Memory problem

Mr John Cowan · 08-07-2008, 03:02 PM

Newbie here so welcome to all.

Just upgraded my pc and have a problem with the memory. Problem is as follows.

Motherboard has 4 ddr2 memory slots (red x2 yellowx2) When I install 2 matched modules in either of the red/yell slots ststem won't boot, cant even get into bios. Fiting one module in any of the slots system boots no problem so proving that both mem modules are working o.k.

I am running win xp pro sp2 all updates done. 5.1 Build 2600

System as follows.

Gigabyte GA-MA78G-DS3H
Bios Award Modular V6.00pg
CPU AMD Athlon 64x2 dual core 5200+ MMX 3D Now (2 cpu's)~2.7GHz 1mb total l2 cache 65w
Memory Corsair value select DDR2 667MHz 2x2GB
On board graphics ATI Radion HD 3200 Display memory 700.0 mb
Realtek on board audio
Direct x 9.0c
Maxtor 250gb S/Sata2 7200rpm 8mb cache sata 300
chipset AMD 780G
550 w psu

Any help/advice would be welome.

John

donkey42 · 08-07-2008, 03:35 PM

i think the problem is: your motherboard is expecting you to insert a dual channel matched pair of RAM sticks & you didn't specify if you RAM is dual channel (this may work)
because a mobo needs a matched pair of RAM stick inserted in to separate RAM slots of the same color to use dual channel, so, can you connect 1 stick into different colored slots

Mr John Cowan · 08-07-2008, 04:02 PM

Hi Donkey, thanks for the quick reply.

I baught a matched pair of corsair value select ddr2 4gb in total 2x2gb sticks. I inserted both into slots 1 & 2 (yellow) as shown in the mobo manual. System would not boot! but when I removed one of the modules it did boot. If I insert one module into any of the slots it boots. The problem is when both memory modules are instaled together the thing wont boot.

donkey42 · 08-07-2008, 04:15 PM

they may be a matched pair but are they dual channel ?

it may work i 1 stick is in a red slot & 1 stick is in a yellow slot

your mobo is compatible with only dual channel DDR2 but is your RAM dual channel DDR2 compatible ?

Mr John Cowan · 08-07-2008, 04:50 PM

You may have just sorted out my problem. I am used to using Sepron cpu's and these dual channel cpu's are new to me. I did not realise the ddr ram had to be specific dual channel. I assume this is clearly sold as dual channel. I have just baught a matched pair not marked as dual channel. Oh dear well thats what it is all about. I have learned something here then.

I thank you for your time and help.

donkey42 · 08-07-2008, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr John Cowan

You may have just sorted out my problem. I am used to using Sepron cpu's and these dual channel cpu's are new to me. I did not realise the ddr ram had to be specific dual channel. I assume this is clearly sold as dual channel

yeah

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr John Cowan

I have just baught a matched pair not marked as dual channel. Oh dear well thats what it is all about. I have learned something here then.

we all have to learn, we wern't born knowing crap about computer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr John Cowan

I thank you for your time and help

np, glad i was helpful

thomas234 · 08-07-2008, 05:54 PM

Are you sure that your motherboard supports 4gb of RAM?

I can't imagine motherboard for a Sempron processor would have much use for 4gb of RAM, especially as 32bit Windows won't recognise all of it. I think the Sempron is 64bit, so there is a chance that it will support 4gb, but maybe only as 4 x 1gb modules?

donkey42 · 08-07-2008, 06:42 PM

very

point, but i think he did some research to prove he didn't have dual channel RAM

IamOne · 15-07-2008, 05:56 AM

There is no such thing as Dual Channel Memory. The motherboard has dual channel memory controller and runs the memory in Dual Channel. You can run mismatched memory in dual channel if the fastest stick can run on the low setting of the slowest stick. The motherboard is Dual Channel, not the memory!

thomas234 · 15-07-2008, 07:46 AM

Thanks IamOne, I didn't know that! I'd never heard of dual channel before this post, so I assumed everyone else was correct.

IamOne · 15-07-2008, 02:24 PM

To clarify that, the memory controller has Dual channel capabilities. If your running a Intel processor its on the motherboards northbridge, if your running a Athlon 64 or Phenom the memory controller in built in the processor. But like I said there is no such thing as Dual Channel memory, the Memory is (run) in Dual Channel by the Memory Controller. Companies sell sets of Memory and say Dual Channel, but all that means is they guarantee that the two sticks are compatabile enough in speed and timming that the (Memory Controller) can (run) them in Dual Channel.

