Strange RAM issue

[KazeNoKoe23]

I have 4x2GB sticks of OCZ Gold DDR2-800 RAM, but for some reason, I'm not able to use all 4 sticks on my motherboard, despite the fact that the documentation clearly says that it supports 8 GB of RAM. I already ruled out bad RAM as I've used every combination of 2 of the 4 sticks of RAM with no issues, as well as in all 4 slots, but I can't have all 4 in at once. The computer will power on, but nothing will show up on the monitor. I even tried a couple of older 1 GB DDR2 sticks together with 2 of the OCZ sticks and that doesn't work either. Every combination of the 2 will allow me to boot up into Windows properly, but if I have all 4 sticks in at once, whether its 4x2GB or 2x2GB and 2x1GB, it doesn't. Does anyone have any idea as to why it's doing that? Not that it's THAT big a deal since 4 GB is enough RAM, but since I have the additional 4 GB, I would like to get some use out of it.

 

[minotavrs]

Go at ur MB bios settings (chipshet setup) and enable the
Memory remapping option

 

[Night Hawk]

If you are not going to be running anything memory hungry 4gb is quite adequate for most systems to start with whether or not you are running a 64bit edition. Keep the second pair as a spare memory kit in case one dimm goes bad on you.

 

[KazeNoKoe23]

Go at ur MB bios settings (chipshet setup) and enable the
Memory remapping option

Thanks. I'll try that on reboot.

If you are not going to be running anything memory hungry 4gb is quite adequate for most systems to start with whether or not you are running a 64bit edition. Keep the second pair as a spare memory kit in case one dimm goes bad on you.

I know it's adequate. My system is fine with 4 GB, I'm just concerned as to why having all 4 RAM slots used doesn't allow the computer to boot.

 

[fakeasdf]

On my friends mobo it supported 2 slots at higher speed (1066), and 4 slots at the lower speeds (<= 800). You might check your motherboard specs, or just try dropping the speed to 800 Mhz or lower and see if it recognizes more than 2 sticks at a time. Not sure if it's the same issue since your ram is already at 800 Mhz.

"However, similar to the way the original Phenom handled DDR2-1066, current Phenom II platforms limit the usage of DDR3-1333 to one DIMM per channel; otherwise, the DIMMs are underclocked to DDR3-1066.[6] AMD claims that this behavior is due to the BIOS, not the memory controller, and plans to address it with a BIOS update."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenom_II

So, you might check if a bios update fixes it.

In fact, if the mobo is the one in your system specs:
"[ 1602 ]
----------------------
01. Improve the system performance when use 1066MHz memory.
02. Support new CPUs. Please refer to our website at: http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx
"
Currently they are on revision 2002 for that bios. http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=M3A78-EM

 

[KazeNoKoe23]

On my friends mobo it supported 2 slots at higher speed (1066), and 4 slots at the lower speeds (<= 800). You might check your motherboard specs, or just try dropping the speed to 800 Mhz or lower and see if it recognizes more than 2 sticks at a time. Not sure if it's the same issue since your ram is already at 800 Mhz.

"However, similar to the way the original Phenom handled DDR2-1066, current Phenom II platforms limit the usage of DDR3-1333 to one DIMM per channel; otherwise, the DIMMs are underclocked to DDR3-1066.[6] AMD claims that this behavior is due to the BIOS, not the memory controller, and plans to address it with a BIOS update."

Phenom II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So, you might check if a bios update fixes it.

In fact, if the mobo is the one in your system specs:
"[ 1602 ]
----------------------
01. Improve the system performance when use 1066MHz memory.
02. Support new CPUs. Please refer to our website at: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support-
"
Currently they are on revision 2002 for that bios. ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support-

Thanks for this, but my BIOS is already updated to the latest version. I fiddled with the memory settings in BIOS and it managed to get to the Starting Windows screen before it BSOD'd and went back to having a blank screen again. For some reason, the RAM is clocked at 667 MHz instead of 800 as well.

EDIT: Also, I saved the XML and DMP files after the BSOD but I can't make heads or tails from what they say.

 

[sup3rsprt]

EDIT: Also, I saved the XML and DMP files after the BSOD but I can't make heads or tails from what they say.

If you attach the dump files, there are experts who can help you with the debugging.

 

[KazeNoKoe23]

Okay, here they are.

View attachment Crash files.zip

 

[KazeNoKoe23]

Nobody knows the issue?

Mods, maybe this should be moved into Crashes and Debugging. My mistake.

 

[bobkn]

I have 4x2GB sticks of OCZ Gold DDR2-800 RAM, but for some reason, I'm not able to use all 4 sticks on my motherboard, despite the fact that the documentation clearly says that it supports 8 GB of RAM. I already ruled out bad RAM as I've used every combination of 2 of the 4 sticks of RAM with no issues, as well as in all 4 slots, but I can't have all 4 in at once. The computer will power on, but nothing will show up on the monitor. I even tried a couple of older 1 GB DDR2 sticks together with 2 of the OCZ sticks and that doesn't work either. Every combination of the 2 will allow me to boot up into Windows properly, but if I have all 4 sticks in at once, whether its 4x2GB or 2x2GB and 2x1GB, it doesn't. Does anyone have any idea as to why it's doing that? Not that it's THAT big a deal since 4 GB is enough RAM, but since I have the additional 4 GB, I would like to get some use out of it.

Asus may have a QVL (qualified vendors list) for your mainboard. (I'd try to get a link, but their site appears to be down at the moment.)

Not all RAM is certified for use in all 4 slots.

I have six 2GB DIMMs installed in my Asus board (P6T Deluxe), but I had to manually set the timings and voltages (backed off on the timings a notch) to get reliable operation. Letting the BIOS automatically configure the RAM didn't permit me to run it at its rated frequency (DDR3 1600).