Re: Problem with M2N32 and 4x1GB RAM modules
- From: PapaMike <my2pets@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 01 Jan 2008 14:53:52 GMT
"RobV" <robv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:4779551a$0$16684$4c368faf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
Bret wrote:
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?
See what a small piece of information not included can do? All that
typing for nothing. ;-)
Are you certain all your drivers are certified to work with a 64 bit
OS? Have you disabled speed step, or whatever it's called with your
specific CPU?
With this turned on with a E6600 Core2 Duo, it takes a second or so to
ramp up the speed, especially since the speed and Vcore are reduced a
good bit.
After disabling speed step and other "power saving" features, I know I
have all the CPU power at hand at all times and the response is
immediate; no lag as I experienced with all that PSFs enabled.
I have also read that with all four banks filled one may have to "up"
the Northbridge (MCH) voltage in addition to stepping down the memory to
667MHz.
.
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