Re: Problem with M2N32 and 4x1GB RAM modules

On Dec 30, 1:41 pm, "RobV" <r...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Bret wrote:
Well here goes,

I built my system just over a year ago when the M2N32 was still pretty
new. I put 2x1GB corsair DDR2 800 modules into it. It flew, ran like a
champ for the past year and I never had a single problem. I let the
motherboard auto config the settings to 5-5-5-18 at 800 Mhz.

Of course being a greedy computer gamer, I desired to push it a little
further. The IDENTICAL RAM modules that I bought when i built it
dropped dramatically in price, so i bought 2 more. And then my
computer didnt fly so much...

I put in the extra 2 to make a total of 4x1GB DIMMs. I left the
timings on auto which kept the settings at 5-5-5-18, 800MHz. And heres
where i had the problems. The computer would always boot just fine.
Every time i sped through the windows boot process and got to the
windows login screen. But upon typing in my windows password, the
success rate of actually making it to the desktop was 50/50. Sometimes
After typing in the password and hitting enter, I would immediately
get my desktop and icons fast as hell like i should with 4 gigs of
ram. Other times, after hitting enter, I would see "loading settings"
and there it would stay until i restarted the computer. Sometimes
after a few minutes I would see the desktop background, but no icons,
no nothing. I still had to restart. It should also be noted that even
when I did boot successfully, there was one game in particular that
NEVER RAN properly with 4 gigs. Call of Duty 4, ONLY the multiplayer,
would seemingly sap 100% processor power when I opened it (says my
G15). Single player ran fine, and this only happened with 4 gigs. This
problem completely baffles me and I didnt get any help from the EA
forums.

Now logically, sometimes you have to turn down the speed a notch when
you max out your RAM. I turned the speed down to 667 MHz and adjusted
timings to 4-4-4-12. This seemed to work for a little bit, but then I
got the same problem, back to square 1.

That is where I am now. Still tinkering and looking for solutions on
the internet, still restarting my computer almost every time i turn it
on just so it will work.

So has anyone else had this problem? or have any ideas?

tl;dr: windows isn't responding well to 4x1GB DDR2 RAM modules

Since you didn't mention which Windows OS you're using, I'll assume it's
XP, 32 bit. XP 32 bit can address 4 GB. The MB requires addresses for
video card, sound card, USB ports, etc. The highest ~1 GB is set aside
for the MB addresses, therefore 4 GB of RAM will result in ~3 GB usable
memory.

I did the same as you. Since the same 2 GB memory was really
inexpensive (Corsair, probably the same as you have), I purchased
another 2 GB, knowing the problem, but I wanted to see what would
happen. The result was actually slower operation, same as you
experienced. After removing the extra 2 GB memory, the system is much
more responsive.

64 bit OSs don't have this problem; they can utilize memory into the
terabyte range, if *my* memory is correct. Leave the 2 GB installed and
hold the other 2 GB for future use on a 64 bit OS.

Shame on me for not mentioning the OS.

I do indeed have Windows XP x64 running, which is precisely the reason
I wanted to take advantage of my capability to run 4 gigs. Now can you
see why I'm so frustrated? I just ran a memtest this afternoon and it
returned no errors. So I return to my baffled state wondering why the
hell 4 gigs wont work. I did hear about the ">4gigs total memory
causes problems" problem, but I knew it didnt apply to me.

sigh... any further help would be appreciated very much. Did I forget
to mention anything else?
.

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