Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > General Motherboard > ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 -- setting DDR400 RAM to 200MHz error

ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 -- setting DDR400 RAM to 200MHz error

Forum Motherboards & Memory : General Motherboard - ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 -- setting DDR400 RAM to 200MHz error

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I have 2 sticks of GSkill PC3200 RAM (Timings: 2.5-3-3-6) . I've verified both sticks work properly on other systems when running at 200 MHz.

However, when installed in the ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 and manually set to 200MHz, the system becomes extremely unstable (memtest fails, and numerous operating systems fail to boot -- at one point, the computer even failed to reach POST and I was left staring at a black screen). Additionally, if I try to use the two sticks (which are identical) in dual-channel mode, I run into the same issues.

All of my RAM settings in the BIOS (version: 2.30), other than the frequency, are set to their default values.

If I step the frequency down to 166MHz, my system is stable, but slower. Memtest and CPU-Z actually report it running at 157.2 MHz.

I've owned this motherboard for about 3 years now, and this issue only arose in recent history. Previously, I was able to use both sticks of ram in dual-channel mode at 200MHz.

My power supply is of a reputable brand (ASUS), and provides plenty of power (450W) for my setup.

I've tried playing around with the BIOS settings, but to no avail.

Below are CPU-Z images.

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6708/capturezbk.png
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6066/capture2wpr.png

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4324/capture3s.png
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4091/capture4w.png
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/7591/capture5.png


Message edited by ThornMartin on 07-11-2009 at 05:50:21 AM
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What is your memory voltage (VDIMM) set to?

Reply to Crashman

In the BIOS, it's set to "Normal", which appears to be 2.5V according to the documentation that I've read. The other option, without modding the BIOS, is "High" (2.7 V).

EDIT: Just tried 200MHz with VDIMM set to High, and ran into the same issues.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by ThornMartin on 07-11-2009 at 06:26:14 AM
Reply to ThornMartin

ThornMartin wrote :

In the BIOS, it's set to "Normal", which appears to be 2.5V according to the documentation that I've read. The other option, without modding the BIOS, is "High" (2.7 V).

EDIT: Just tried 200MHz with VDIMM set to High, and ran into the same issues.



This sounds like an unfortunate motherboard problem, such as bad capacitors on the DIMM supply rail.

Reply to Crashman

Alright, thanks. I figured as much. I'll look into ASRock's RMA process.

Reply to ThornMartin
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > General Motherboard > ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 -- setting DDR400 RAM to 200MHz error
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