Problem with having 4 GB memory

black dog · 19 Apr 2009

Why not get in touch with Biostar support. If you think they are being evil, tell them so.

marcellusmighty · 19 Apr 2009

Yeah, I have done that actually! Biostar apparently enjoys responding the exact same way every time... "try a different brand of memory". Seriously? Of COURSE it's not the motherboard and the lack of support for it.

marcellusmighty · 20 Apr 2009

Okay, so here's an update on the situation: I put the second stick back in, and of course windows 7 won't even have the logo show up on boot before restarting. So I have to use XP on my other partition to do anything. For the first time, I actually noticed the speed deffierence between the two. It's clear that 7 is faster, but that doesn't matter with the current issues!!! So far it looks like the only way to fix the problem is to update the BIOS. However, the only way to update the BIOS (since BIOSTAR won't do it) is to subscribe to the BIOS Agent Plus service from Phoenix. Of course my father wouldn't go for the $40 subscription... he paid $40 for the memory alone! Does anyone have any other suggestions?

ikilledkenny · 20 Apr 2009

Return the RAM stick back to the store and get another one.

johngalt · 20 Apr 2009

Again, Kenny, please read the entire thread. The OP already stated that there is nothing wrong with the RAM, as either one by itself works perfectly fine.

Marcellus - you might be stuck there, but I'll try to do some digging later on this week to see if I can find any new developments on your mobo and Biostar's hedging and hawing when it comes to fixing their issue.

Night Hawk · 21 Apr 2009

You don't have to buy any subscription to update the bios. Look in the user's manual for the basics there on that model board. Often the suppport sites will see a winflash tool as well as any manual tool you can run from XP if needed.

The most common seen with more then 2-3gb installed especially for the 64bit Windows is the need to remove all but 2gb when going to install or having all dimm slots populated. Those are known issues there. The other problem would be with that memory not being recommended for that model board due to voltage or timings or even simply being the wrong type.

Bryce · 21 Apr 2009

marcellusmighty said:

Okay, so here's an update on the situation: I put the second stick back in, and of course windows 7 won't even have the logo show up on boot before restarting. So I have to use XP on my other partition to do anything. For the first time, I actually noticed the speed deffierence between the two. It's clear that 7 is faster, but that doesn't matter with the current issues!!! So far it looks like the only way to fix the problem is to update the BIOS. However, the only way to update the BIOS (since BIOSTAR won't do it) is to subscribe to the BIOS Agent Plus service from Phoenix. Of course my father wouldn't go for the $40 subscription... he paid $40 for the memory alone! Does anyone have any other suggestions?

$40 for one 2gb stick o.O Where the hell did you buy it from?! I got 4x 2gb sticks from Newegg for less than $60 and they're actually a brand I like -_-.

Night Hawk · 21 Apr 2009

Back in 2007 the prices seen then for a pair of 2gb dimms was about $300-! I can see why he only bought one at the time due to the high cost of being new. Now you see all prices for DDR2 memory drop next to nothing in the last several months since everything is going DDR3.

Bryce · 21 Apr 2009

He said he had bought it in 2008 if I read correctly, so really it should of been cheaper.

Night Hawk · 21 Apr 2009

marcellusmighty said:

Well see, the two sticks are the same exact make and model and manufacturer. EVERYTHING is the same. I bought one stick off Newegg in 2007 (July) and the other a few months ago (November). Apparently Intel offered a BIOS update to fix memory issues on their make of the board, but I think BIOSTAR is being evil and has not released such an update.

Bryce said:

He said he had bought it in 2008 if I read correctly, so really it should of been cheaper.

No he mentioned right at the top of the thread that was back in July of 2007. When the 2gbs were first out the price tags were up there! I was planning this build at the time and said oops! I'lll stay with the 1gb for now then now stuffed in a drawer since the prices eventually came right down late in 2008!

The strongest feeling right off about why the two won't work together is still the type likely being performance memory not seeing the correct timings and voltage requirements required for the board there. Some boards will let you get by on a single dimm while seeing a list of problems once you start adding more. The board is fussy about the brand and type used.