*** Official ASUS P4C800/Deluxe (875P) Thread ***

[vetteguy]

An update...I have flashed the BIOS to 1006. I set the timings to 2-2-2-6 and increased the voltage on the RAM to 2.65V. I am still experiencing the same problem with 3dMark. Basically, if I have the timings anything below 2-3-3-7 the program just crashes. Can anyone else run their Kingston RAM at those timings on this board?

 

[vetteguy]

Does anyone have this board who is having a similar problem with Kingston RAM? This is really frustrating, as I spent extra money to get higher rated RAM, but now I can't run it at those timings. The Asus forums are down indefinitely so I can't ask for help there.

 

[jhites]

Originally posted by: vetteguy
Does anyone have this board who is having a similar problem with Kingston RAM? This is really frustrating, as I spent extra money to get higher rated RAM, but now I can't run it at those timings. The Asus forums are down indefinitely so I can't ask for help there.

I read your last couple of posts and here is some setting information about mem timings that I have been using with Kingston HyperX-PC3500 (2X512Mb) sticks.

I am running at 261fsb with a 2.6C on the P4C800. Puts the memory at DDR418 with 5:4 ratio.
These are my settings and have not had any problems with video (ATI AIW 9700 Pro).
2-2-2-5-4-Auto (The Performance Acceleration Mode is not enabled) Using 2.85vdimm

What you need to check first is your memory ratio as compared to your clock? Try to get it as close as you can using the dividers to your rated memory speed using 2.5-3-3-7-8-Auto and download MemTest86. Boot to MemTest and when it opens use the following key sequence. C;3;2;spacebar This will give you option to change # of tests to all tests. Report back and let us know how it ran and include your bios settings for you P4 processor (fsb/oc/vcore/etc).

edit: I am suggesting the memtest to see if you have a bad stick of ram. Run both sticks together and then each stick separately as single channel instead of dual channel.

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: jhites

Originally posted by: vetteguy
Does anyone have this board who is having a similar problem with Kingston RAM? This is really frustrating, as I spent extra money to get higher rated RAM, but now I can't run it at those timings. The Asus forums are down indefinitely so I can't ask for help there.

I read your last couple of posts and here is some setting information about mem timings that I have been using with Kingston HyperX-PC3500 (2X512Mb) sticks.

I am running at 261fsb with a 2.6C on the P4C800. Puts the memory at DDR418 with 5:4 ratio.
These are my settings and have not had any problems with video (ATI AIW 9700 Pro).
2-2-2-5-4-Auto (The Performance Acceleration Mode is not enabled) Using 2.85vdimm

What you need to check first is your memory ratio as compared to your clock? Try to get it as close as you can using the dividers to your rated memory speed using 2.5-3-3-7-8-Auto and download MemTest86. Boot to MemTest and when it opens use the following key sequence. C;3;2;spacebar This will give you option to change # of tests to all tests. Report back and let us know how it ran and include your bios settings for you P4 processor (fsb/oc/vcore/etc).

edit: I am suggesting the memtest to see if you have a bad stick of ram. Run both sticks together and then each stick separately as single channel instead of dual channel.

Could you maybe help me out a little with where to find all of this information in the BIOS? I'm not sure where to tell what memory ratio I'm using, or the dividers you mentioned. Maybe it's just terminology I'm unfamiliar with. If I understand correctly, I have it set to the default (400MHz). I have the timings set at 2-3-3-7-8 right now using default voltage for the RAM (I think, this BIOS is confusing as compared to the Abit's since they put these settings on different pages). So I'm supposed to run this Memtest with all of the standard settings? Will it identify if I have a bad stick?

 

[jhites]

Yes - MemTest86 is a memory test program that will test for errors. At these settings you should not get any errors at all. Once you complete all 11 tests start reducing the timings (ie: 2-2-3-7-4-A; 2-2-3-6-4-A; 2-2-3-5-4-A; 2-2-2-5-4-A) until you get an error then increase the vdimm to 2.75v and then to 2.85v.

Under Advanced Tab:

Jumper Free:
AI oc Tuner = Manual
CPU Mhz = 200
Dram = 400
agp/pci = 66/33
vcore = 1.550v
vdimm = 2.65v
vagp = 1.70v

Chipset
spd = disabled
Cas Lat = 2.5
Ras Pre = 3
Ras to Cas = 3
Delay = 7
Burst = 8
PAM = Auto
Idle Timer = Infinite
Refresh = 64uSec

memtest86 link - Use version 3.0

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: jhites
Yes - MemTest86 is a memory test program that will test for errors. At these settings you should not get any errors at all. Once you complete all 11 tests start reducing the timings (ie: 2-2-3-7-4-A; 2-2-3-6-4-A; 2-2-3-5-4-A; 2-2-2-5-4-A) until you get an error then increase the vdimm to 2.75v and then to 2.85v.

