4gb ram **NOTHING HAPPENS**

[scopatafacile]

hey everyone .. I'm having some trouble with my ram and thought I would come here .. I'll just put some info about my system so everyone knows what were dealing with

Intel D975XBX2 Extreme Series Motherboard
Intel E6850 processor (not overclocked)
A DATA DDR2 667 ram (four 1gb sticks)
Vista Premium (crappy, I know)

ok .. so I originally had two 1gb sticks of A DATA and it ran amazingly .. I got bored one day and ordered two more of the same exact stick .. I wanted to up my system to 4 .. I install all of the sticks, their securly in place, I go to turn the computer on and nothing happens .. it turns on but my keyboard is not lit and none of my monitors turn on (I have three btw) .. at first I thought the ram was bad but I alternated between the four sticks (swapping them out and trying a new start with jsut 2gb) .. the ram is perfect .. someone than suggested that my motherboard was defective, but I simply moved the sticks from the first and third slot, to the second and fourth and it started perfectly .. knowing that the ram is fine, and my motherbaord is fine I read somewhere that I would have to tinker with the BIOS settings for my ram to get 4gb to work ..

right now im at 5-5-5-15 for the ram .. someone said try 4-4-4-11 .. Ive also read to try 3-4-4-11 .. also, I read that I needed to up my voltage .. right now its at stock setting of 1.85 volts ..

im at a loss for ideas and I really just wanna get all four sticks up and running so any ideas would be greatly appreciated .. THANKS guys (and girls)

[PBG4LIFE]

I have same motherboard you have and no problems. I have it setup 4,4,4,12 at 2.2V 800MHZ with latest bios. Maybe you need to update bios?

[oakstave]

:welcome: to the forums, Scopatafacile.

Couple things... What version of Vista are you using: 32 bit or 64 bit?

If it's 64 bit you need this patch: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=91672C7C-614B-404C-850C-377541E93C18&displaylang=en


If it's 32 bit, well, it ain't gonna recognize all 4 gigs anyway...

You need to enable memory remapping:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605

I would keep the RAM timings at the manufacturers recommended settings until you get it to recognize the sticks you have.

Hope this helps! :beer:

[scopatafacile]

:welcome: to the forums, Scopatafacile.

Couple things... What version of Vista are you using: 32 bit or 64 bit?

If it's 64 bit you need this patch: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=91672C7C-614B-404C-850C-377541E93C18&displaylang=en


If it's 32 bit, well, it ain't gonna recognize all 4 gigs anyway...

You need to enable memory remapping:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605

I would keep the RAM timings at the manufacturers recommended settings until you get it to recognize the sticks you have.

Hope this helps! :beer:

hey thanks to both of ya for quick replys .. I have 32 bit and I was reading about the 4gb problem but I heard your still getting anywhere between 2.5 and 3.5 so either way its SOMETHING lol

to the first poster, at the risk of sounding REALLY lame .. where do I go to see if I have the most recent BIOS ?

thanks guys/girls

[LutaWicasa]

32 bit it should see all 4 gigs in bios...no, windows won't see/use it all ;)

I'd bump the voltage up a lil' before tightening the timings.

[scopatafacile]

32 bit it should see all 4 gigs in bios...no, windows won't see/use it all ;)

I'd bump the voltage up a lil' before tightening the timings.

ok .. stock setting was 1.84 volts .. my only issue is that I can change the volts but when I put the new ram in and turn it on, neither my monitors or keyboard go on, so I cant even get into BIOS to do a thing in the right path lol

btw, if 1.84 is stock, should I just go to 1.88 or 1.92 ?? those are the next levels being offered

thanks

[oakstave]

You can check the BIOS version during start up.

During boot, it will briefly display the BIOS version. Maybe PBG4life can tell you what the latest version is and how to flash that board.

Good luck!

[LutaWicasa]

ok .. stock setting was 1.84 volts .. my only issue is that I can change the volts but when I put the new ram in and turn it on, neither my monitors or keyboard go on, so I cant even get into BIOS to do a thing in the right path lol

btw, if 1.84 is stock, should I just go to 1.88 or 1.92 ?? those are the next levels being offered

thanks


So...to bump the voltage, just boot into bios using 2 sticks ;)
If you've the time and patience...sure, bump a step at a time.

[scopatafacile]

So...to bump the voltage, just boot into bios using 2 sticks ;)
If you've the time and patience...sure, bump a step at a time.

ok .. I tried 1.92 (worked with 2, not with 4) .. I than tried 2.0v (worked with 2, not with 4)

than I decided to bring out the manual .. I think I might know the problem lol .. it says my DIMM slots are 800mhz .. ALL FOUR of them .. the ram I have is 667 .. but what I dont get is why the 2 would work ..

also, could I just change the 667 to 800 in the BIOS ? would that kill the memory ? thanks

[Mr.DLucey]

Here is where you can get the Bios. Don't just flash it (flashing instructions are their too) read the BIOS notes make sure it will fix the problem.

http://www.intel.com/products/motherboard/d975xbx2/tools.htm#ddbios

[RJARRRPCGP]

I would suspect PSU or a bad RAM slot.

[scopatafacile]

I know the ram slots are all good and the PSU hasnt ever given me problems .. I think theres something with the ram being 667mhz and the slot being 800mhz .. but im going to try changing the BIOS from 667 to 800 and seeing where that gets me :-X

im out of options

[EchoTheDolphin]

I know the ram slots are all good and the PSU hasnt ever given me problems .. I think theres something with the ram being 667mhz and the slot being 800mhz .. but im going to try changing the BIOS from 667 to 800 and seeing where that gets me :-X

im out of options

It doesn't matter what the motherboard's specs are. I'm using a type of board right now that's notorious for being very limited in what ram it can take (1.8v ONLY!) but as long as it's 1.8v ram it will work. It won't matter if you bought ddr2 2700 or ddr2 1066, your motherboard will default to what the ram's stock speed is without needing to adjust.

If anything changing from 667 to 800mhz on sticks that are designed to run at 667 will just exacerbate the problem. What type of PSU do you have? I'm thinking if anything that might be your problem. Otherwise, run memtest, you may have a single stick that's causing problems when the motherboard powers all the slots. If all else fails, check the board's specifications to verify that it will work with your ram. Even though it works with 2 sticks, it may not work with all 4.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Getting no LEDs sounds like a PSU issue or your RAM contacts.

[th3]

Same with my XBX2, 4 sticks no boot. Just up the northbridge voltage and you should be good to go.