Intel D975XBX and Geil DDR2-800 compatibility

[imported_junaid]

Hi,

I have an Intel D975XBX board (mb rev 304, bios rev 5/26/06) with a Core2 Duo E6600. I have 2 x 512 MB Geil DDR2-800 CL 5 modules. When I set the BIOS to use the memory at 800 MHz, memtest86 always locks up in the middle of the test at around 34% completion [This is when it just starts the memory move tests]. In addition, the Windows setup also locks up in the middle. However, if I set the BIOS to run the memory at 667 MHz, then everything works fine.

Has anyone else run into a similar problem? Is there some known compatibility issue between the Geil memory and D975XBX? Or does this behavior mean that there is some problem in the motherboard or memory?

Also, CPU-Z is showing the memory's SPD data as 667 MHz (even if I set the BIOS to run the memory at 800 MHz). Could that be simply because the D975XBX does not officially support 800 MHz or is this some real problem?

I would really appreciate any help in this regard.

Thanks,
Junaid

 

[RebateMonger]

Well, when PC3200 came out, Geil was selling overclocked PC2700 modules as PC3200 memory modules. Their SPDs said PC2700. Maybe they are doing the same thing again?

 

[imported_junaid]

I tried changing the DDR voltage to 2.1V instead of Automatic, based on a suggestion that I got from somebody, and then it did pass memtest86 at 800 MHz. It even works with 1.9V. Just not at 1.8V (which is I guess what Automatic chooses), even though the Geil website specifies the voltage as 1.8V. Has anyone else been able to use this memory at 1.8V or are the Geil specs incorrect? If others have been running it at 1.8V, then do you think this could indicate a defective module?

Thanks,
Junaid