Under Advanced Tab:

Jumper Free:
AI oc Tuner = Manual
CPU Mhz = 200
Dram = 400
agp/pci = 66/33
vcore = 1.550v
vdimm = 2.65v
vagp = 1.70v

Chipset
spd = disabled
Cas Lat = 2.5
Ras Pre = 3
Ras to Cas = 3
Delay = 7
Burst = 8
PAM = Auto
Idle Timer = Infinite
Refresh = 64uSec

memtest86 link - Use version 3.0

Thanks for the help...I downloaded and ran the memory test for about 45 minutes and got impatient (sorry!) so I took a chance and upped my vdimm to 2.85v and tried running some benchmarks again...and so far everything has been fine. 3dMark was the application that kept crashing (well, so did UT2003) and I've run both of them about 5 times and so far neither has crashed. I will definitely do some more testing with Memtest, but it looks like it could have been just a voltage issue. I guess I didn't explore that enough because when I had the Abit board in order to run those timings I just had to have it at 2.65v. As long as it works, I don't care. Thanks again for your help! And I'm jealous of your overclock!

 

[niteshadw]

I just finished setting up my system but when I run my ATI Radeon 9800 pro 128MB card, I get strange lines, blue, green and yellow when I'm in bios, dos and windows. When I connect my old PCI card, the colors are fine. I have the latest bios version, ati catalyst drivers and all, but I'm guessing I need the Virtual GART drivers but I can't find them, I've tried searching Intel.com and Asus but they do not have such a thing. The manual says I need those so my card will work proerly, if I don't get it then I may have a blank screen in windows (which I did when I installed the ati drivers - I had the lines only when I did not install the drivers). I'm guessing that is my problem so if anyone knows the solution, please let me know. I really need to know if I can solve this problem or should I get another card or what not.

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: AndyHui
Great news!

ASUS have released a set of beta PROMISE controller drivers for the P4C800 Deluxe that increases SATA RAID performance by over 400%!!!

Linky

I just tried them out...my hard drive score in Sandra went from 48498kB/s before to 58221kB/s after! Not too shabby! I am using 2 Raptors in RAID 0.

 

[Agua]

jdmesty,

Sorry I didn't reply earlier. Anyway, the answer is yes; by SPD ratings I'm referring to the latency settings specified by the memory manufacturer and read by the mobo when the dram is set to "auto".

 

[vetteguy]

OK...here's something bizarre. Like I said last night, I upped the vdimm and everything seems to be working fine. I've been running benchmarks/burnins all day and no crashes or anything. 3dMark2003 has been giving me around 5300 points. I installed something and had to reboot, and on the POST screen I noticed that it said my RAM was running in dual-channel mode at 266MHz!!! I quickly went into the BIOS and looked around, everything was as I had set it up, except the DRAM was set at "auto". But, the CPU MHz was still set at 200. Everything else was at auto. I set the DRAM to 400 and rebooted, and tried 3dMark again, and guess what...crashed to the desktop. So I went back and changed it back to "auto" and ran it again and it's fine. I checked my settings with WCPUID, and it reports my fsb at 800MHz with a 200MHz clock. So my question is...even though the POST is reporting it running at 266, is it really running at 400? Because I thought the RAM speed was tied to the fsb. Otherwise, how could my RAM be running at 266 but the fsb be at 200? Or am I totally wrong here?

 

[vetteguy]

Umm...ok, here's the status. I decided to do the Memory check because now it is crashing to the desktop in any 3d application at the 2-2-2-6 timings. Here's what's happening:

I set the timings to 2.5-3-3-7-8-auto.
Booted into Memtest from CD
set it to run all tests

It goes through test 1 really fast, then starts test 2. Immediately the computer hard-freezes (no response from anything). I've rebooted and it does it every single time.

So, I pulled out one of the sticks of RAM and repeated the test...same results, hard lock on test 2.

I pulled out the current stick and replaced it with the other one...same results.

I have 2 stick of generic 512MB PC3200 from another system...I know these sticks to work. I repeated the test, same result for either or both sticks.

So, if Memtest is freezing on test 2 no matter what RAM I have in the system, what does that mean?

At this point I guess you could say I'm begging for help. I have a $2000+ system which is not usuable unless I run all of the components at less than their rated speeds.

