booting vista x64 with 4GB ram

[Job]

the bios recognises 4GB (after having enabled 'memory remapping in the bios) but wont boot in to windows - I get a BSOD either shortly before or shortly after loading up the desktop. It WILL boot without the memory remapping option enabled, but this only allows me to use 3GB which is getting annoying. Any ideas? I did get it working for a bit, but after restart it started grumbling.....

 

[DnetMHZ]

This is pretty basic but:

1. Do you have the latest BIOS update for your Motherboard?
2. Have you tested the RAM to make sure it isn't bad?

 

[Job]

yes and yes. Works fine in all combinations of slots, all the ram is the same brand, timings and type. My basic problem seems to be a difficulty with the memory remapping option in my bios (which is necessary to enable the system to address more that 3gb of ram) - with the option disabled its fine, and CPU-z still recognises the 4gb even if Vista wont use it.

EDIT - I know it works cos it booted fine with 4GB until I fecked around with overclocking. Now even with everything restored to a previous state, im still not getting a boot

 

[Job]

Ok for those of you who are interested - 4GB will be unstable unless using a 1:1 RAM divider and relaxing your timings a bit. For me, this meant running the CPU at the lower frequency of 2.35 ghz and the Ram at 260mhz 3-5-5-10. Not exactly the best situation, but opteron 185s are now pretty cheap and come at a default 2.6

 

[videopho]

Old problem but here is the patch

 

[Nothinman]

Now that's an awesome KB article "If you can't get Windows to install, install this patch into the Windows installation that won't install for you."

 

[DaveBC]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Now that's an awesome KB article "If you can't get Windows to install, install this patch into the Windows installation that won't install for you."

Heh.. I think that implies use 1 stick to install with, then patch and add the others.

*edit* spelling

 

[Job]

Originally posted by: videopho
Old problem but here is the patch

Thats with the patch installed! NF4 does NOT like dividers!!! Im gonna try running stress tests with everything at default / ram at looser timings - if it works I'll upgrade to the opteron 185 as its dirt cheap right now - hopefully I'll be able to get at least 2.8 on the CPU with mem at 260 with 3-5-5-10 timings. I'll be testing stable RAM speeds with my current set up and will post results. This seems, from major googling, to be a pretty common problem - so I 'll keep everyone updated with my progress and hopefully write up an FAQ

 

[Heinrich]

I am on a AM2 system. I had some instability with OCZ Ram. I had 4 sticks of the exact same RAM, but 2 were flaky. I returned them to OCZ, who lost my RMA. They upgraded me to a different set. I put into my ticket that if they were going to upgrade me, to make sure it was compatible with what I had (and I left my model number.) About 3 days later they sent me replacements.

I had a lot of trouble for a few days with SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION bsod. Then I swapped the slots. I put the "faster" RAM into the orange slots and the slower RAM into the yellow. Yesterday I was on my PC all day long from 7am til about 10pm with NO PROBLEM. Not one. I shut down normally. This morning, it won't even boot up - going very quickly to a bsod without even a description - until I remove the older 2 sticks of ram!

 

[imported_djnes]

Originally posted by: Job
Ok for those of you who are interested - 4GB will be unstable unless using a 1:1 RAM divider

I don't think this goes for everyone. My RAM isn't set at 1:1, and I had no issues installing Vista Ultimate x64 with all 4 GB in my system. Some boards can handle it, some can't, and some can with a BIOS update.

 

[stash]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Now that's an awesome KB article "If you can't get Windows to install, install this patch into the Windows installation that won't install for you."

Good grief. :frown:

That's getting submitted for review...

 

[Job]

Ram's working properly now on 'auto' not a 1:1 divider, with a 240 fsb, the ram is running at 196 mhz which suggests the MB is limiting it somehow, even though it wouldn't boot using actual dividers. This means my CPU will not be able to run at its usual 290 fsb, which is a shame - but I have an opteron 185 on the way which I hope to get up to 3ghz Anyone know why the s939 opteron 185 is more expensive that the AM2 X2 6000+?

 

[fire400]

have you guys tried this on xp pro x64 yet?

 

[Job]

Ok after 2 days of testing with a new opty 185 - the only way I can stay stable is running the proc at 2.7 and the ram at 165 mhz! This is unacceptable, so I have gone back to 2 gigs of ram running at 240mhz and the proc running at 3 ghz - tbh, the system is faster and more responsive without the extra 2 gigs of Ram. Vista optimum at 4 gigs my arse. Plus - no crashes! God bless Microsoft. Now all I need to do is to find a way to cool my chipset below 58 degrees, seeing as there's a giant 8800gtx sitting on top of the fan...... haven't tried xp 64 yet, but would love to know if it works any better.

Any one think this 4gb issue will be cleared up with a service pack (assuming its not a motherboard issue)?

 

[Nothinman]

The chances of your instability with 4G of memory being a software problem are extremely small.

 

[videopho]

I agree with Nothingman.
My 4gb with Vista 64 on the rig #2 (e6600) runs just fine.

 

[Job]

Is your ram running at full speed? I can get stable easy enough, but my MB downclocks the mem frequency and refuses to play ball with memory dividers. Plus, does your MB spec support over 4gb ram? eg, mine has a max of 4 whereas yours might be 8gb - if so then its def a hardware prob.