Hey guys, this is my first post here but I've been lurking around for quite a while. I have a problem. I just had a new PC built for me, I had gone with 2 Gb of ram with the intention to upgrade later. Yesterday the ram came in I installed 2 more GB's and the computer would not boot. I removed one of them and I successfully made it into windows. Then I restarted again and the computer would not boot with my external HD attached. I'm honestly very confused here.

System is -

E8400@3ghz
2GB Ram@ 800 mhz (currently 3)
9800gtx (not that that matters)
Asus P5N-D moherboard
650 watt Corsair PSU
Vista 32

Can anyone explain why this is happening?

One of the sticks might be bad. Did you try with your original 2 gb plus the other stick?

Do you mean my oldm sticks plus the one that may not work? No I haven't but I have the other of the new ones in there now and its working fine.

Hi majorbromly

Try to set your 4 Gb RAM speed at 667 MHz instead of 800 MHz in the bios

Brobably dot enough voltage for 4 sticks. Check memory voltage in bios it should be 2.1V not 1.8V or even 2.2 for 4 sticks.

You most likely got a DOA stick of RAM. Send the kit back for a replacement. When I got a bad stick my PC wouldn't even give a POST code, and it sounds like you got the same thing happening.

If the second pair of sticks do not exactly match the original, you may have a problem. They need to be the same. Some motherboards are very sensitive to differences.

Assuming that all the sticks are the same, use memtest86+ to test out each stick individually.

Also use memtest to verify that a known good stick works properly in every slot on the mobo.

If all the sticks are good, then you may have to increase the ram voltage a bit. Look at the ram specs to see what the maximum is.

agree!!

I hate to tell you, but i have a P5n-e motherbaord and had the same problems that your having--When i contacted Asus regarding the problem, they told me that i was SOL cuz i didn't buy approved memory.

I was able to get my system to boot once or twice, but i had to manually set every setting for RAM in the bios.

If you check ASUS' forums, you will find many ppl having this problem.

See:
http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.asp [...] uage=en-us

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.asp [...] uage=en-us

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.asp [...] uage=en-us


Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.


Ultimately i returned my P5N-e and picked up an EVGA 680i to replace it--havne't had a single problem.

wrong, wrong wrong and wrong but thanks for playing You need a 64 bit Operating system to recognize more than 3 gigs

Fogartini,
you're an idiot

Fogartini: did you even bother reading the links in my post? Jackass.

What does anything in your posts have to do with the fact that hes running a 32 bit OS and a 32 bit OS wont recognize 4 gigs of RAM?

Fogartini, I was about to explicitly say to not mention that limitation. I figured the tomshardware peple are smarter than that, thanks for challenging my beliefs.

ANYWAY, All of the ram is identical, Corsair XMS2 1gb sticks. I will check on the voltage though, sounds easy enough to change.

Oki Doki good luck

Also hesskia, what was the ram you bought that ASUS said was not approved?

My point is, the computer regardless of OS should BOOT with 4 gb