Need help on RAM settings in AMIBIOS v.0405

charlie23bg · 04 May 2011

ASUS M2N68 mainboard, AMD 64x2 DC 5200+ 2700MHz cpu
Win7 Ultimate x64, SP1 + all updates
Generic Nvidia Geforce 9400GT video card
2x IDE HDD
1x SATA HDD
1x SATA DVD Rw
1x USB HDD

Upgraded RAM from 2x2gb to 4x2gb Kingston KVR800D2N6/2G
Upgraded PSU to 400watts

Video is now getting regular kernel fault errors (resets), computer is sluggish. It may be a video card issue but I first want to check the BIOS settings for the RAM and get some recommendations since the errors began after that upgrade.

Current Northbridge configuration is:
Bank Interleaving: auto
Channel Interleaving: disabled
Enable clock to all DIMMs: disabled
MemClk Tristate C3/ATLVID: disabled
Memory Hole Remapping: enabled
DCT Unganged mode: Auto
Power Down: Enabled

ECC mode is disabled.
I have no idea what 90% of this means, and if anyone could give me suggestions as to optimal settings it would be hugely appreciated.

Wishmaster · 04 May 2011

The first thing I would do, it shut down and kill the power.

Reseat the GPU and RAM as well as double check all connections and make sure the are securely connected.
I know this sounds like a silly suggestion, but it is quite easy to knock something loose when upgrading parts without realizing you did.

One thing you may want to try is reset the bios to Optimized defaults.
Some may disagree, but I always do this after any Hardware upgrade. (Including RAM & GPUs)

Did you just add 2 more RAM modules? Or get a complete new set of 4 DIMMS?

Im not too familiar with AMD, but Im fairly certain 'Enable Clock to all DIMMS" makes the clocks/timings the same across all RAM modules.
This should probably be enabled.

I want to say it should be set to unganged mode, but again... Im not familiar with AMD setups enough to be comfortable suggesting settings.

charlie23bg · 04 May 2011

yeah, I checked the hardware first and everything is clean and seated correctly. I just added 2 more sticks of RAM.
These are basically the default BIOS settings.

bill1821 · 04 May 2011

Upgraded PSU and ram- not sure what is up but have a couple of ideas-

first thing I would do is remove new ram- see if the new psu is causing problem-

if problem still exists then would only put in new sticks of ram- see if system boots or just do a mem check-

if everything is working then install all ram again then memcheck again-

good luck

charlie23bg · 05 May 2011

The PSU replacement was in response to the problem: previous supply was only 255w. Memory diagnostics comes up ok on all configurations (i.e. 2x old, 2x new, 4x) and boot is no problem. It is very likely at this point that the video error is caused by something else, however I would still like to know if the RAM settings can be further optimized in the bios before I delve into that particular hell that is a full OS reinstall.

Wishmaster · 05 May 2011

Good idea checking each RAM stick individually.

1st, I would double check the specs on each set of RAM. Timings and Voltage.
Ensure that they are all the SAME.

If the are and all (800mhz for example)

I would enable clock to all DIMMS.
Then, set the main 4 timings at 5-5-5-15.
Make sure the voltage is set at what they are advertised to be at.
Then, try again.

If by chance one set is something like 667 ...
Set the RAMS clock speed for whatever is the slowest of the bunch.

It should just do this automatically however.

I do recall something about AMD systems when all 4 DIMMS are in use. Something about it needs to be in Single Channel Mode or "unganged" ..
Perhaps that had to to with CPU limitation and speed .. Ill have to research unless someone can confirm.

charlie23bg · 05 May 2011

thanks for that, all the RAM modules are exactly the same. I have enabled clock to all DIMMs, voltage is set to auto but I don't find an option to set the timings other than DRAM timing mode : auto / DCT 0 (set to auto).

charlie23bg · 30 May 2011

just a note: ONE HAIR from my dog was stuck between the chip and the circuit board in one of my RAM modules. The dog himself passed on almost two years ago, it was the very last thing I would have expected and only found it upon scanning the RAM under a magnifying glass. Really, I do keep my machines pretty clean...
Hair removed, all is working fine.
The Ghost of the Dog in the Machine.

essenbe · 30 May 2011

Good that you got it fixed. That just goes to prove 2 things:
1. The smallest thing that you would never suspect can cause big problems wit your computer.
2. Always be kind to your dogs.