Upgrading RAM

Hello,

I have some G.SKILL RAM installed already in my machine (2x2GB) which is DDR2 F2-8500 CL 5-5-15 2.0v-2.1v

I bought some RAM which I thought matched this another (2x2GB) to take my system to 8gig of RAM.

I have put the RAM in the spare slots and swapped them about but my system fails to load windows (7 enterprise 64bit) or if it does load it crashes within a minute or so.

I have booted with just the new RAM and the system is fine, I have booted with the old RAM and the system is fine but with both sets in no joy.

Is there anything I am doing wrong? Below is a link to the two sets of RAM if this helps


http://www.mediafire.com/view/?xbpfjwxz75lodor

With just the 4GB installed, try Crucial System Scanner to advise you on how to configure: "View Quick Configurations".

Stupid MediaFire wants me to upgrade my up-to-date IE8 w/out which I can't see your pix. How difficult can it be to display a few images?

Edited by XRaySpeX (Tue 14-May-13 20:26:24)

What motherboard?

It's a Giga-Byte GA-EP35C-DS3R (rev. 2.1)

On the cruicial scanner it says

Memory Type: DDR2 PC2-6400, DDR2 PC2-8500, DDR2 PC2-5300, DDR3 PC3-10600, DDR3 PC3-12800, DDR2, DDR3 (non-ECC)
Maximum Memory: 8GB
Currently Installed Memory: 4GB
Total Memory Slots: 4
Available Memory Slots: 2
You system has two different slot configurations.

I cant seem to locate the view quick configuration on the page though :/

If you don't have it yet, I would suggest you start by updating the BIOS to version F12.

http://uk.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pi...

You never know. Sometimes a BIOS update can fix memory slot loading issues. Personally, I never use all four slots on a motherboard. I tend to double up the RAM size in two slots instead.

What you can do is check out the RAM speed settings and drop them a little to see if the system runs with them in. It could be that the more aggressive settings are not compatible with four sticks at once, or it may be a lack of voltage to the RAM (but don't go revving up the voltage; rather, monitor the voltage to the RAM, and see if it's what it should be).

Ahh...just spotted the picture on the link I gave. You have six slots.


From the manual:

When memory modules of different capacity and chips are installed, a message which says
memory is operating in Flex Memory Mode will appear during the POST. Intel® Flex Memory
Technology offers greater flexibility to upgrade by allowing different memory sizes to be
populated and remain in Dual Channel mode/performance.

I would check out the BIOS updates, and the memory / memory voltage settings before anything else. If you're getting past the POST, it's probably a memory settings/voltage thing.

Edit: Originally linked to the 1.x mobo, have changed to the 2.1 Rev.

Edited by camieabz (Tue 14-May-13 21:14:09)

Can you use ddr2 and ddr3 at the same time ?

hmpfff well the BIOS update is a non starter as I downloaded it and it says it is incompatible with my system and check if I have a 32bit or 64bit operating system. I know I have a 64bit operating system but there is no 64bit download

That mobo manual states 4 slots DDR2 or 2 x DDR3.

Maybe he's not using the right slots...worth a double check OP.

Hmm. In that case, skip that bit. See my most recent post.

I am using the right slots, well 99% sure I am as the DDR3 slots are a slightly different shape so DDR2 will not fit in them. Like I say in my first post I have tested the 2x2GB slots with both sets of RAM in both slots and it boots up fine and works fine. That is why I am at a loss. I have tried googling for things but I cannot really find anything.

As previously mentioned

Problem is that the memory is all of 2.1v. and Motherboard is 1.8V
2 will work but not all 4
check if you can change memory voltage in bios.

Edited by flippery (Tue 14-May-13 22:34:32)

Yes, was just reading that.

OP, you need to see what you BIOS is reporting for your RAM voltage if it's saying 1.8v, you should tweak your RAM overvoltage control by 0.2v.

In reply to a post by colic:

You system has two different slot configurations.

I cant seem to locate the view quick configuration on the page though

On the R almost at the top, like:

Guaranteed-compatible upgrades for your PC

Quick Configurations

3GB .............1GB .................512MB......................We've created quick upgrade options for your system!
.............current memory current memory

....................1GB .................512MB........................ View Quick Configurations
.............current memory current memory

You did let it auto scan your PC and not just look up the PC model?

I can see the

Guaranteed-compatible upgrades for your GA-EP35C-DS3R (rev. 2.1)

But no quick configuration at all.

Yeah I let it scan my computer first

"We were not able to determine the manufacturer and/or model of your PC, but we were able to complete our scan with information from your motherboard. "

In reply to a post by camieabz:

Yes, was just reading that.

OP, you need to see what you BIOS is reporting for your RAM voltage if it's saying 1.8v, you should tweak your RAM overvoltage control by 0.2v.

I have checked and it is reading 2.12 I will post the BIOS settings tomorrow evening if that is any help.

