Abit NV8 Stability Problems and Kingston ValueRAM

[Sketch]

I have 1GB of Kingston ValueRAM (Dual Channel, 512MB RAM x 2, Part #
KVR400X64C3AK2/1G) in my new Abit NV8 build. I figured a "value" mobo would
do fine with "value" RAM. Not the case!



Here's my problem: When set to "Auto" in the BIOS, the two sticks of RAM
together default to DDR333. Windows is rock-solid, but when I'm gaming there
are small lags or the rig crashes and/or reboots altogether after about 15
to 30 minutes of gameplay (I'm currently playing Serious Sam 2 and Half-Life
2).



I realize this Socket 754 mobo won't do dual channel with this RAM kit (that
was a buying mistake on my part I learned after my purchase), but it should
at least register both sticks together as DDR400 in the BIOS, correct? I'm
looking for a solution or tweaks for some stability, and I'd rather RMA or
replace these memory modules with some other brand like OCZ than run hours
of memory tests.



Troubleshooting I've already tried:



- Increasing the voltage from 2.6 to 2.7/2.8 (I haven't dared to go any
higher). This has been suggested in other Abit forum threads I've read
(which, btw, I don't have "access" to yet even though I registered
yesterday).



- Chose "By SPD" in the BIOS DRAM Configuration and the mobo read the DDR400
specs correctly, but Windows always crashes after 5 to 10 minutes.



- Chose "Manual" in the BIOS DRAM Configuration, but I don't know what to
modify.



- One stick at a time -- both sticks register correctly as DDR400 when
they're in Slot 1 by themselves. Serious Sam 2 is still a little laggy but
playable; in Half-Life 2, however, the sound skips and freezes so much I
can't play it. Neither game crashes, however, and Windows is stable.



I'm not getting memory errors or beeps when I boot up, but should I clear
the CMOS and re-insert both sticks of RAM? Also, what manual DRAM
Configuration settings should I modify?



Relevant Components:



Abit NV8 (latest v. 12 BIOS)

AMD Sempron 3400

512MB RAM x 2 (1GB) Kingston ValueRAM (Part # KVR400X64C3AK2/1G)

X850XT

Audigy 2 ZS

Rosewill 500W PSU

Windows XP SP2 (all drivers up-to-date)



Thanks for any help you can provide. Overall, I like this board, but judging
from other posts it is either picky about RAM or I have two bad sticks
(which doesn't seem to be the case if they'll run just fine independently).

 

[JAD]

what have you set your page file and virtual memory settings to?

 

[Sketch]

what have you set your page file and virtual memory settings to?

Good question. I'll check tonight on my rig at home and repost them here. I
haven't adjusted the settings in Windows (ever), so I assume it's set to
"System Managed Size."

Any suggested settings for VM? I thought this might be a BIOS problem and
not necessarily a Windows issue. Then again, what do I know? I can even
live with DDR333 at this point -- I just want to play my games without
stutters.

 

[JAD]

make sure you have turned off XP's indexing on the hard drives
also in any office program (find fast)
Let windows handle VM and the pafe file, I asked about it because many
believe that when you have a gig or more of ram you should/can turn off
VM/page file, I find that this has a negative effect.
What about (from the bios point of view):
The aperture size for the AGP port
The CAS timings for memory..maybe a cmos reset to defaults and run the rig
for a bit.

 

[Sketch]

make sure you have turned off XP's indexing on the hard drives

also in any office program (find fast)
Let windows handle VM and the pafe file, I asked about it because many
believe that when you have a gig or more of ram you should/can turn off
VM/page file, I find that this has a negative effect.

Will do on the above three suggestions.

What about (from the bios point of view):
The aperture size for the AGP port

The mobo is PCI-E, not AGP. The PCI-E clock in the BIOS is set to 100 MHz. I
haven't fiddled with it -- do you have any suggestions for a X850XT?

The CAS timings for memory..maybe a cmos reset to defaults and run the rig
for a bit.

AFAIK, it's 3-3-3 at DDR400. The CMOS reset is on my "to do" list (for a
full ten minutes), and I'll see how it runs tonight.