08-07-2008, 03:35 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
donkey42 Paranoid Geeky Geek Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Male Posts: 5,667 Times Helpful: 303 My Mood: Paranoid Status: Offline My Computer	i think the problem is: your motherboard is expecting you to insert a dual channel matched pair of RAM sticks & you didn't specify if you RAM is dual channel (this may work) because a mobo needs a matched pair of RAM stick inserted in to separate RAM slots of the same color to use dual channel, so, can you connect 1 stick into different colored slots __________________ GRUB manual \| Google Linux \| Distrowatch \| Linux Chix \| Kubuntu \| My Mini City

08-07-2008, 04:15 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
donkey42 Paranoid Geeky Geek Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Male Posts: 5,667 Times Helpful: 303 My Mood: Paranoid Status: Offline My Computer	they may be a matched pair but are they dual channel ? it may work i 1 stick is in a red slot & 1 stick is in a yellow slot your mobo is compatible with only dual channel DDR2 but is your RAM dual channel DDR2 compatible ? __________________ GRUB manual \| Google Linux \| Distrowatch \| Linux Chix \| Kubuntu \| My Mini City Last edited by donkey42; 08-07-2008 at 04:23 PM. Reason: edit

08-07-2008, 05:54 PM	#7 (permalink) Top
thomas234 Big Geek Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 16 Male Posts: 715 Times Helpful: 32 My Mood: Bored Status: Offline My Computer	Are you sure that your motherboard supports 4gb of RAM? I can't imagine motherboard for a Sempron processor would have much use for 4gb of RAM, especially as 32bit Windows won't recognise all of it. I think the Sempron is 64bit, so there is a chance that it will support 4gb, but maybe only as 4 x 1gb modules? __________________ Nikon D40 + Sigma 18-200 f/3.5-6.3 A handful of photos

08-07-2008, 06:42 PM	#8 (permalink) Top
donkey42 Paranoid Geeky Geek Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Male Posts: 5,667 Times Helpful: 303 My Mood: Paranoid Status: Offline My Computer	very point, but i think he did some research to prove he didn't have dual channel RAM __________________ GRUB manual \| Google Linux \| Distrowatch \| Linux Chix \| Kubuntu \| My Mini City

15-07-2008, 07:46 AM	#10 (permalink) Top
thomas234 Big Geek Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 16 Male Posts: 715 Times Helpful: 32 My Mood: Bored Status: Offline My Computer	Thanks IamOne, I didn't know that! I'd never heard of dual channel before this post, so I assumed everyone else was correct. __________________ Nikon D40 + Sigma 18-200 f/3.5-6.3 A handful of photos

08-07-2008, 04:02 PM	#3 (permalink) Top
Mr John Cowan Geek Trainee Join Date: Jul 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 3 Status: Offline	Hi Donkey, thanks for the quick reply. I baught a matched pair of corsair value select ddr2 4gb in total 2x2gb sticks. I inserted both into slots 1 & 2 (yellow) as shown in the mobo manual. System would not boot! but when I removed one of the modules it did boot. If I insert one module into any of the slots it boots. The problem is when both memory modules are instaled together the thing wont boot.

08-07-2008, 04:50 PM	#5 (permalink) Top
Mr John Cowan Geek Trainee Join Date: Jul 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 3 Status: Offline	You may have just sorted out my problem. I am used to using Sepron cpu's and these dual channel cpu's are new to me. I did not realise the ddr ram had to be specific dual channel. I assume this is clearly sold as dual channel. I have just baught a matched pair not marked as dual channel. Oh dear well thats what it is all about. I have learned something here then. I thank you for your time and help.

15-07-2008, 05:56 AM	#9 (permalink) Top
IamOne Geek Join Date: Feb 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 50 Times Helpful: 3 Status: Offline My Computer	There is no such thing as Dual Channel Memory. The motherboard has dual channel memory controller and runs the memory in Dual Channel. You can run mismatched memory in dual channel if the fastest stick can run on the low setting of the slowest stick. The motherboard is Dual Channel, not the memory!

15-07-2008, 02:24 PM	#11 (permalink) Top
IamOne Geek Join Date: Feb 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 50 Times Helpful: 3 Status: Offline My Computer	To clarify that, the memory controller has Dual channel capabilities. If your running a Intel processor its on the motherboards northbridge, if your running a Athlon 64 or Phenom the memory controller in built in the processor. But like I said there is no such thing as Dual Channel memory, the Memory is (run) in Dual Channel by the Memory Controller. Companies sell sets of Memory and say Dual Channel, but all that means is they guarantee that the two sticks are compatabile enough in speed and timming that the (Memory Controller) can (run) them in Dual Channel. Last edited by IamOne; 15-07-2008 at 02:34 PM.

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