Board Won't Boot With more then 1 Stick of Ram

[Rogueblowtorch]

I've got 3 gigs of CH and TCCD ram, every stick is flawless. The board will not boot with anything more then one 512mb stick of ram regardless of slot configuration or bios. I originally thought it was a damaged cpu memory controller, so I bought a new cpu. The problem is unchanged.

 

Every piece of hardware in my computer other than the motherboard works flawlessly.

 

Suggestions?

[RGone]

spell out 'exactly' what 3 gigs of ram you have.

 

Plus go to www.bleedinedge.com and get the recommended timings and volts from the techs over there. Bios change and then to default memory timings is near useless.

 

RGone...

[Rogueblowtorch]

All 512mb sticks... VX, Redline, and some PQI as well. I have been learning about correct timings and voltage since the board came out. All of the ram has worked before in a dual channel configuration and continues to work on any normal motherboard. This problem came about suddenly. NO MATTER what I do regarding voltage, timings, bios, etc, the board only boots with one stick of ram. Everything is tested throroughly, the board is the problem.

 

Does anyone have any experience with this or a similar issue?

[xelz]

Everyone has this issue,not just you. I'm trying to figure this out myself, worknig with the tech over at OCZ. I'm pretty sure the RAM module is good, DFI needs to do something about this.

 

There is ONE method that will work for sure but that is really dangerous...

 

That is you power up with one stick.. right when you see bios screen and comp loading up, you plug in another with the power on... then you reset and it will work.

 

That method is dangerous and if you're trying to configure your setup/oc I don't recommend doing it, because you'll have to redo that everytime you reset cmos and thats really risky. You could end up frying your memory and stuff. But thats one method I learn from this person over at a retail comp store. It works and it will stay that way if you don't ever need to reset cmos. The method is really risky and thats not the method I personally pursue or want to pursue. We just need to figure out a proper method with the system power down to boot both stick safely.

 

If anyone who owns VX memory and got by the cold boot issue, please post your solution!

[Sharp]

Hello,

 

You mean,

 

2x512MB OCZ PC3200 gold VX?

2x512MB Mushkin REDline PC3200?

2x512MB PQI, turbo memory?

 

That = 3GB.

 

Yes/No?

 

So you cant get your OCZ dual kit to work?

[Dirk]

I've read alot about only one stick working on this forum. It happened to me too. It seems to me it is almost always fixxed with the proper timings being set. You can try the timings in my sig and see if they work for you. I wouldn't try plugging anything in while the power is on though....

[Rogueblowtorch]

Hello,

 

You mean,

 

2x512MB OCZ PC3200 gold VX?

2x512MB Mushkin REDline PC3200?

2x512MB PQI, turbo memory?

 

That = 3GB.

 

Yes/No?

 

So you cant get your OCZ dual kit to work?

 

PC4000 Redline, right on with the pqi and ocz (the ocz is the early 3200vx, not the current line that has shifted to "value" - not that it matters.) I was intentionally ambiguous on the ram as I am quite sure it is NOT the problem. This is also NOT a cold boot issue. ALL ram sticks boot up fine dual channel on ANY other board. For this case, please consider timings and voltages to be irrelevant.

 

Interesting bit about jamming the stick in with power, I'm not quite ready to try it though.

 

Thanks and keep up the posts.

[soundx98]

...That is you power up with one stick.. right when you see bios screen and comp loading up, you plug in another with the power on... then you reset and it will work.

 

hehehe, that's the craziest thing ever heard. No offense to the retail guy, but one of the things Oskar Wu has specifically wardned against is removing memory without the board's PSU being completely turned off/unplugged, with Standby and Dimm LEDs out.

 

You did say it was dangerous but holy toledo it's more like insane. Bad insane

 

Back to Rogueblowtorch's problem. (great handle man, HeHeHe).

 

I'm not sure I got it all down here. I remember reading about the CPU issue b4.

It runs fine with any stick in a single slot? does it overclock and run stable?

but can't get 2 sticks to boot together?

and you are at the manufacturer's recommended timings at default speeds?

 

we KNOW it's frustrating RBT but give us a little more info.

[Rogueblowtorch]

I remember reading about the CPU issue b4.

It runs fine with any stick in a single slot? does it overclock and run stable?

but can't get 2 sticks to boot together?

