RAM Voltage

[seogoat]

Hi, my RAM is 2.1v per stick of 2Gigabytes, of which I have two sticks, which comes to 4 all together. The default output of the motherboard is 1.8v to the RAM. Here's the problem; if I put one stick of RAM in to the motherboard it works, but with two sticks of RAM it doesn't.

The setting I'm looking at for the RAM voltage in the motherboard is DRAM which is set to 1.8v. Is it the right setting I'm looking at.

Gigabyte recommend a BIOS upgrade. But if it fails I'm ****ed. So I thought about looking in to RAM voltages first.

Please help.

 

[mdma35]

what board you have?

yes its right setting

 

[seogoat]

Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3L

The same motherboard they used on the 625 dollar marathon system in December, but I'm using Vista 64. I have tried the volatages at 2.1v (like it says on the RAM) but the computer just keeps resetting. Also changed the timing to the same as it says on the RAM, still doesn't work, just keeps resetting again.

I think the bios is an old version so I'm going to update it with Q-Flash, but I heard it's risky to update firmware. My Bios doesn't come with memory hole or memory remapping options in the Bios. I have tried that kb97777 update but it wasn't for my system.

If you know of anything I can try it would be appreciated. Thanks for listening.

 

[Zorg]

I can't imagine that the BIOS needs a flash.

Did you try each stick by itself or just with and without the second stick? If the case is the latter it is possible that you have a bad stick. Try the second stick by itself. You will probably need 2.1V to get them stable, then you can try to lower them a small amount at a time.

Always include the pertinent data when asking a question. Like... maybe... what RAM?

You can also test each stick by itself with Memtest86+.

 

[seogoat]

Ram: Patriot 4GB PC2-6400 C4 Viper Extreme Performance (2x2GB)
Board: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L

I have tested both sticks of RAM and it works with each in every slot.

The Bios upgrades says the updates fix memory problems.

I'll have to try memtest86+

 

[Zorg]

If a BIOS update says it fixes memory problems then do the flash. Just make sure you use Q-Flash and not the @BIOS and you should be fine.

 

[seogoat]

Thanks for the help Zorg. I'm going to do the flashes.

 

[jitpublisher]

My memory is 4x1 gig sticks Patriot Extreme DDR, supposed to run at 2.1 volts. Will run at this with only 2 sticks, but I have to volt to 2.25 get all four sticks to boot and run stable.

 

[seogoat]

I'm currently only running 1.8v. I have tried 2.1v but it didn't work.

 

[Zorg]

My memory is 4x1 gig sticks Patriot Extreme DDR, supposed to run at 2.1 volts. Will run at this with only 2 sticks, but I have to volt to 2.25 get all four sticks to boot and run stable.

He's only running two sticks. I have no idea why it won't run at 2.1V.

seogoat, If you are still having trouble after the flash, try loosening the timings or lowering the speed. Look under the SPD tab in CPU-Z to get the recommended timing choices.

 

[seogoat]

Lowering the speed of what, the RAM ? I will try after the flash. Many thanks again.

 

[mdma35]

try to loose the timings to 5-5-5-15 and run them on 1.8 volts but i saw specifications of this RAM and 4-4-4-12 needs 2.2 volts not 2.1 as mentioned...

maybe bro you just ran in to bad luck with this sticks

 

[Zorg]

Lowering the speed of what, the RAM ? I will try after the flash. Many thanks again.

Yeah, assuming the flash doesn't solve your problem. Look at the CPU-Z SPD tab, as I said earlier. Either try relaxed timings at 1.8V or the RAM may have a SPD for 667 with tighter timings at a lower voltage, instead of the stock 800. The difference in performance won't be dramatic, depending on how much cache your CPU has. Generally speaking the Core2 is not that sensitive to speed.

I recommend, to people that haven't already bought RAM, 2 x 2GB DDR2 800 5-5-5-15 (to 18) or better at 1.8V. These days with all the RAM that runs at 800 and 1.8V it doesn't make sense to run the 2.1-2.2V sticks, unless you need the EPP SPD of 1066 for OCing purposes.

 

[seogoat]

On the RAM they say 4 -4 -4 -12, and I think the default of my pc is 5 - 5 - 5 - 15, but after the flashes, if it still doesn't work I'll try something like you said i.e. 5 - 5- 5 - 18.

Many thanks Zorg.

 

[Zorg]

I don't think going from 5-5-5-15 to 5-5-5-18 will solve your problem. What do the memory and SPD tabs say in CPU-Z?

 

[seogoat]

C:\Users\admin\Desktop\a.jpg

 

[seogoat]

there are four boxes in the spd tab on cpu z. for the 1 stick of ram i have these settings.


JEDEC #1 JEDEC #2 JEDEC #3 EPP #1
frequency 200 Mhz 266Mhz 400 Mhz 400Mhz
cas#latency 3.0 4.0 5.0 4.0
ras# to cas# 3 4 5 4
rax# Precharge 3 4 5 4
tras 6 8 12 12
trc 12 16 23 21
command rate 2T
voltage 1.8v 1.8v 1.8v 2.1v


This is only 1 stick. So I'm guessing I should run it at

5 - 5- 5 -12

 

[seogoat]

there are four boxes in the spd tab on cpu z. for the 1 stick of ram i have these settings.


-----------------------JEDEC #1 JEDEC #2 JEDEC #3 EPP #1
frequency---------- 200 Mhz 266Mhz 400 Mhz 400Mhz
cas#latency --------3.0 ------4.0 ------5.0 ------4.0
ras# to cas# -------3 --------4 ---------5 --------4
rax# Precharge ----3 --------4--------- 5- -------4
tras -------------------6 --------8 --------12 -------12
trc --------------------12 -------16 -------23 -------21
command rate --------------------------------------2T
voltage --------------1.8v -----1.8v ----1.8v -----2.1v


This is only 1 stick. So I'm guessing I should run it at

5 - 5- 5 -12

 

[seogoat]

but the two still dont run.

Can anyone recommend some different ram that gigabyte boards like.

Haven't done the bios update yet.

 

[seogoat]

The ram says 800mhz on it. Do these stats mean it's only running at 400mhz? If that's the case then I need new RAM right?

 

[vefve]

The ram says 800mhz on it. Do these stats mean it's only running at 400mhz? If that's the case then I need new RAM right?

its ddr so 400mhz means ddr 800.

 

[seogoat]

BIOS updated still no luck with the RAM damn it !

With the command rate I only get the option to enter 1 or 2 without T. So I can't enter 2T, just 2. Is it okay to just change it to 2.

Volted the RAM up to 2.1v comp just keeps resetting so I take it it doesnt like it.

 

[seogoat]

ran memtest on first two partriot sticks; they were both fine. However it still wouldn't run dual channel mode. Memtest wouldn't run on dual channel.

So bought some 1.8v ram 5-5-5-15. Runs fine with one stick on memest but memtest wont run on two sticks.

Does this sound like a motherboard problem?

 

[Zorg]

Sorry, I have been busy.

Did you set "display logo", or something similar, to [Disabled]? You should see at the start of POST that it says "Memory Runs in Dual Channel Interleaved", or something similar.

You say the 2 x 2GB Patriot passed Memtest?

If so then use it.

If you are not in dual channel, check the slot location of the RAM.

I believe that you should be in slots 1 & 3 or 2 & 4.

 

[seogoat]

they ran okay 1 at a time but not with both - and it was the same with some new memory i bought