable with 1.8V.

If its Geil Ultra Plus 1Gb sets (2x512 each), it looks like 1.9V is the 'minimum' voltage its designed for. This is common with high speed memory, but is slightly out of JEDEC's 1.8V 'Standard'. Many motherboards will attempt to run at 1.8V unless you manually override. I would suggest you try 1.9V at the minimum, and its possible that higher may be needed to get all 4 slots running at full speed.

Is your memory Giel Ultra, or Giel Value.. The Value is rated 1.8-2.2V, while the ultra , and ultra+ are rated 1.9 to 2.3V. Its recommended to use the lowest 'stable' voltage... But if you need 2.2V dont be worried about using it.
 
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Ok, Thats a usefull screenshot, Firstly notice its saying Channels Single on the memory, thats just what we were saying, it should be 1/3 or 2/4 to enable dual channel... Now before you say it didnt work, Also note is going for 400mhz (2:3). To eliminate memory issues, try and get that down to 266mhz (1:1) in bios. Timings nice and slow 5/5/5/18 with 2T command rate should give maximum compatibility so that is good.

You could also try a single stick in each of the 4 slots. I believe it should boot up with a single stick in any slot. If it fails, then likely there really is a fault on the motherboard.

The second 12V power connector is to increase stability with quads, however its not 'essential' and if your PSU doesnt have an 8 pin connector dont worry, it wont actually cause any problems.

Assuming you can get the bios set to run the ram at 266 (533) and cpu-z will confirm that its 266, then slap in 2 sticks dual channel, and then finally 4 sticks, and see if it still boots up. As I said in my last post, ignore 'auto' voltages, go straight to 1.9 or 2V on the memory, and see if that gets you running. Even the 'Value' Geil ram supports up to 2.2V. Assuming it isnt a faulty motherboard, you should be able to get both the memory clock rate, and timings to the memorys' rated' values by pushing enough volts though them.

Use the lowest 'stable' voltage, as the higher the voltage, the hotter the ram, and thats just more heat the case cooling system has to handle.
 
Yeah, but did you try changing the voltages and running at 266Mhz, or have you just tried over and over at 800mhz, 1.8v which isnt going to work.

If you have tried that, then I guess its RMA time for the motherboard.... To be honest though, 2 sticks in 1/3, and 2/4 empty should be pretty 'easy'. Perhaps the second channel memory controller is fried.
 
Sime said:
but its a brand new motherboard...

Could a setting in the BIOS make 2 slots just not work?
Click to expand...

Yes, if you have Giel Ultra, or Ultra Plus, its designed to run at 1.9V. 1.8v motherboard default could be enough to cause it to be unstable and fail to POST. Depending on which ram you have, you may need as much as 2.3V to run it stable at full speed... But please, if you decide to experiment just go up in 0.1v increments. The lowest stable voltage is the best one in the long run.

OCZ memory for example seems to be very fussy about voltages when installed in Abit IP35 motherboards.

1.8V is the 'offical' JEDEC standard for DDR2, but 667/800/1000mhz DDR2 memory's often need 1.9V or higher! To work.

Thats why im suggesting you try to change the bios settings when you have it running in single channel mode. So you can give the ram and motherboard the best chances of being compatible... If it still fails, then in my opinion the motherboard would be faulty.
 
I dont think the motherboard can be faulty. As I just bought it to replace my old one (DS3). Which was doing the same as this, memory not working in all slots. But obvisouly it still hasnt worked.

I cant belive that both the motherboards would have the exact same fault.

Is it possible that my old hard drive may have information stored on XP? (took it from my old system when installing vista on a fresh HDD) And is possible giving conflicts?

Is there some sort of motherboard testing tool? So I can see if there working?
 
Hard drive can be disconnected, it will have no impact. You said it's not even stable enough to get into bios when the memory is in the 'bad' configurations. Especially as from your description the old hard drive isnt even the primary boot disk.

I dont mean to be rude or anything, but you still havent answered a simple question.. Have you bumped the memory voltage in bios, slackened the timings, and dropped the memory frequency to 266. These changes are really 'needed' to diagnose the problem.

As I said making these changes should fix it, and then you would just have to work the speed/timings back up to stock gradually. If the system wont POST those greatly reduced speeds, I would say 99% the motherboard is bad.

To be honest, your old DS3 was probably just fine, just your ram is screaming out for more volts.
 
Yes I tried upping the volts (if you mean the DDR2 voltages or something) I upped it by, +0.20, still no effect. Then I just started going mental, changed all the clocks and still nothing. Im really confused...How could something like this not be fixed?

I think ill have to take it to my local PC shop and tell them to get it sorted.

Or i may just get 2x2GB sticks :(. Waste of money

Also would refomating make a differance or does it seem more to do with hardware then software?
 
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Even if you got 2 sticks, you would still want to use sockets 1/3 on the motherboard, using 1/2 is a major performance loss, with the memory running in single channel mode.

Yes, I was refering to the DDR2 memory voltages, which need to be at least 1.9V for most high speed memory. Seriously though, if it wont work at higher volts + seriously downclocked on memory, and latency timings, the motherboard really must have some kinda issue.

If it was your windows installation that was causing the problem, you wouldnt even get in with the ram in slots 1/2... So no, a reformat wont help. Sorry
 
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