Okay I just got done testing out my system with two 512MB PC2700 (DDR333) CL2.5 rated Samsung memory
modules in slots 1 and 3. It did not take long for my WinXP system to freeze up. It booted a couple of times
into WinXP successfully but as soon as I started IE6 browser and start doing things, it freezes up dead. I have
to hit reset to reboot.
Then I tried manually setting the RAM timings. I set it to 2.5,7,3,3. In auto SPD it was 2.5,6,3,3.
That did not work either. Same behaviour. Boot into WinXP, start doing normal stuff and eventually the
system freezes and locks up. Have to hit the reset button.
So none of this stuff works. BTW this time I also had the MB Overclocked with FSB=140 and Auto DDR which
gave me a DDR of around 350 I think (cannot exactly remember it now). But this overclock setting always
worked rock stable with only one memory stick installed in either slot1 or slot2. Since I know that changing the
Vcore and Vdimm voltages upwards did not make any difference when running the two memory sticks together,
I did not bother repeating increasing these voltages this time and I left them all at the defaults (no increases).
I finally gave up and went back to one stick of 512MB DDR333 RAM installed and all was rock stable again.
BUT then I had a brainstorming session (whilst I was outside having a relaxing miniature cigar break)... I recalled
that in all the test reviews that I have read, they all mentioned that Intel says that these i845G chipsets DO NOT
officially support DDR333 memory bus speeds, even though they let other manufacturers design their boards with
BIOS to go up to these DDR333 speeds and beyond. This board as well as other i845G boards are only specified
to officially support up to PC2100 DDR RAM. The ability to OC them to use DDR333 RAM is just gravy and a selling
point (as in a gimmick). So, guess what I decided to do to see if my Epox 4G4A+ board was working properly or not?
Even though I am using two 512MB DDR333 modules and the EPOX BIOS correctly reads and detects them as such,
I figure Intel did not condone(-sp) official support of DDR333 RAM for their 845G chipsets for no reason. This I am
guessing is one of the reasons why Intel did NOT Officially say the 845G chipset supports DDR333 speed RAM.
It must be something in their 845G memory bank switching that cannot reliably switch between the DIMM socket
memory banks at DDR333 speeds! Using one DDR333 works fine, stick another bank into the second slot and the
i845G circuit cannot keep pace switching the address lines.
Anyway, that's my take on it other than maybe I got some bum slow memory modules that don't work exactly well
together (like Acer stated). Proof it works at PC2100 speed? I changed my memory ratio to 1:1 so that at FSB=140 overclock I get a DDR=280 speed setting. (before I had always had it set to 4:5 ratio or AUTO DDR which gave me a DDR350 or higher
setting). I am using my 1GB of RAM (two separate 512MB DDR333 CL2.5 RAM modules in slot1 and slot2) right now
and it has not choked or frozen up on me yet. I ran through one test run of 3DMark2001SE and it passed with a
3DMark 0f 10360. I am using a eVGA brand GeForce4 TI4200, 128MB video card overclocked with Coolbits to 290/525
right now. So did I solve my dilema of how to get this Epox 4G4A+ MB to accept my two sticks of DDR333 RAM?
I hope so. I basically have my PC overcloked at FSB=140 and 1:1 ratio to give me PC2100 DDR280 speeds. This
falls within the officially supported specifications of the Intel i845G as per Intel and the MB makers.
I will load test this setup with these settings and even try to OC the CPU higher whilst trying to maintain the
DDR memory at PC2100 levels and see if it all holds up.
Hopefully I might have solved this case... stay tuned, for I will post any corrections to my theory if anything fails
with this setup!
Thanks for listening.
I edited this in case my main point was not clear from all my rambling... if you are having the same probs using two
512MB PC2700 rated mem modules, change your memory speed ratio to 1:1 or whatever it takes to get the DDR speed
down to or near PC2100 spec speeds. Then the two memory modules will work reliably... if I find out that this is not
the case with my system after further testing, I will be sure to let you all know here!