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Confirm memory not compatiable?

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Memory - Confirm memory not compatiable?

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reddragon0000   03-11-2009 at 05:12:07 PM

Hey Everyone

Need a bit of advice. I bought me a ASUS M3A78 mobo, box says it can handle 1066mhz DDR2s. I installed 4 Corsair DDR2 800mhz memory (total of 8gbs of memory). I turned on my computer and all the lights came on, fans worked, but nothing booted to screen. I removed 2 of the chips, restarted computer, BIOS screen came up, Windows logo came up, but then computer rebooted. I'm leaning towards memory incompatiablility, anyone else have this board and had problems like this?

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o1die   03-11-2009 at 07:39:28 PM
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Check your memory specs. You may have to boost the memory voltage to 2.0-2.1 for stability. Next time you go into the bios, check the memory settings.

Reply to o1die
Mondoman   03-13-2009 at 02:01:46 AM
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Yes, there's a good chance that you bought factory-overclocked RAM requiring a higher-than-standard voltage (DDR2 standard is 1.8V). Try installing just one DIMM to get into the BIOS and change the RAM voltage to the level printed on the side of the DIMMs.

------------------------------ e2160@3GHz: OCing my way to Ubuntuland!
 Reply to Mondoman
reddragon0000   03-13-2009 at 12:36:05 PM
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Yup, I took out the 4 (2gb for total 8gb) chips and put in 2 gigs, and boom it worked! Ordered me 4 1gb chips, should hopefully work.

Oh and yup I read the memory sticks, they said 2.1v. I went into bios it said 1.8v. It has an automatic detection system for memory, I don't know why it does not adjust for the voltage :(


Message edited by reddragon0000 on 03-13-2009 at 12:38:57 PM
Reply to reddragon0000
jitpublisher   03-13-2009 at 01:36:09 PM
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You have to turn off the auto detection feature for the voltage to change it.
This is a very common problem. You will have the exact same problem with 4 -1 gig sticks of 1066. You did not need to order different memory, you need to up the voltage to what the memory requires to run at.

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jtt283   03-13-2009 at 01:40:19 PM
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Unless you tell it otherwise, it sets the voltage to the JEDEC STANDARD 1.8V. If your RAM needs more than that, it is a factory overclock. It probably won't go much higher; on 1.8V it probably has CAS6 or CAS7 timings to reach DDR2-800 speeds. Sorry to say, but essentially it is inferior RAM.

------------------------------ There is ALWAYS a drone. Exactly where, or how many drones you will encounter may vary, but that there will be at least one will not.
 Reply to jtt283
reddragon0000   03-13-2009 at 01:49:08 PM
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I ordered me some Kingston DDR2 1066. I KNOW! Possible a duh move on my part...lol. I just found out that the mobo will push it to 800mhz. I'm not sure weather to keep it at 800 or try and get the 1066. I'm assuming running at 800 will be fine, if I leave it?

Reply to reddragon0000
jtt283   03-13-2009 at 01:54:00 PM
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Just to clarify, the standard is for DDR2-800. DDR2-1066 will essentially always be an overclock, and use more voltage. The factory will have tested it, however, and guarantee that it will run at that speed on that voltage.
Quality DDR2-800 RAM will often overclock to 1066 with a voltage increase as well, but is not guaranteed to do so. If it already needs 2.1V just to hit DDR2-800, your odds of going any higher are very low, especially without additional cooling for your RAM.

------------------------------ There is ALWAYS a drone. Exactly where, or how many drones you will encounter may vary, but that there will be at least one will not.
 Reply to jtt283
jtt283   03-13-2009 at 01:55:30 PM
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What CPU did you get? Only the Phenoms support DDR2-1066; others will run it at DDR2-800.

------------------------------ There is ALWAYS a drone. Exactly where, or how many drones you will encounter may vary, but that there will be at least one will not.
 Reply to jtt283
reddragon0000   03-13-2009 at 02:06:10 PM
- 0 +

Right now I have the Phenom X4 9850 2.5ghz 125w.


Message edited by reddragon0000 on 03-13-2009 at 02:13:45 PM
Reply to reddragon0000
reddragon0000   03-13-2009 at 02:13:29 PM
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But I am looking to get the Phenom II 3.0ghz ^^

Reply to reddragon0000
jitpublisher   03-13-2009 at 02:16:01 PM
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You are seeming to have a tough time understanding so let me say it very slowly just so you can understand You.....have.....to.....disable.....the......auto.....setting......for......your.....memory......voltage.....and.....set.....it.....manually.....to.....2.1......volts.

Reply to jitpublisher
reddragon0000   03-13-2009 at 02:19:39 PM
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I know that, but I was asked what cpu I had, what does that have to do with the voltage thingy. o....k


Message edited by reddragon0000 on 03-13-2009 at 02:23:37 PM
Reply to reddragon0000
reddragon0000   03-14-2009 at 01:15:24 AM
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Went into BIOS, changed the voltage to 2.2, set to 533, set CL = 5, TRCD = 5, TRP = 5, TRAS = 15. Everything is running great!....now time to get me Vista 64bit XD

Reply to reddragon0000
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