EVGA 6801 SLA had 2.5 gig upgrade 4gig

[dav4flynn]

Have a nvidia 680i mobo with intel dual core 6600. I also have Antec 650w poer supply and 8800gt.

Currently have 4 sticks of old Dell RAM totaling 2.5gigs at 400mhz.

Have new Corsair XMS2 cm2x2048-6400c5. When these are installed Vista freezes at the desktop window shortly have the sidebar poulates. All drivers have been update as well as Vista to sp1 64-bit.

But old ram back and pc works again. Running new ram at specs 5/5/5/18 1.8v.
Please help

 

[flyin15sec]

First , Make sure you set the correct voltage for your memory in the BIOS. If it continue to crash, then use 1.9v, even try 2.0v

2nd, Use loose timings, just set your timings all to AUTO.

3rd Test the new memory with Memtest86+ , make sure they pass the tests several times.

 

[dav4flynn]

I'll try the increase in voltage. Ive tried using all the auto features and changing from 2t to 1t and tried 5/5/5/18 as well. Both sticks have passed 2 runs thru memtest. And it's a BFG not EVGA borad. Thanks

 

[dav4flynn]

So I changes from 5/5/5/18 to 20 to 22 no help.
Increased voltage to 1.9 then 2.0. no help
Messed with FSB options and boot last a few more seconds then it has been.

System works in safe mode.

Any ideas?

 

[I800C0LLECT]

Your first 3 numbers for memory timing are MOST important. You're first move should be from T1 to T2. If that doesn't help then move to 5-5-6, 5-6-6, 6-6-6, 6-6-7...and so forth.

Also, be sure that you're strapped for 800mhz. If I remember correctly, it shows "DDR2" speeds and not actual. Be sure that you've maxed out the voltage for that memory too; probably around 2.1V. You're only goal is to find stability...then work your way down one setting at time from there. Sometimes you'll have to go back and forth on timings. The best thing to do would be to get memtest on a USB bootable or on a floppy.

 

[dav4flynn]

Not sure what STRAPPED means. This is what I have: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

 

[I800C0LLECT]

hrmmm. Sorry, it's a bit of slang or vernacular related to the memory "strap" or divider. You can run your memory in a 1:1 ratio with your "Bus"or FSB. I'm not too sure what you're familiar terms would be. Anyways, when you over clock your FSB to push your processor to a higher frequency(overclock) you can sometimes run the FSB HIGHER than the speeds your memory can handle.

At this point you would want to change the "strap" or divider for your memory. You can run it 1:1, 1:2, 4:5...etc.

So if your FSB is at 800MHz and you want a 1:1 ratio then your RAM must be set to 400MHz. If you want 1:2 then set your RAM to 200MHz. Technically speaking, DDR2 sends data on the rising edge and falling edge of a cycle, therefore it's called DDR2. That means DDR2@400MHz responds in the same manner as DDR@800MHz.

The point of this, when read your memory speed in the 680i bios it will not read in MHz. It will just say "800" instead of "400MHz". So, when looking at your bios you want to be sure that whatever settings you change...RAM Speed ends up at "800". THAT is your goal.

But, to be sure that your memory is stable you want to loosen the "timings" to 6-6-6 at T2 and push the RAM to it's highest rated Voltage, which is 2.1V

Once you can assure me that your RAM speed is 800, timings at 6-6-6 @ T2 w/2.1V and your system is still giving you a blue screen...one of two things could be happening.

A) Because of poor initial setup when installing RAM, data on your hard drive could be corrupt and a fresh install is in order.

B) Your RAM is still unstable and you will need to RMA.

The easy way to end up at (B) without the hassle of (A)? ... Put memtest86 onto a bootable device, i.g. CD-ROM, bootable flash drive, floppy disk, etc., and find out if your memory is performing within acceptable constraints. If it fails, RMA

 

[I800C0LLECT]

The reason I think you're memory settings are off is because 2x2GB do not overclock well.

I apologize if you already knew some of the information...I just want to make sure this turns out right.

 

[dav4flynn]

Thanks for all that. Ive run memtest on both sticks singlely and together in all the slots 0-3. Its very eraly atm so I'll start making the changes in a bit. Thanks again.

 

[Onus]

The reason I think you're memory settings are off is because 2x2GB do not overclock well.
...

What?! 2 sticks generally oc better than 4 sticks because of vdroop. Care to explain this remark?

 

[dav4flynn]

I can get the ram working using 5/5/5/15 2t 1066fsb and 400mhz. Not interested in oc but would like to get to ram specs.

 

[I800C0LLECT]

What?! 2 sticks generally oc better than 4 sticks because of vdroop. Care to explain this remark?

The 2GB sticks tend to be a bit more picky about timings and speed than 1GB. For an individual asking questions, such as the op, I would assume errant settings sooner than bad memory.

Btw, tone and articulation go a long ways in forum etiquette...I hope you weren't attempting to be rude. Whether I'm right, wrong, or failed to communicate ideas, good honest questions will result in good honest answers.

It's a big reason why very influential and contributional members have left this site.

 

[I800C0LLECT]

I can get the ram working using 5/5/5/15 2t 1066fsb and 400mhz. Not interested in oc but would like to get to ram specs.

Well, now you're able to at least run it better than specs(a hair)...You're other culprit could be some potential Voltage drop from the board itself.

If I remember correctly, the 680 chipsets are notorious for killing memory in the early days. They are also very picky about what memory you use with them. If 2.1V sets you stable I'd attempt to get 2.0V stable and leave it at that. However, if you could possibly get 1T at 2.1V...that would be your best bet

 

[I800C0LLECT]

Something else I noticed Dav...

The specs I read on the site claim 5-5-5-18 @ 1.9V instead of 1.8V as your original post states. Was it a typo and they aren't stable at 1.9?

 

[dav4flynn]

They actually say 1.8v on the sticks. Im stable at 1.875. Appreciate your help. I think Im set up.

 

[I800C0LLECT]

sweet. Glad I could beof service. Let's hope it stays that way

That's a nice mobo btw...even if it is a a bit aged.

 

[dav4flynn]

it keeps on ticking.... Now if I can figure out why my bios changes revert back everytime I power off and on my pc.

 

[flyin15sec]

Sounds like a bad CMOS battery.

 

[I800C0LLECT]

Sounds like a bad CMOS battery.

x2

 

[dav4flynn]

BUT clock/date dont reset