Help RAM will not work

xblast5000

Well I decided to add two extra gigabytes of RAM for my computer. (originally having two) The first problem I encountered was my computer would just beep and wouldn't work when I turned it on. I fixed this by changing this Command per clock to disabled from auto. Once I was able to start up my computer with the RAM I noticed neither Vista nor my BIOS detected a difference in the RAM. But on the other hand CPU Z was able to detect the upgrade. Can somebody please tell what is going on here?

Specs:

Windows Vista 32bit

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ ~2.0 ghz

DFI Lanparty nf4 Ultra-D

StinkyPest

So are you using four sticks, or using two sticks with higher amounts of memory? (Hadn't had time to check your mobo yet). If you're using four sticks, make sure that your board supports it. Could possibly be they are/not dual channel compatible. If you're having replaced the two sticks for two sticks, check the voltage, to see if the old sticks are the same as the new sticks.

Just stuff for first checks, sure lots of people have ideas of what's up.

xblast5000

Originally posted by StinkyPest


So are you using four sticks, or using two sticks with higher amounts of memory? (Hadn't had time to check your mobo yet). If you're using four sticks, make sure that your board supports it. Could possibly be they are/not dual channel compatible. If you're having replaced the two sticks for two sticks, check the voltage, to see if the old sticks are the same as the new sticks.
Just stuff for first checks, sure lots of people have ideas of what's up.

 

No I just added two sticks but I believe my motherboard should be able to support all four sticks.

StinkyPest

Is this the correct mobo?

http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/dfinf4ultralp/2.html

(Notice this one says UT in the name, as your does not... but found no specs for a non-UT)

 

If it's showing up on CPU-Z tell me what frequency it's running at.

Check your bios, try removing dual channel if it's a selectable feature.

xblast5000

Yes that is the motherboard, sorry I left the UT out but I'll try what you said and report back.

Theutus

is all of your RAM the same brand/ type/ size/ speed?

if you are only using 2 sticks are they in the correct slots? 1&2, 3&4

is the RAM compatable with the Mobo?

xblast5000

Well I cannot find anything that would be able to turn on the dual interface.  Does anyone know what this would be labled as or what part of the BIOS it is under?  The RAM is about the same I believe the RAM I bought is only slightly faster.  I cannot find the older model anywhere but here is the newer one.  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227210

StinkyPest

KK try removing your old sticks, only inserting your new ones (in the same exact slots), and see if it'll boot. If it will, and recognizes, you have your sticks possibly in the wrong slots. If it doesn't work, your ram is imcompatible more than likely for whatever reason. (Usually is because of faulty ram, or voltage)

xblast5000

BTW the frequency for CPU-Z is 167.4 MHz.

StinkyPest

Frequency should be 200, if it's the DDR400. 166 = DDR333.

 

You could very well be running two sticks of 333, and two 400... which would be your problem.

xblast5000

Well since changing the sticks my freq is now 200 mhz.  I think the results would of been the same with either pair.  I also noticed that my computer will not run with 3 sticks.  

StinkyPest

If the two older sticks are running 167.5 or whatever frequency, they are DDR333 (usually 166 freq, but with bios OCing/volt/etc it'll vary a very small amount). Since your two new sticks are running right around 200, they're DDR400. You can't mix/match those different memory versions together (on 99% of mobos). Thus they won't work.

So you'll need to return the memory you got (very slight upgrade to 333), or get another 2 sticks of 400 to equal the 4 stick combo.

I would, before you return though, try your other two slots with the old memory, and make sure they register. That way your slots are deemed useable, while you have the spare parts already.

 

EDIT (On some mobos you are able to force a certain frequency, but I wouldn't suggest it, nor explain it over the net. It can be very harmful to your computer if done incorrectly/incorrect hardware.)

xblast5000

Originally posted by StinkyPest


If the two older sticks are running 167.5 or whatever frequency, they are DDR333 (usually 166 freq, but with bios OCing/volt/etc it'll vary a very small amount). Since your two new sticks are running right around 200, they're DDR400. You can't mix/match those different memory versions together (on 99% of mobos). Thus they won't work.
So you'll need to return the memory you got (very slight upgrade to 333), or get another 2 sticks of 400 to equal the 4 stick combo.
I would, before you return though, try your other two slots with the old memory, and make sure they register. That way your slots are deemed useable, while you have the spare parts already.
 
