Windows 7 - Help: Cannot Add Memory?

Hi, I have a Desktop Board DX48BT2 in my custom built video editing workstation. I just updated this computer to Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit. It “was” originally built as a 32bit Windows XP Pro system in the following configuration;

OS: 32bit Windows XP Pro Service Pack 3 (build 2600)
Processor: 3.00 gigahertz Intel Core2 Extreme
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
6144 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Hard Drive 1: Samsung HD103UJ 1TB SATA2 7200rpm 32MB
Hard Drive 2: (2 x 750GB)Samsung HD753LJ 750GB SATA2 7200rpm 32MB Raid 0
Hard Drive 3: (2 x 750GB)Samsung HD753LJ 750GB SATA2 7200rpm 32MB Raid 0
Main Circuit Board: Intel Corporation DX48BT2 AAE26191-204
Serial Number: BQBQ815000JG
Bus Clock: 333 megahertz
BIOS: Intel Corp. BTX3810J.86A.1521.2008.0318.1426 03/18/2008
Memory Modules: Memory - 4GB (2x2GB) PC10600 DDR3 1333 Dual
3324 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'J6H1' has 2048 MB
Slot 'J6H2' is Empty
Slot 'J6J1' has 2048 MB
Slot 'J6J2' is Empty

As stated, I went to Windows 7 64bit. I did a full custom install wiping out Windows XP Pro. I left all my other components intact which showed everything compatible with Windows 7 64bit. After installing Windows 7, I added 4GB (2x2GB) PC10600 DDR3 1333 Dual Memory. I used the exact type/brand giving the system a total 8gb. The memory was recognized upon boot up. I then installed Microsoft Office Professional 2007 64bit which installed fine. I then proceeded to open up Word in Office and all was ok. I continued on to open Access at which point the screen went black and the computer rebooted and asked me to restart Windows in either Safe Mode or Normal. I opened in Normal Mode. I then went back to opening and closing Office 2007 seemed ok, but then the same thing happened again. Once rebooted, I tried to install my editing program (Vegas Pro 9 64bit). It was almost installed and once again, the above happened again. This process happened randomly at least eight times. I thought that maybe one of the memory sticks were bad, therefore I purchased another two sticks and still received the same results as before.
At this point, I removed the memory I added turning the system back to just 4gb. Since then, I installed several programs, opened/closed and used them “flawlessly” without the computer shutting down on me.
I “did not” do any BIOS or Motherboard changes and/or updates. Could you tell me if this is why I’m having trouble adding the additional 4gb of memory? If so, could you point me in the right direction for the “correct” updates? Keep in mind, I went from 32bit to 64bit. Your help would be most appreciated. Thank you in advance, Ray Sherman

Ray

Hi and welcome

That is a known problem when upgrading ram. Even if it is the exact same model, make, mfr, but purchased at a different time, it may not match. Mfr's only match sticks in the same package. there could be 2 that will work in one pack, or 2 that will not in another.

What I would do is download memtestx86 and run it against the total amount of ram. It will tell you if there is a mismatch or bad ram slot on the mobo.

Let us know if you need help

Ken

Hi Ken,
Thanks for your help. Could you point me in the right direction for a good download of memtestx86? I went to the actual site which shows several different downloads. I want to make sure I download the proper one. Thanks, Ray

Do you want to make a boot CD or USB stick? I have a cd I use with http://www.memtest.org/download/4.00...+-4.00.iso.zip
but there is also a version for USB stick on their site as well.

FYI, another thing with RAM is the CAS latencies could be different, if the CAS latencies/timings/voltage are set in the BIOS, and the sticks you get are different CAS latencies/timings, and they don't support those settings you can have all kinds of problems. Unless you go into the BIOS and manually config them per slot, if your BIOS will even let you do it per slot. You can dowload CPUz and see what your sticks are running at.

Hi Desslok,
I burned a CD from the link you gave me. I'm pretty much computer savvy until it comes to checking/changing the BIOS and other components. Could you please advise me how to go about what's next? Thanks for the help, Ray

Burn to disc and boot. Did you add the exact same type of memory?

How much memory does the motherboard support?

Hi,
First, I want to thank all of you for your help! The following links are in regards to my motherboard. Your help is very much appreciated. Ray

Spec's:
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/dx48bt2/sb/CS-028495.htm

Overall View:
http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/motherboards/dx48bt2/dx48bt2-overview.htm

This is the link to teh compatible XMP RAM sticks for that board/CPU combo:
http://www.intel.com/en_US/Assets/PD...le_ww22_09.pdf
Do you have one of those exact kits? If so you can go into the BIOS, look for a tab called AI Tweaker if it has it. You should see a setting called AI Overclock Tuner. It is probably set to AUto, which defaults to something safe, and default CAS latencies/timings. If you set it to XMP, and you have the right RAM it should automatically adjust the settings to get you the faster speeds. Still I would suggest downloading and installing CPUz and running it, it's avery small app, but shows what your CPU adn RAM are running at, including CAS/timings/voltage, etc. So you can see if the RAM sticks are running at different speeds. There will be a dropdown to choose which stick you want to view specs for.

Oh, and don't be surprised if it shows your RAM running at ~667MHz. This is normal since it is dual data rate.

Hi,
Just did a BIOS update and reinstalled the additional 4gb of RAM. The BIOS now shows 8gb of RAM. I'll let you know how well everything goes from here. Thanks, Ray