Installed More RAM, system Unstable

D

Dave

Hi, I've had my box

Intel Pentium 4HT, 2400 MHz (3 x 800)
Asus P4C800 Deluxe
Intel Canterwood i875P Chipset
1536 MB DDR SDRAM (Corsair, running at 200MHz)
ATI Radeon X700 Pro 256 MB
Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit
Windows XP Home

for over two years now and it was perfectly stable through two video card
upgrades and even a sound card upgrade. Recently I bought some RAM for my
system, a gig to be exact. It was 512 MB before the upgrade. Since then I am
getting FREQUENT system shut downs due to "stop errors" and an "unknown
device driver". Micro$oft is unsure of what is causing the problem. Now this
stick of RAM is the same brand, Corsair, the same specs, almost identical to
the stick of 512, except its 1024. My BIOS is the latest out from Asus and I
keep my drivers updated. Any suggestions? If more info is needed, just ask,
I will provide as the need arises. TIA, all.
 
H

Henry

Dave said:
Hi, I've had my box

Intel Pentium 4HT, 2400 MHz (3 x 800)
Asus P4C800 Deluxe
Intel Canterwood i875P Chipset
1536 MB DDR SDRAM (Corsair, running at 200MHz)
ATI Radeon X700 Pro 256 MB
Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit
Windows XP Home

for over two years now and it was perfectly stable through two video card
upgrades and even a sound card upgrade. Recently I bought some RAM for my
system, a gig to be exact. It was 512 MB before the upgrade. Since then I
am getting FREQUENT system shut downs due to "stop errors" and an "unknown
device driver". Micro$oft is unsure of what is causing the problem. Now
this stick of RAM is the same brand, Corsair, the same specs, almost
identical to the stick of 512, except its 1024. My BIOS is the latest out
from Asus and I keep my drivers updated. Any suggestions? If more info is
needed, just ask, I will provide as the need arises. TIA, all.

so its fluffy with 1536 fitted

its OK with the 512 only

what's it like with the 1024 only

also have you tried reversing their positions in the slots.
 
G

Gary

Hi, I've had my box

Intel Pentium 4HT, 2400 MHz (3 x 800)
Asus P4C800 Deluxe
Intel Canterwood i875P Chipset
1536 MB DDR SDRAM (Corsair, running at 200MHz)
ATI Radon X700 Pro 256 MB
Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit
Windows XP Home

for over two years now and it was perfectly stable through two video card
upgrades and even a sound card upgrade. Recently I bought some RAM for my
system, a gig to be exact. It was 512 MB before the upgrade. Since then I
am
getting FREQUENT system shut downs due to "stop errors" and an "unknown
device driver". Micro$oft is unsure of what is causing the problem. Now
this
stick of RAM is the same brand, Corsair, the same specs, almost identical
to
the stick of 512, except its 1024. My BIOS is the latest out from Asus and
I
keep my drivers updated. Any suggestions? If more info is needed, just
ask,
I will provide as the need arises. TIA, all.

If you want to take advantage of dual channel you should buy a match pair of
memory from Corsair. Try one module at a time to see if you still have
problems and if you don't well then there is problem with them running in
pairs.
 
D

Dave

Ok, I found and read my Asus manual and I read something that caught my eye.

"Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum
compatibility..."

So I used AIDA32 to check out the CAS latencies. The 1024MB module Highest
CAS Latency is 3.0 and 2nd Highest CAS Latency is 2.5. The 512MB module
Highest is 2.5 and 2nd Highest is 2.0. I suspect this is my problem. Is
there anything I can do here??
 
C

Chris Hill

Ok, I found and read my Asus manual and I read something that caught my eye.

"Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum
compatibility..."

So I used AIDA32 to check out the CAS latencies. The 1024MB module Highest
CAS Latency is 3.0 and 2nd Highest CAS Latency is 2.5. The 512MB module
Highest is 2.5 and 2nd Highest is 2.0. I suspect this is my problem. Is
there anything I can do here??


Depends on your bios. If you can set the ram timings yourself. I
believe lower is faster so set them all to the higher one.
 
D

Dave

Well, I got this from my BIOS maybe you can help me out with it.

DRAM CAS# Latency 2.0 Clocks
DRAM CAS# Precharge 2 clocks
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay 2 clocks
DRAM Precharge Delay 5 clocks
DRAM Burst Length 8 clocks

Those are the Settings. If you need more info, just ask.
 
C

Chris Hill

Well, I got this from my BIOS maybe you can help me out with it.

DRAM CAS# Latency 2.0 Clocks
DRAM CAS# Precharge 2 clocks
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay 2 clocks
DRAM Precharge Delay 5 clocks
DRAM Burst Length 8 clocks


I'd make the latency number higher by one and see if life improves.
 
D

dawg

Try CAS Latency 2.5 clocks. If you still have problems try 3.0.
You could also try increasing the DIMM voltage slightly and the ram may work
at CAS2.
 
D

Dave

thank you for all your help. i increased the latency to 2.5 and increased
the DIMM voltage from 2.75V to 2.85V and no more worries.
 

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