EDIT (On some mobos you are able to force a certain frequency, but I wouldn't suggest it, nor explain it over the net. It can be very harmful to your computer if done incorrectly/incorrect hardware.)

 

No the I haven't have the frequency for the old sticks by themselver but I can guess they will be the same I'll get that info to you in a sec.  But I have found that the RAM will not run if paired up correctly.  A old RAM will not run in the same duel channel as the new. 

StinkyPest

Ok cool. The slot thing isn't a biggy, usually won't work because most boards recoginize the first set of dual channel on specific slots or it won't work correctly. So not a big deal there, was worth a shot though.

Give me those old ram sticks frequency already! ;p

StinkyPest

Gah another thing.. open CPU-Z as this could be another issue. (Man computer parts choosing has become an art.) Click on SPD, check your slots. Make sure every slot listed (#1/#2/#3/etc) is the same. Make sure all of them are either buffered or unbuffered, registered or unregistered, frequency the same, voltage the same.. etc.

xblast5000

164 was what I got when all four sticks were in.  I get 200 when both sets of sticks are alone.  Another thing that I found that is interesting is the only stick seems to only work effectively in the slots they have been in over the past 2 1/2  years.  When I tried changing slots with the old RAM my computer kept freezing up and crashing I could even check the freq because when I opened the application it would crash. 

StinkyPest

Yeah, with dual channel you usually have to do a specific 2 slots first or it'll crash, it's normal. Not sure why your sticks are revertting to 167 when they're all 200. My only estimate is your other slots are bad. If you bought it from newegg, explain to them how when you insert all four slots that it'll change the frequency from a DDR400 to a DDR333, as that doesn't make sense. Newegg is pretty good about those problems, OCZ might even help. I'm pretty much all out of ideas as long as all those specs under SPD in CPU-Z match up.

Check those out under SPD in CPU-Z, if they all match up, I'm out of ideas other than your slots may be bad (or have a extremely poor PSU which I doubt very much).

xblast5000

I do notice a difference in the newer ones and the older ones.  The newer ones read Freq 200mhz, CAS# Latency 2.5, RAS# to CAS# 3, RAS# Precharge 2, tRAS 5, and voltage 2.5 v.

 

Older ones read Freq 200mhz, CAS# Latency 3.0, RAS# to CAS# 3, RAS# Precharge 3, tRAS 8, and voltage 2.5 v. 

I will switch the RAM slots to determine if the difference is the RAM or there are corrupted slots.

StinkyPest

Don't see any real issues. Check to see if the sticks are buffered/registered. Other than that... yeah as I said before out of ideas/slots may be bad.

xblast5000

Yeah neither slot is corrupted I go the same results.  But it seems there are slight differences between the two set of sticks.  I think if I can turn the dual channel off somehow it will work.

StinkyPest

Could try opening your bios looking for it. Usually is under some sort of thing labled like Dual Channel or some other. Wish there was a type of medium every bios uses but alas they don't. GL on finding it, sorry I couldn't find the issue for ya. Have a gooder one.

PinkCat

Im not going to go savage geek on you but...

 OP:

You most likely need to update your Bios.  I find with most lanparty Mobo's it is needed.  See what bios your running and if it isn't the newest go get it.  I had problems when I was building my first Vista system with 4 sticks of RAM loaded and DFI lanparty product.  Just a suggestion to check into.

StinkyPest

Hopefully it's just that... and there I go about thinking out things the hard way. ;p

xblast5000

uggg its the latest bios.  I have read about problems with memory pertaining to vista but even so I should at least be getting 3.5 gb.

Mortus9

Take it out and spit on it... It gets hot cooped up in that box, it just needs some moisture!

xblast5000

just reinstalled bios and nothing happened.