I tried putting the RAM in again before checking the BIOS settings let it boot and it blue screened on me once windows was loaded. When I took out the RAM it was very very hot, yet the other 2x2gb was no where near as hot is that normal?

It doesn't sound very encouraging, does it? That RAM should work at 2.0v to be honest. Perhaps relaxing the timings a little might help (guessing they will be 5-5-5-15 or similar). With 4 sticks you might have to relax the timings to 6-6-6-18.

Edited by camieabz (Wed 15-May-13 01:04:22)

Ah, OK! Looks like it can't work out quick configs when it doesn't recognise your PC.

But it looks like you are on right track with voltages and temperatures.

In reply to a post by camieabz:

It doesn't sound very encouraging, does it? That RAM should work at 2.0v to be honest. Perhaps relaxing the timings a little might help (guessing they will be 5-5-5-15 or similar). With 4 sticks you might have to relax the timings to 4-4-4-12.

Yes they are 5-5-5-15, I will give it a go tomorrow evening, on another note just had another crash when just the original 2x2gb were in. Then the PC would turn on for a second then turn itself off.

Might just end up buying a new system this weekend.

Relaxing the timings goes the other way

4 is tighter than 5 so 6 lis looser and more relaxed. try one setting at a time 6,5,5,21 then 6,6,5,21 etc. The alternative is to run them at ddr2-800 whereupon you may be able to lower the voltage some. Time to get the MB manual out or download it: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?p...

In bios hit F7 to load optimised defaults

Use MIT to adjust voltages and timings

Memory that runs @ 2.1v need good airflow around it

Running 4 sticks is more difficult than just 2 the extra stress on the northbridge may require more voltage too (trying to remember this type of board adjustment here)

If it bluescreens make a note of the stop code

Edited by deleted (Wed 15-May-13 01:06:02)

[censored]...sorry to colic....what the hell was I thinking?

6-6-6-18 (or 21, if that's the next option) would be my first try, and if it works, we can get an idea of the issue being resolved. The voltage ought to work at 2.0 for that RAM at those timings.

In reply to a post by camieabz:

[censored]...sorry to colic....what the hell was I thinking?

6-6-6-18 (or 21, if that's the next option) would be my first try, and if it works, we can get an idea of the issue being resolved. The voltage ought to work at 2.0 for that RAM at those timings.

I thought lower the number that is why I bought it over some other RAM in the first place but I have not tried anything yet. I have the code from the blue screen but it is a massive load of numbers and letters? At the top it stated SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXEPTION

I will try the new timings tonight

No need to say sorry you have given me plently of help so far which I appreciate

The part of the bluescreen that we need to see is:

http://www.lakecityquietpills.com/photo/multihost/im...

Hello,

The blue screen is below

http://www.gamesupdate.co.uk/images/blue.png

Below are the BIOS Settings

http://www.gamesupdate.co.uk/images/bios1.png

http://www.gamesupdate.co.uk/images/bios2.png

http://www.gamesupdate.co.uk/images/bios3.png

I am just about to put in the new RAM values and will come back to tell you if crashes again haha!

Tried with the new settings and just crashes the same. As well as the 3B error code I also received an F4 error code this time

I suggest you go back to each pair (original timings and voltages) and test them separately with memtest to see if they throw up errors. It may be a case that you'll never get them to pair up, or it may be that there's a weak link.

Overclockers suggest that 3B code solution is to increase the vcore, but you're not overclocking. I would expect a 1A code for bad RAM, but these things can be anything from a bad driver, to a weak part, hence the memtest suggestion.

N.B. - Your BIOS shows that you have warnings disabled, and you have no system fan (i.e. something to cool the mobo, chipset or RAM). That might be a source of the heat in the RAM, if there's inadequate cooling.

I'm clueless now, tested the RAM

New set no errors when tested together.

Old pair error when I tested them both together, singular both passed ok. However when one of the stick was in passed the test but when windows loaded it blue screened but I could not read the error code as it went off to fast.

Not sure about the fan thing as there are fans and it does seem to keep cool

MIT change performance enhance to standard and try again (I believe this will adjust your secondary timings)

if fails change mch control up 1 step and try again (not sure what the increments are with this one)

I after both of these adjustments your original set will still not pass memtest then I have to start thinking they are faulty

Edited by deleted (Thu 16-May-13 00:51:53)

In reply to a post by OldChapXS:

MIT change performance enhance to standard and try again (I believe this will adjust your secondary timings)

if fails change mch control up 1 step and try again (not sure what the increments are with this one)

I after both of these adjustments your original set will still not pass memtest then I have to start thinking they are faulty

I changed it to standard upped the voltage by 0.2 and changed another setting, I cannot remember which one now. I now have the two new sticks in and one of the old ones in and it appears stable.

I rendered a 35 min video in Premier pro and no crash, left the PC running overnight and was still alive this morning. So I will try adding the last stick in tonight and see what happens.

Well I have put in the other stick and all is stable tonight, so I will start to increase the values in BIOS 1 by 1 and check the stability. Thanks for the help