dknell27 Posted March 18, 2005 Share Posted March 18, 2005 I have an ASUS A7V880 motherboard and two different sets of 2 GByte TwinX Matched Memory Pairs. 1) 2GB -1 GB CMX1024-3200 & 1 GB CMX1024-3200 2) 2GB - 1GB CMX1024-3200PT & 1GB CMX1024-3200PT Neither seems to be compatible even though the Memory Guide claims they will work with the ASUS A7V880 motherboard in a dual channel memory configuration. Since Corsair claimed compatibility, I thought that my A7V880 was faulty, so I ordered another one. ASUS claims compatibility also. It still will not work. On the boot up screen, it consistently pops up the "sorry there's been an error with windows bla bla and click to go safe mode, start windows normally or last known good configuration." So here I am, following the recommendations of ASUS and Corsair, but still stuck with my original 1GB of RAM. Further, If I just use one module, of the either TwinX pair, then the computer will boot successfully. Any words of wisdom? Sincerely, Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted March 18, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted March 18, 2005 Can you tell me our modules part# and revision of of both modules(How To Read the Memory Label) and the CPU speed and it’s FSB as well? In addition, please tell me the bios settings you have set for both CPU and memory and any performance settings that you may have set? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dknell27 Posted March 18, 2005 Author Share Posted March 18, 2005 Can you tell me our modules part# and revision of of both modules(How To Read the Memory Label) and the CPU speed and it’s FSB as well? In addition, please tell me the bios settings you have set for both CPU and memory and any performance settings that you may have set? 1) CMX 1024-3200 XMS3200v3.1 0451088-0 2) CMX 1024-3200PT XMS3200v3.1 0508097-1 3) AMD Athlon 2700+ 2.17 GHz 333 MHz FSB My BIOS settings are all set to Auto for memory. Not sure what they are for CPU. I have not set any perfomance settings. The BIOS are all the default values. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted March 18, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted March 18, 2005 With this CPU you will need to set the memory frequency at 100% or 1-1 with your CPU so the memory will be running at DDR333. If you leave the default settings it may try and run the memory at DDR400 and that would cause a bottelneck in the chipset and may generate errors that are not the fault of the modules. In addition I would set the timings manually to Cass 3-3-3-8 as well. CPU Freq: 166 MHz Memory Frequency: 100% Dim Voltage to 2.7 Volts Resulting Frequency: 166MHz SDRAM CAS Latency: 3T SDRAM RAS to CAS Delay (tRCD): 3T SDRAM Row Precharge (tRP): 3T SDRAM Active to Precharge Delay (tRAS): 8T And the modules should be in slots 2-3 as well. You can use http://www.memtest.org to test your system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dknell27 Posted March 21, 2005 Author Share Posted March 21, 2005 With this CPU you will need to set the memory frequency at 100% or 1-1 with your CPU so the memory will be running at DDR333. If you leave the default settings it may try and run the memory at DDR400 and that would cause a bottelneck in the chipset and may generate errors that are not the fault of the modules. In addition I would set the timings manually to Cass 3-3-3-8 as well. CPU Freq: 166 MHz Memory Frequency: 100% Dim Voltage to 2.7 Volts Resulting Frequency: 166MHz SDRAM CAS Latency: 3T SDRAM RAS to CAS Delay (tRCD): 3T SDRAM Row Precharge (tRP): 3T SDRAM Active to Precharge Delay (tRAS): 8T And the modules should be in slots 2-3 as well. You can use http://www.memtest.org to test your system. 1) I tried the settings you specified above, but I could not set the CPU Freq: 166 MHz 2) the modules in slots 2-3: ASUS recommends using the blue DIMM slots first, DIMM A1 & DIMM B1, but I did try the two center slots... 3)Dim voltage to 2.7 volts The motherboard pdf file link: http://www.asus.com/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=A7V880 Please let me know where I might be able to configure these settings, I have looked at every setting an didn't find those listed above. The "Start Normal black screen page" still displays upon boot up. I was able to set: Memory Frequency: 100% (333 MHz?) SDRAM CAS Latency: 3T SDRAM RAS to CAS Delay (tRCD): 3T SDRAM Row Precharge (tRP): 3T SDRAM Active to Precharge Delay (tRAS): 8T Please advise...Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted March 21, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted March 21, 2005 I am not clear on what you mean by "The "Start Normal black screen page" still displays upon boot up." Do you mean you get the start up menu to pick the O.S. and what happens after that? Please be a bit more specific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dknell27 Posted March 22, 2005 Author Share Posted March 22, 2005 I am not clear on what you mean by "The "Start Normal black screen page" still displays upon boot up." Do you mean you get the start up menu to pick the O.S. and what happens after that? Please be a bit more specific. After I install the memory and start up the computer, the BIOS screen begins, then the BIOS screen shows that two IDE devices are not hooked up since they are not being used. Finally a black screen (Start Windows Normally Screen) follows that reads: "Sorry there has been an error with windows which could be due to a recent change with your hardware configuration. You then have four choices to chose from: 1) safe mode 2) safe mode, etc. 3) Use the last known good configuration and 4) start windows normally. I select 4) Start Windows normally and the BIOS begin again and end at the same Start Windows Normally Screen. Then after 5 minutes of messing with BIOS settings I usually give up, take a module out, and get back to work. Sorry for the lack of info. Thanks for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted March 22, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted March 22, 2005 Please use http://www.memtest.org to test your system. If for example you have corrupted your O.S. on the hard drive you might get this type of message and it not be the hardware. Also was this a fresh install of the O.S. with this system, or did you try and move the HDD from another older system? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dknell27 Posted March 22, 2005 Author Share Posted March 22, 2005 Please use http://www.memtest.org to test your system. If for example you have corrupted your O.S. on the hard drive you might get this type of message and it not be the hardware. Also was this a fresh install of the O.S. with this system, or did you try and move the HDD from another older system? The HDD is from another older system. The HDD is not corrupted, I am using it right now with the 1GB module. Further, how do I do a fresh install of the operating system with the desired system (2GB). I've reformatted many times, however it is not possible to do it with the new system configured. It freezes up on the initial reformatting process due to the RAM changes. Or, can I stop reformat/OS reinstallation process after the formatting has been completed with the 1GB, shut down, install the 2GB modules and see if I can continue the OS install? I have'nt tried it yet, but I would be willing. What do you think? Oh yeah, how long does it take to run the "memtest"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted March 22, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted March 22, 2005 Memtest will take about 30 Min to get through a few passes. And the modules should be in slots 2-3 and you will want to delete the partition and restart the system and then run the install again and let windows create and format the partition. But memtest will tell us if there is a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dknell27 Posted April 6, 2005 Author Share Posted April 6, 2005 Memtest will take about 30 Min to get through a few passes. And the modules should be in slots 2-3 and you will want to delete the partition and restart the system and then run the install again and let windows create and format the partition. But memtest will tall us if there is a problem. RAM GUY: So, I am still unable to get the system to run in dual channel mode with these memory modules. I did delete my partition and attempt to reinstall Windows, but the Windows installation would stop/lock up at the initial blue screen that preceeds the Formatting Options. It just does not want to boot up. Since then I purchased a new processor AMD 3200 400 MHZ fsb. My system is as follows: AMD Barton 3200+ 400 MHz fsb TwinX CMX 1024-3200PT; XMS3200v3.1; 0508097-1 ASUS A7V880 MB RADEON 9600 128 MB 80 GB HARD DRIVE I figured it was my processor creating the problems based on your previous advice, so I bought this one. I am still unable to get things going. Also, when you say that the memory should be in slots 2-3, that confuses me since the motherboard slots are labelled as follows A1;A2;B1;B2? Thanks for your help... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted April 6, 2005 Corsair Employees Share Posted April 6, 2005 I am sorry, I told you wrong on the slots A1 and B1 or slots 1-3 would be suggested, but I would try slots 2-3 or A-2 and B-2 just to test and please get the latest beta bios for your MB as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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