kmrbrierley Posted February 1, 2005 Share Posted February 1, 2005 Based on RAMGUY configuration tool I purchased two CMSS512MB-400 memory modules for my Dell 4600 (2.8GHz Pentium IV 800MHz system bus). The system originally contained two Samsung PC3200U 256MB modules (as supplied by Dell). I have tried the following combinations (note for the 2 module configs the RAMS were all in the original sockets that the working Samsung RAM was in from DELL). The RAM and speed are as reported by the Dell BIOS a) 2 x Samsung modules, reported RAM 512MB speed =400MHz b) 2 x Corsair modules reported RAM 1 Gig speed = 333MHz c) 1 x Samsung module + 1x Corsair module 768 Meg speed = 333MHz d) the other pair RAM 768 Meg speed = 333MHz e) All the RAM RAM 1.5Gig speed =333MHz I appreciate I am supposed to load them in pairs but I just wanted to see how the speed sensing moved. This seems pretty convincing that the 333MHz (rather than the 400MHz I should be getting) occurs with EITHER of the Corsair modules. Doesn't seem much point returning them to Zoomfly for a return of the same type as it presumeably won't work at 400MHz either. I don't see anyway of manually setting the speed and presumeably shouldn't anyway as they should autosense. Help how should I go forward. Note I have a pretty tight deadline on returns so would appreciate some advice quickly. regards Keith Roberts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wired Posted February 1, 2005 Share Posted February 1, 2005 there is no way to manually change any memory timings in that system's BIOS. With a dual channel you can run one stick at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmrbrierley Posted February 1, 2005 Author Share Posted February 1, 2005 there is no way to manually change any memory timings in that system's BIOS. With a dual channel you can run one stick at a time.Thanks for your comment, The configuration tool (and the DELL website) indicates that this system can run up to 4x 512Meg sticks. Are you saying to do this I need to select single channel ? I need to run 2x256Meg + 2x512Meg. I suspect this isn't my problem as I am having the problem even with 2x512Meg alone (replacing the original 2x256Meg in the same slots with the same channel mode). I don't particularly want (and can't) manually change timing. This particular RAM is sold as an upgrade for Dell (and other desktops) and presumeably should auto sense with their BIOS's to 400MHz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted February 1, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted February 1, 2005 Please try the system with just our modules installed and then go to bios setup and load setup defaults and see if the system will run at DDR400. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterChef Posted February 1, 2005 Share Posted February 1, 2005 You might make sure that you are putting the sets of memory in the correct pairs of sockets. From what you described you might have actually paired the Corsair with one of the Samsungs, etc. (It's just a possibility so you make the assessment on whether or not it is worth trying.) One site shows the banks for this motherboard in this manner: [bank1 socket1] [bank2 socket1] [bank1 socket2] [bank2 socket2] Confirm that your two new corsairs are in bank1 sockets 1&2 - matching them as pair for dual channel. i.e. [X] [ ] [X] [ ] NOT [X] [X] [ ] [ ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmrbrierley Posted February 3, 2005 Author Share Posted February 3, 2005 Thank you for responses. I had put the two Corsair memories in DIMM1 and DIMM2 (recommended configuration for pair of DIMMs by DELL). This pair has grey ejectors rather than the block for DIMM3 and DIMM4. I believe this is the correct configuration for dual channel operation. I booted the system without the Samsung (original RAMs). There is no provision for resetting the BIOS to defaults that I could find so I reflashed it and in the process updated from A08 to A12. This was claimed to also reset the BIOS. After this I get the same result 333MHz, Dual Channel, 1Gig I tried putting the memory in DIMM1 and DIMM3 just to see what would happen. I appreciate this isn't the recommended configuration. The result was 333MHz, Single Channel, 1Gig There is an article on the DELL site about mixing RAMs with different latencies that can cause lower than expected speed setting. Assuming the Corsair memories are both the same Latency (they appear identical) this wouldn't seem to be my issue. The DELL memories are CL3. It would be interesting to know if the Corsair memories are similar. regards Keith Roberts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted February 3, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted February 3, 2005 Keith, Lets try and replace your modules, but these should be Cass 3-3-3-8 as far as I know. Please follow the link in my signature “I think I have a bad part!” and we will be happy to replace them or it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmrbrierley Posted February 21, 2005 Author Share Posted February 21, 2005 Keith, Lets try and replace your modules, but these should be Cass 3-3-3-8 as far as I know. Please follow the link in my signature “I think I have a bad part!” and we will be happy to replace them or it! As you suggested I returned the memories. I received them back today and installed them. This time with no difficulty they were recognized as 400MHz so far so good. This suggests your theory was correct they were both defective. The system appeared to operate OK. So I tried a memory test (memtest86) a) the original Samsung parts ONLY NO ERRORS b) The new Corsair memories only (in the same sockets) Errors in bit 28 of addresses 2d54dff0 2c54e690 2c54e670 2c54e4d0 2d54e4b0 c) Flipped the two chips around to prove it moved with bad DIMM Errors again in bit 28 of 2c54e378 2d54e358 2d54dff8 This sounds pretty convincing another bad SIMM (but only one this time) Another interesting result. Though both memory pairs report 400MHz in the bios; the memory transfer rate reported by the memory test for the Corsair parts (alone) reports as 2.4G/sec. The samsung parts 2G/sec. With both I get 2G/sec. I am assuming this suggests these parts don't have the same latency and the BIOS is taking advantage of this when it sees only the Corsair parts. Should we RMA the pair or figure out which is the bad one ? Also as I will have been waiting a month before I get this system operational, already paid for shipping for one RMA and wasted a lot of time. A UPS shipping voucher from Corsair for the return would seem reasonable. regards Keith Roberts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmrbrierley Posted February 24, 2005 Author Share Posted February 24, 2005 Dear Ramguy I would like to get moving with this RMA regards Keith Roberts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted February 24, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted February 24, 2005 Please follow the link in my signature “I think I have a bad part!” and we will be happy to replace them or it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmrbrierley Posted February 26, 2005 Author Share Posted February 26, 2005 I can't get the part to fail except when with its mate. So I am trying to figure out for sure which is bad. Is there a reliable way of telling from the failing memory address which socket the bad part is in. As I posted earlier the failing address always ends in 0 with one way round and always with 8 when they are swapped. regards Keith Roberts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted February 28, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted February 28, 2005 That might suggest a problem with the system. If both modules pass one up but not when installed as a pair! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmrbrierley Posted March 1, 2005 Author Share Posted March 1, 2005 That might suggest a problem with the system. If both modules pass one up but not when installed as a pair! The two facts that lead me to conclude there is a good chance it is RAM are : 1. If I put the two original Samsung units in I have no problems 2. The fault location reliably moves by 8 bytes as I switch the two supposedly identical Corsair memory modules. If there is not a reliable way of determining from the address which stick is failing I will return both RAMs. Please advise whether there is a simple way of identify the DIMM from the address. regards Keith Roberts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted March 1, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted March 1, 2005 Do you have another system you can test the modules in one at a time? Or I would try testing the modules one at a time in this system for about 3-4 hours each and see if you can isolate one of the modules failing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmrbrierley Posted March 3, 2005 Author Share Posted March 3, 2005 I have finally identified the bad module. I borrowed an IBM 512Meg DIMM of the same type. With one of the Corsair modules it ran without error with the other it failed on the same bit I had seen before. I will proceed with the I think "I have a bad part link" fort the bad unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted March 3, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted March 3, 2005 No problem, please reply to the email you got from customer service for the last RMA and then you are having problems with one module and we will pay the freight both ways as long as you got them replaced from us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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