 

I was mistaken in assuming it was a cpu issue before, as now I have bought a brand new cpu AND done extensive testing in other motherboards. I had never heard of the board itself failing to utilize memory, as the controller is on-die.

 

Any stick works fine by itself. They overclock completely normally without problem. I can run 11x273 with either stick of VX 1:1. If I add the second, however, I get the halt at 3 leds. This can be at stock settings with 2.5v or ddr100 with 3.5v. It doesn't matter, they don't boot. Most of the time the computer doesn't even give the constant long beeps like I am so used to hearing from the cold boot issue.

 

Please force yourselves to take notice of what I'm saying: The ram is not a problem. The timings are not a problem. The voltage is not a problem. The cpu is not a problem. The board IS the problem.

 

I posted this in the hope that someone else had experienced this same problem and found some way of correcting it. Someone has found a way around most of the 45 million other problems with this board so I thought maybe the issue was more widespread.

 

As this is shaping up to look like a hardware defect, what's the fastest way to set up an RMA?

 

Thanks to any who have shown concern.

 

Oh, and for any who can't control themselves after reading "45 million other problems..." why don't you send me a pm, that way I can delete your nonsense without actually having to read it while sifting through the posts that are actually trying to help.

[Sharp]

Hello,

 

Use one OCZ PC3200 VX in the orange slot, slot 2.

 

Set the voltage to 3.2v and use these timings.

GENIE BIOS Setting

>DRAM Configuration..................Press Enter = New Menu

FSB BUS Frequency....................200

DRAM Voltage Control.................3.2V

 

GENIE BIOS Setting >DRAM Configuration

DRAM Frequency Set (MHZ).............200 (DRAM/FSB:1/01)

Command per clock (CPC)..............Enabled

Cas latency (tCL)....................2

RAS to CAS delay (tRCD)..............3

Min RAS active time (tRAS)...........6

Row precharge time (tRP).............3

Row cycle time (tRC).................11

Row refresh cycle time(tRFC).........14

Row to Row delay (tRRD)..............3

Write recovery time (tWR)............2

Write to read delay (tWTR)...........1

Read to write delay (tRWT)...........1

Refresh period (tREF)................AUTO

Write CAS latency (tWCL).............1

DRAM Bank Interleave.................Enabled

 

DQS Skew Control.....................Decrease Skew

DQS Skew Value.......................0

DRAM Drive Strength..................AUTO

DRAM Data Drive Strength.............AUTO

Max Async Latency....................6ns

Dram Response........................Normal

Read Preamble Time...................5ns

Idle Cycle Limit.....................AUTO

Dynamic Counter......................Disabled

R/W Queue Bypass.....................AUTO

Bypass Max...........................AUTO

32 Byte Granularity..................Disable (8 Bursts)

 

Then save&Exit

Turn the PC off.

Insert the second OCZ stick in the other orange slot, slot 4

 

Turn the PC of and see what happens.

[Rogueblowtorch]

The ram is not a problem. The timings are not a problem. The voltage is not a problem.

thx

[soundx98]

Sorta quick cause I know how aggravated you are.

 

JUst try the Sharp stuff.

He's been right on for a couple of others.

Worth a try.

 

Fastest course is through the retailer you got it from. If exchanging.

Call them and buy another board if you want. Whatever kind.

As long as they are selling you a little more stuff there is usually no problem.

 

Seems like you got one hell of a rig with single stick. 3GHz is 3GHz. Impressive as hale. So I would think what you want is both of the dang channels to work and you'll be a pretty happy guy. I sure would be. Got two raptors myself and your rig sounds REALLY SNAPPY.

 

So I'd probably contact DFI and send it back for repair if possible. I had a LPB that blew the VDimm MOSFET (I helped a little, I ahh.....drags foot and looks sheapish, changed RAM while the board was on) sent it to DFI and got the board back working perfect. You can always go back to the retailer if it can't be fixed.

 

Something sure as hale ain't right if all 3 sets are bust.

 

Had a new Ultra-D that was doing the one slot only thing 3 weeks ago. Flashed to 5/10FIX2. Booted with everything but necessities connected and have never had a problem. Go figure, probably just some wierd coincidence. Best of luck man, whatever you decide.