 

[jhites]

I don't remember what test #2 is checking but you can find what
each test runs at the memtest86 website.
Have you tried setting the Dram to 320.
You should have 3 settings for ram when running 200Mhz fsb.
Auto
400=1:1 ratio
320=5:4 ratio
266=3:2 ratio
Also, Auto may be giving the memory different timings.
(ie: 3-4-4-8 or something like that)
Instead of using cpuid - use cpu_Z, since cpu_z will also report the
memory speed and timings for you in windows. You can use it to
see what the AUTO in bios is really giving you for speed and timings.

 

[jdmesty]

I am using Corsair TwinX512 3200LLPT memory in a pair that is a total of 1 gig on a new P4C800 Deluxe MB and an intel 3.0c 800mhz CPU

I have been having memory issues with this board as when I set the BIOS to speed it would alway crash on memory tests. I then disabled speed and it was running fine at some basic settings. (2.5,4,4,8,8)

I was given a suggestion to change the RAM voltage to stabilize the RAM when set to speed and I tried last night. I set the voltage to 2.55 volts and when I rebooted I got the Corrupted BIOS prompt that asked me for the CD or floppy. I inserted the cd and I repaired the BIOS and it told me to restart. When I did it gave me a series of over a dozen rapid beeps. I turned the PC off and when I turned it back on it gave me the corrupted BIOS message again so I inserted the cd again and this time after it told me to reboot I get nothing.

Here are the things I have tested after taken and unplugging all cards and external devices

I get a NO SYNC message on my moniter (AGP card, visiontek Ti4600) that will not go away since the monitor never synchs. There is also no floppy drive activity or any beeps of any type. It does access the hard drive for about 10 seconds but then stops and nothing happens

I tried the video card in another backup PC that I have and I do get video output with no problem

So I took out the AGP video card and put in an old PCI card. On bootup I still get no video on the monitor but the floppy drive does try to do something and I get the two beeps followed by 5 beeps from the PC (memory parity and CPU)

I try both memory chips one at a time and swapped them out to the other slot and still the same result.

I took out the battery for over 5 minutes and also set the jumper on the CLRTC jumpers per the manual. I still get the same result on both video cards.

So my question is what could I do to get back my motherboard. Since I am not getting any video to reset or see error messages i am not sure if I have somehow damaged the Video AGP slot or if the motherboard is now useless.

I just seems strange that I get nothing with the AGP card installed or the memory and CPU beeps with a PCI card installed.

Since I cannot repair the BIOS by booting up on the floppy or CD since I get no video can you suggest anythings that I can do to get my system back up and running.

Any suggestion would be helpful

 

[farsiders]

this might seem like a stupid question....but how do I flash the bios on this motherboard if i am using Windows XP.

thanks

 

[mroleg]

1. rename bios to P4C800.ROM
2. write it to a floppy or burn it on cd
3. reboot
4. during boot hold alt+f2 ( make sure you hold it right after computer tuns off. if you see regular post you missed it - rebood again)

 

[deathfalls]

I have a question about this board concerning memory... does this board only accept DDR400?

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: deathfalls
I have a question about this board concerning memory... does this board only accept DDR400?

No, it'll take 333/266 (you can set those options in the BIOS, or it will default to the estimated speed if you ask it to).

I put my Kingston RAM in a different machine and ran Memtest on it last night...it ran through the full battery of tests several times and came up with no errors. I wonder if this board just isn't capable of doing those timings with this memory.

 

[deathfalls]

okay, i'm getting a p4 3.0ghz 800mhz fsb and the asus p4c800 board... so for best performance i would need to use DDR400, right? what brand(s) are pretty good? i've seen corsair and kingston mentioned here, i assume the corsair is "better"?

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: deathfalls
okay, i'm getting a p4 3.0ghz 800mhz fsb and the asus p4c800 board... so for best performance i would need to use DDR400, right? what brand(s) are pretty good? i've seen corsair and kingston mentioned here, i assume the corsair is "better"?

Well, if you read some of my posts I am having problems getting Kingston to run at its rated timings on this board. ANd I have read elsewhere that there are MAJOR problems with Corsair RAM on this board. I really don't know what memory (if any) is good for this board right now.

 

[NewbieGuy]

Agh, Help!