 

[Victor]

I had a simular problem with an Asrock 754 mb and 512MB DDR400 Crucial
ram(1 stick samsung single sided modules) 9800pro.Memory defaulted to
DDR333 on auto and was stable. As soon as I set it to DDR400 system
became very unstable.Thinking it was memory incompatability I sent it
back for Corsair valueselect(Thanks Newegg!) and all is well.First time
crucial has ever let me down.

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

I've had trouble with lots of Kingston DDR ValueRAM, and the modules
that do work seem to barely meet specs because overriding even one
default BIOS setting will cause the memory to eventually fail MemTest86
or GoldMemory. Kingston has always offered to replace my RAM, but
they've never given me a straight answer as to why it failed -- "That
memory isn't compatible with your motherboard", "That memory is
compatible with your motherboard". All I know is that the chips have
no chip factory markings on them, and that often means that the buyers
do their own testing, probably using lax standards.

 

[Sketch]

make sure you have turned off XP's indexing on the hard drives

Will do on the above three suggestions.

Tried these options last night. No effect on the gaming crashes.

The mobo is PCI-E, not AGP. The PCI-E clock in the BIOS is set to 100 MHz.
I haven't fiddled with it -- do you have any suggestions for a X850XT?

Should I adjust the PCI-E clock? This seems like a RAM issue.

AFAIK, it's 3-3-3 at DDR400. The CMOS reset is on my "to do" list (for a
full ten minutes), and I'll see how it runs tonight.

Cleared the CMOS and both sticks came up again as DDR333 by default and
Windows was perfectly stable although the games were jerky and crashed.
Manually set the DRAM Configuration to DDR400 and some other tweaks
suggested on the Abit forums. CPU-Z recognizes the RAM settings to be
DDR400, but Windows always inevitably crashes whether I'm gaming or not.

Tried one stick at a time and they both came up as DDR400 by default and ran
smoothly (as smoothly as 512 MB of RAM will run). I think I'm going to buy a
different brand of RAM at BestBuy today, just a single 1 GB stick, and see
if that will run fine on its own. Buying it retail will allow me to return
it w/out any RMA fees and will carry me over in the interim until I can get
some cheaper/better OCZ memory from Newegg.

Could it be that this is a dual channel kit and it isn't compatible in a
single channel mobo like the NV8?

 

[Sketch]

I've had trouble with lots of Kingston DDR ValueRAM, and the modules

that do work seem to barely meet specs because overriding even one
default BIOS setting will cause the memory to eventually fail MemTest86
or GoldMemory. Kingston has always offered to replace my RAM, but
they've never given me a straight answer as to why it failed -- "That
memory isn't compatible with your motherboard", "That memory is
compatible with your motherboard". All I know is that the chips have
no chip factory markings on them, and that often means that the buyers
do their own testing, probably using lax standards.

I'm finding this to be the case. I think I'll get some OCZ memory soon and
avoid any further headaches.

 

[Sketch]

I had a simular problem with an Asrock 754 mb and 512MB DDR400 Crucial

ram(1 stick samsung single sided modules) 9800pro.Memory defaulted to
DDR333 on auto and was stable. As soon as I set it to DDR400 system
became very unstable.Thinking it was memory incompatability I sent it
back for Corsair valueselect(Thanks Newegg!) and all is well.First time
crucial has ever let me down.

Interesting. My situation is that the two sticks together default to DDR333.
When I put them in individually, they're fine and stable at DDR400 for both
basic Windows programs and gaming.

As I posted above, I wonder if this dual channel kit isn't compatible in a
single channel mobo like the NV8?

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

I'm finding this to be the case. I think I'll get some OCZ memory soon and
avoid any further headaches.

A couple of performance computing websites have articles about memory
module companies, and it seems that most rely only on PCs for testing,
not on special machiens. One article mentioned that Corsair also tests
its memory in a high temperature chamber, but I don't remember how
high..

I've never had a problem with a module containing branded chips, except
in the case of a PNY where a couple of the gold contacts came with
solder on them (the rat CompUSA mgr. in NW Phoenix didn't want to
exchange it because he said it tested fine -- 15 seconds for the test,
including the walk to and from the "testing machine"). It seems that
once the brand markings came off, the defect rate went way up.