Issues with new memory

[AgentCipher]

Ok guys, I've tried a lot of stuff and couldn't figure out what the go was, so I figured I'd come here for help.

I'm using a "DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD" motherboard, which was previously using 2x512 PC3200 memory. It's my parents, thought I'd upgrade it for a Christmas gift by getting them another 2x1GB set, also PC3200. When I plugged the new set into the 3rd and 4th slots, mobo alarm sounded. So I then switched the order; 2x512 in 3 and 4, 2x1gb in 1 and 2. Alarm sounded. I then tried matching the sets with the color codes (1 and 3 orange, 2 and 4 yellow), alarm sounded.

I then removed the old memory, and put the new memory into the original configuration (1 and 2) and it booted perfectly fine.

I attempted to boot with 2x512 in 3 and 4, alarm sounded.

I'm thinking the memory might be incompatible in some manner, or I need to change some settings somewhere, or maybe just the 3rd and 4th slots are damaged. I tried to find the manual for this motherboard, but it's over 3 years old so no luck (and, of course, parents didn't keep it >_<)

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[mechBgon]

I'd try manually setting the memory timings to DDR333 and ensuring that the memory voltage is manually set to whatever the modules are built for, not AUTO. Then save the settings and restart. Once it's running with those settings, shut it down, turn off the PSU, add the extra memory and start it up again. It might just be unable to handle four modules at DDR400.

 

[AgentCipher]

Excellent :-D I'll try this shortly... I just turned it on for my parents for a quick second, and now they're playing solitaire like it's the best thing ever >_< I'll let you know how it went as soon as I manage to nudge them of.

 

[AgentCipher]

Well this is odd: DRAM voltage was set to 2.6 (memory is 2.6 - 2.8) which is normal... but apparently the DRAM frequency was on AUTO, but I can only set it to 200. Upon further note, the motherboard FSB was set to 200... I checked, and can be set to as high as 456; 200 is as low as possible. I set it to 333, thinking this might allow me to change the DRAM to that frequency, but I could not.

As I cannot find the manual for this motherboard, I don't know if I'm proceeding correctly. I shall look to see if I can find an updated bios.

 

[AgentCipher]

And Phoenix apparently charges for bios updates. That avenue has run dry. I'm back to being confused. Any help would be amazing. Thanks!

 

[mechBgon]

Here's DFI's own downloads section, which should have manuals and BIOS updates for it: http://www.dfi.com.tw/portal/CM/cmdownload

 

[bwatson283]

what is the max amount of ram you can have?

 

[AgentCipher]

@ mechBgon: Thanks for this; I'm checking some stuff out. You were right about the DDR333 settings, so I'm checking that out now.

@bwatson283: I can supposedly support 4 gigs, and I'm only attempting to use 3. I just need to figure out how to work this mobo...

thanks guys!

 

[AgentCipher]

@ mechBgon: Ok I passed my dumb-level for the day and realized that DDR333 setting is 166MHz (hence the D in the name). Set it, but didn't work. Same error noise.

I'm thinking the mobo might be damaged... thoughts?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: AgentCipher
@ mechBgon: Ok I passed my dumb-level for the day and realized that DDR333 setting is 166MHz (hence the D in the name). Set it, but didn't work. Same error noise.

I'm thinking the mobo might be damaged... thoughts?

I'm trying to remember what did and didn't work with the nForce4 Ultra chipset and the CPUs of the day. Ironic, since that's what I still have right now I seem to recall that older variants of the Athlon 64 could not handle unbalanced memory loadouts. But it's a bit vague now.

Try this: from top to bottom, go 1GB, 512MB, 1GB, 512MB. That way, each channel has 1.5GB on it (the upper two slots are Channel A, the lower two are Channel B). Any good?

 

[AgentCipher]

Originally posted by: mechBgon


I'm trying to remember what did and didn't work with the nForce4 Ultra chipset and the CPUs of the day. Ironic, since that's what I still have right now I seem to recall that older variants of the Athlon 64 could not handle unbalanced memory loadouts. But it's a bit vague now.

Try this: from top to bottom, go 1GB, 512MB, 1GB, 512MB. That way, each channel has 1.5GB on it (the upper two slots are Channel A, the lower two are Channel B). Any good?

Alright, so I tried this... didn't work. I then attempted to just put a single stick of memory in at a time, testing each slot; slots 3 and 4 (lower 2, Channel B) didn't work. The little LED error light came on next to it.

Looks like the mobo is damaged or I forgot a jumper somewhere...