Right now my WinBond 3200 DC memory is running at 320 and I wanted to change it so it would run at 400 so I used the settings posted by jhites:

Under Advanced Tab:

Jumper Free:
AI oc Tuner = Manual
CPU Mhz = 200
Dram = 400
agp/pci = 66/33
vcore = 1.550v
vdimm = 2.65v
vagp = 1.70v
Chipset
spd = disabled
Cas Lat = 2.5
Ras Pre = 3
Ras to Cas = 3
Delay = 7
Burst = 8
PAM = Auto
Idle Timer = Infinite
Refresh = 64uSec

After making these changes I got a checksum error during post and it asked for the ASUS CD so it could reload the bios which it did. Now how ever it won't even go to post, it turns on and stops before post (or right at the beginning) there are no beeps and the screen is blank.

What should I do? I had this same issue before when I first built the system but I don't remember how I fixed it. Do I hit ALT + F2 during boot?

Thanks for you're time

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: NewbieGuy
Agh, Help!

Right now my WinBond 3200 DC memory is running at 320 and I wanted to change it so it would run at 400 so I used the settings posted by jhites:

Under Advanced Tab:

Jumper Free:
AI oc Tuner = Manual
CPU Mhz = 200
Dram = 400
agp/pci = 66/33
vcore = 1.550v
vdimm = 2.65v
vagp = 1.70v
Chipset
spd = disabled
Cas Lat = 2.5
Ras Pre = 3
Ras to Cas = 3
Delay = 7
Burst = 8
PAM = Auto
Idle Timer = Infinite
Refresh = 64uSec

After making these changes I got a checksum error during post and it asked for the ASUS CD so it could reload the bios which it did. Now how ever it won't even go to post, it turns on and stops before post (or right at the beginning) there are no beeps and the screen is blank.

What should I do? I had this same issue before when I first built the system but I don't remember how I fixed it. Do I hit ALT + F2 during boot?

Thanks for you're time

If you power it down and power it back on, it should load the fail-safe BIOS which will be default settings. I've had it happen to me and when I turned it off and on again it loaded the BIOS in safe mode. Otherwise, I'm not sure.

jhites- In another thread there was a link to a forum topic where it told how to sucessfully run Memtest on this board, so I'm proceeding with the tests you recommended.

 

[NewbieGuy]

Safe mode bios is just the bios w/ the default settings, right? Should still post, correct?

Maybe the CD is defective or something and it messes the bios up when the bios tries to reset itself from the CD. I'll make a new recovery floppy from the lastest drives on the ASUS site.

However this doesn't fix my current problem where there's no post and no bios to access to I can't reset the setting or flash.

What does alt + F2 do exactly? I might try that.

 

[senior guy]

Originally posted by: vetteguy

Originally posted by: deathfalls
okay, i'm getting a p4 3.0ghz 800mhz fsb and the asus p4c800 board... so for best performance i would need to use DDR400, right? what brand(s) are pretty good? i've seen corsair and kingston mentioned here, i assume the corsair is "better"?

Well, if you read some of my posts I am having problems getting Kingston to run at its rated timings on this board. ANd I have read elsewhere that there are MAJOR problems with Corsair RAM on this board. I really don't know what memory (if any) is good for this board right now.

Well I'm not only a P4C800 owner, I'm a vette guy also - so I wouldn't BS you... I'm running 2 sticks of Corsair CMX512-3200C2 at 400MHz totally stable at the following settings (with BIOS 1006):
DRAM set at 2,3,3,6,4 - Perf Accel Mode, Idle Timer and Refresh Rate = Auto

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: senior guy

Originally posted by: vetteguy

Originally posted by: deathfalls
okay, i'm getting a p4 3.0ghz 800mhz fsb and the asus p4c800 board... so for best performance i would need to use DDR400, right? what brand(s) are pretty good? i've seen corsair and kingston mentioned here, i assume the corsair is "better"?

Well, if you read some of my posts I am having problems getting Kingston to run at its rated timings on this board. ANd I have read elsewhere that there are MAJOR problems with Corsair RAM on this board. I really don't know what memory (if any) is good for this board right now.

Well I'm not only a P4C800 owner, I'm a vette guy also - so I wouldn't BS you... I'm running 2 sticks of Corsair CMX512-3200C2 at 400MHz totally stable at the following settings (with BIOS 1006):
DRAM set at 2,3,3,6,4 - Perf Accel Mode, Idle Timer and Refresh Rate = Auto

Have you been able to get your RAM to 2-2-2-6 at all? Or haven't you tried? Mine seems perfectly stable at 2-3-3-7, but it breaks down at the lower settings.

 

[senior guy]

Originally posted by: vetteguy
Have you been able to get your RAM to 2-2-2-6 at all? Or haven't you tried? Mine seems perfectly stable at 2-3-3-7, but it breaks down at the lower settings.

I did try and it was NOT stable at those settings. Perhaps someday with a better BIOS (I hope)!