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RAM not working with new BIOS


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Windows XP Pro would not install with my 4400LE RAM (2x512) so I opted for some Kingston value RAM (2x256) and Windows installed fine. I figured that it was just a temporary issue so I continued with my business and got the rig up again. After getting most things installed, I put the RAM back in and it still won't boot to Windows. Before I installed Windows, I used the Memtest program in BIOS and it ran through the whole loop of tests fine, I think there's 8? But when Windows went to install it's first little things, I get a BSOD with the IRQL error. I have a feeling that the new BIOS is causing the RAM to malfunction in some way and is making it extremely unstable.

 

My rig:

Opteron 165

DFI LanParty SLI-DR (non-expert) latest BIOS, brand new chip from RMA

WD2500KS

Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music

SilverStone Zeus 650w

Sony DVD/CD combo drive

 

And of course the G.Skill 4400LE

 

I also have 2 sets of the G.Skill RAM. I'm borrowing one from a friend that had it in his last system that worked fine. I've been running things on optimized defaults and setting everything in Genie to Auto.

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On DFI LP mainboards, you need to install the RAM in the ORANGE DIMM-slots, did you notice? Putting RAM in the yellow slots most likely causes boot problems, I had to suffer from this issue for myself when assembling the system without studying carefully the manual first :rolleyes: ...

 

Regards N.

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The ram is in the orange slots. This RAM worked before I put an optie in with a new BIOS chip, that's why I'm asking here. Sometimes it will boot with one dimm in the top orange slot (DIMM2).

 

Like I said, using the Kingston ram works fine.

 

Also, I put the g.skill ram in a gigabyte mobo and it booted fine.

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Yellow slots are for stability - orange slots are for higher performance. If you're lucky, you can run orange slots stable - and get the performance bump as well. What are your timings on your RAM? The Expert board can be pretty picky on RAM - especially value RAM, as the DFI boards weren't designed to run value RAM. You might need the yellow slots with 2T for stability. Post back with those timings and we'll see what you got going.

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I've been trying to get them to work at their lowest rated (loose) timings, 3-4-4-8 1T at 200mhz 2.7v. I feel like I'm repeating myself here, the ram has been used in the orange slots for a long time with my older system (3200 Venice, same mobo with older bios, and ram) which I overclocked without problems and I don't know why this new BIOS seems to be screwing with the sticks so much.

 

I was able to run Memtest overnight and have them stable with no errors last night, but then I go to boot Windows and they don't work anymore. I'm really thinking that I'm setting up the timings wrong or something.

 

If someone could give me some reference timings for this ram, just in case I'm doing something wrong, that would be great.

 

I'll update this in a bit with the whole list in Genie settings in a few minutes unless I can get it to work.

 

***UPDATE***

Tried the ram in yellow slots after having no more luck. Still does not work in yellow slots despite running through Memtest flawlessly. In either orientation, the system reboots after showing the Windows loading screen. Checked my temps, they were fine.

 

Here is a full list of the timings and stuff I'm using:

 

Genie BIOS Settings:

FSB Bus Frequency.............................  -  200
LDT/FSB Frequency Ratio.......................  -  4
CPU/FSB Frequency Ratio.......................  -  9
PCI eXpress Frequency.........................  -  100MHZ

CPU VID StartUp Value.........................  -  Auto

CPU VID Control...............................  -  Auto
CPU VID Special Control.......................  -  Auto
LDT Voltage Control...........................  -  1.30v 
Chip Set Voltage Control......................  -  1.60v
DRAM Voltage Control..........................  -  2.70v

DRAM Configuration Settings:

DRAM Frequency Set............................  -  200=RAM/FSB:01/01
Command Per Clock (CPC).......................  -  Enable 
CAS Latency Control (Tcl).....................  -  3
RAS# to CAS# delay (Trcd).....................  -  4
Min RAS# active time (Tras)...................  -  8
Row precharge time (Trp)......................  -  4
Row Cycle time (Trc)..........................  -  7 Bus Clocks
Row refresh cyc time (Trfc)...................  -  15 Bus Clocks
Row to Row delay (Trrd).......................  -  02 Bus Clocks
Write recovery time (Twr).....................  -  02 Bus Clocks
Write to Read delay (Twtr)....................  -  02 Bus Clocks
Read to Write delay (Trwt)....................  -  03 Bus Clocks
Refresh Period (Tref).........................  -  3120 Cycles
DRAM Bank Interleave..........................  -  Enabled

DQS Skew Control..............................  -  Auto
DQS Skew Value................................  -  0
DRAM Drive Strength...........................  -  Auto
DRAM Data Drive Strength......................  -  Auto
Max Async Latency.............................  -  Auto
DRAM Response Time............................  -  fast
Read Preamble Time............................  -  5
IdleCycle Limit...............................  -  256 Cycles
Dynamic Counter...............................  -  Disabled
R/W Queue Bypass..............................  -  16 x
Bypass Max....................................  -  07 x
32 Byte Granularity...........................  -  Disable(4 Bursts)

 

 

Another quick question. Which setting sets the 1T/2T? Is it the CPC?

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Yeah, the CPC is the "command per clock." By default, DFI will set 1T, so if your RAM isn't rated (or can't handle) 1T, then you would need to set it to 2T manually. Your timings are fine for that particular kit, nothing weird going on there. I'm assuming you tested your sticks one at a time? I know this sounds thin, seeing as how they passed memtest fine together, but it's one more thing you can do. How about your friend's GSkill? If this set works, then I would question your RAM as being the issue, and regardless of how many memtest passes it can make without error - I would look into an RMA. That being said, I would do a long cmos clear (unplug, slide your jumper - let it sit like that for a few hours - tough to do when you just want the damn thing to work), and then flash to a different bios (or the same bios on a reflash.) I had kit of Corsair, that after I had flashed my bios - wuld not even boot if I OCed by as much as 1 mhz. Nothing I did mattered. No voltage setting, timing adjustment - nothing. I reflashed the bios (same bios) - and it was miraculously fine again. Go figure. Give it a shot, and let us know.

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I'll try re-flashing. It's strange because I got this chip straight from DFI with the latest BIOS. I've already tried everything else in your post.

 

When I ran Memtest overnight, both sticks ran through 24 times (all 8 tests) without errors.

 

I'll post back here when I do the flash tomorrow.

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No dice after re-flashing. However, the RAM will boot into windows occasionally but as soon as I go to do something, it'll crash, which leaves me with: "What do I do now?"

 

I just don't know why the ram wont run under windows, but is 8+ hours stable in memtest. Is g.skill still in business and do they still offer Tech Support/RMAs? I thought they have a lifetime warranty on their ram, but I could be wrong.

 

I'm going to look around and see what I can do as far as getting replacements or whatever. Thanks for everyone's help so far.

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No dice after re-flashing. However, the RAM will boot into windows occasionally but as soon as I go to do something, it'll crash, which leaves me with: "What do I do now?"

 

I just don't know why the ram wont run under windows, but is 8+ hours stable in memtest. Is g.skill still in business and do they still offer Tech Support/RMAs? I thought they have a lifetime warranty on their ram, but I could be wrong.

 

I'm going to look around and see what I can do as far as getting replacements or whatever. Thanks for everyone's help so far.

 

Sorry it's not working out for you. Here's Gskill's link for RMA (they are definitely still in business) -

 

http://www.gskill.com/indexen.html

 

Have read good things about their customer service. Good luck!

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