New motherboard, problems with memory...?

[TCSMIKE]

Well with this being my first post here i would like to give a quick Hello to everyone ..

So heres the problem. I have recently upgraded and i have never had so many problems doing so in my entire time building computers.

First setup.

AMD 64 3200+ (939)
Asus A8N-E
eVGA 7800GT PCIe
and here is the ram i have. i have one stick of Corsair XMS DDR400 (512MB) and 2 sticks of Corsair XMS DDR333 (1gig).

With this first setup, everything installed properly. but when i would power on the computer i would get the Memory beep BIOS errors. Corsair DDR400 would only work in DIMM 3 and 4 BUT wouldnt work with 2 chips in DIMM 3 and 4. it was either 1 chip in DIMM 3 or one chip in DIMM 4. So my friend does some research for me. and we figure its got to be my ram. or the board thats weird. because i couldnt run the 2 sticks of DDR333 in Dual channel or single channel. Considering i just used this memory in my older setup. i didnt htink it was my RAM that was bad and i decided to go buy a new motherboard.

AMD 64 3200+ (939)
DFI nF4 SLI-D
eVGA 7800GT PCIe
(same ram)

I swap everything over and the same thing happens. only this time. DDR400 only works in DIMM 3 and DIMM 4. where the DDR333 works in DIMM 1 and DIMM 2. but NOT in dual channel mode. So about now im starting to get a bit. mad. if you will. ive just spent more money then i had planned to upgrade and things still arent working right.

I boot the board with 1gig DDR333. and it gives me a warning that the memory in DIMM 1 and DIMM 2 is running in single mode. and that if i want to run dual channel i need to switch to DIMM 1 and DIMM 3. whatever. i get into windows. and download the newest BIOS update. restart. flash the bios. and the single channel warning goes away. but i still cant run memory in DIMM 1 and DIMM 3. or DIMM 2 and DIMM 4. and i can only get they computer to boot in Single mode.

My first thought was my memory is to old and there is some new standard out there that im missing. but then my friend built a new computer aswell. and hes havig the same problem. and his memory is supposed to support Dual channel. says on the box and what not. but. he cant boot in DIMM 1 and DIMM 3 or DIMM 2 and DIMM 4. and he has to run his old memory in Single mode to boot. so now im lost. and i have no idea what the problem is. i would like to get this computer running the way its supposed to be so i can start to enjoy my new eVGA 7800GT.

if anyone has any idea as to why im having issues please please please help. iam computer educated just havent really kept up with computers much after the AMD XP processors.


Thank You for taking the time to read this.

Mike

 

[islandtechengineers]

hey hey... dual channel memory has to match or exceed the external bus speed of the chip, your mobo has to support the feature and you're going to need equal memory modules. your problem is your memory chips.

you "have one stick of Corsair XMS DDR400 (512MB) and 2 sticks of Corsair XMS DDR333 (1gig)"
the ddr400 is 3200 and the ddr333 is 2700

get another stick of corsair xms ddr400 (512) 3200 and run that in dual channel 512 meg'ers

or

try the 2 sticks of corsair xms ddr333 (1 gig) pc2700 and have a machine with dual channel 1 gig'ers..

 

[islandtechengineers]

by the way for a little more insight into the issue...

your a64 3200+ socket 939 has.... should have a built in dual channel memory controller; Other chips may rely on the chipset. You have to install each module on a different channel for the modules to work in dual channel. So try your 2, 1 gig, 2700 sticks in socket 1 and 3 if it's a no go... try 2 and 4.

 

[TCSMIKE]

ok. thanks when im thinking here i dont remember if i tested the pc2700 after i udpated the bios. in DC mode anyway. so when i get home from work today i will have to try that.

i will update my status when i get home.

Thanks for the help.

 

[TCSMIKE]

OK. so status on that. was the BIOS update i did fixed the problem. i now have a gig of DDR 333 running in dual channel. and everything is good. now. i just need to buy a gig of nice memory and ill be extremely happy


Thanks for the help islandtechengineers, appreciate it.

 

[islandtechengineers]

no prob and welcome to to anandtech...

hey 333 in dual channel is still sweet...