I give up 3200XLPT

[revinpontaic]

First off, specs

 

Retail Abit Ai7 uGuru

Retail P4 2.4 800fsb

Retail Antec TRU340

2 Tt 80mm Smart fan(1 in,1 out)

Retail 200 'Cuda 8/7200

WinFast A380 Ultra THD

Retail XP

Corsair CMX512-3200 XLPT {2 sticks}

CMX is what the barcode on the back of the package's say

The spreaders HOLOGRAM say

CMX512-3200XLPT

XMS3208v1.2

0453024-0

XMS3200 512MB 400MHZ 2-2-2-5

They both are identical pieces.

 

Now I've tried everything slots, voltage, timings, dividers,,(manual and stock)

it refuses to run stable,start, and have even used up my activaction limits, installing XP :mad:

The ONE thing for sure, is when I put my highgrade pc2700 in it works perfect, even after forgetting to reset the BIOS from the pc3200 settings.

Sadly, most of our paperwork is missing(stolen :mad: ).

I think that there is something just not quite right with them.

Don't want to be a jerk, but we didn't spend this much to have to "detune" the specs.

Please advise, and thank you,

Kevin

[RAM GUY]

The minimum suggested voltage for these modules would be 2.75 volts, so please test the modules one at a time with http://www.memtest.org and I would set the Dim Voltage to 2.8 Volts as well. If you do find one failing then lets get it or them replaced. Please follow the link in my signature “I think I have a bad part!” and we will be happy to replace them or it!

However; if you get errors with both modules, that would suggest some other problem. And I would try testing the memory in another system to be sure.

 

In addition, from your spec you might need a bigger PSU for the system spec you gave. If possible I would try testing the modules in another system to be sure.

[revinpontaic]

Thank you :biggrin:

I've tried up to 2.9v no luck.

The Antec is what was recomended, and is also a very good unit,also I have even tried a {smaller}vid card ti4200.

uGuru shows stable voltages across all the rails, so it would appear that that shouldnt be an issue.(remember, I tried the other ram at way over speed conditions)

I dont have any burner, or floppy anymore, thus there is not that much demand on the PSU.

I used to have 3 HDD, 1 DVD burner, and a CD Burner in the same system without any trouble.

Mabey the batch/version numbers can give some insight to a batch problem?.

I had read that some pc3200 is overclocked highyield pc2700, is/was that true, and could this "v1.2" be that?

My wife dont remember which store she got them, is that a problem?

[RAM GUY]

No thats not true with these modules they are made with DDR500 IC's.

I would try and barrow a floppy drive and test the modules one at a time to be sure.

But I have no problem replacing the modules, but from what you have posted I would suspect some other problem.

[revinpontaic]

, but from what you have posted I would suspect some other problem.

Not trying to be a headache, but why would very far off settings ie:8333 ect and 3/4, 5/4 divider's, high voltage, ect not do as well as the pc2700, that was ran way over spec? ie... pc3200 specs.

The only machine we have left is an HP thats pc2100, and thats really where I've {detuned}tried this ram at with the lower settings.

I have tried these 1 @ a time, in all slots, and there's only slight differance in running.

The only reason I'd like to send both back, is to make sure of getting another "matching" pair to use, since mine are both? identical

Again I thank you for you're help :!: :):

[RAM GUY]

I have no problem replacing the modules, but I would suspect that's not the issue from what you have posted.

Please follow the link in my signature “I think I have a bad part!” and we will be happy to replace them or it!

[revinpontaic]

Thanks again RamGuy,

I'm still testing, cause I didn't complete the first rule of troubleshooting:

REMOVE ALL HARDWARE

I had left a HotRod card in, and now believe that's the culprut.

I now have all 4 sticks in {2xms, 2highgrade}but had to reduce timings to 3-7-3-3, but have raised FSB to 230/184 @5:4 divider{by SPD}, and is running more stable, fully loaded again:

pair of 200'Cuda's,pair of 80 IBM's and an HP 300i

Next weekend i'll try the XMS sticks by them self's to see if I can cet back to the stock 2-5-2-2 200 speeds.

Using 2.7 volts

[RAM GUY]

If you are using 4 modules the system would need to be able to provide 48 Watts just for memory. F.Y.I. So again, please take a long look at your PSU.

[revinpontaic]

Well Ramguy, i've updated my system since we last talked, but it seems that now I've hit a dead wall!

I've added a new case, fans, and an Fortron-700GLN psu, another pair of 512x2 XMS3500C2PT and a P4 3.4EE.

They were running fairly well, ie very few BSOD's ect, and was even able to get an extra few FSB with the EE, up to 212 stable, 215 to do short bench's.

During this time i've used numerious configurations with the 2 sets, ie single dual, 1 of each and even all 4, but slowley have gotten much more unstable.

 

Now i'm back in the same boat that I was in before, can run the other pc2700's but cant run ANY of the 3200, or 3500.

I've tried just using cpu, vidcard, and even just 1 stick, in each slot, and even got another AI7 board, and it wont load windows, and mostly gets stuck in a loop back to BIOS, or just goe's blank.

Again the 2700's will load and run windows, and even run the3.4 EE at 3.8 220/180.

Is it time to give up on the 2.2.2.5 ram?

Did the extra voltage{2.8-3.0) mabey shorten thier life?

I hate to give them up, and have almost went out and bought some more ram, but thought i'd try here again before getting so drastic.

[RAM GUY]

The MB you have listed in your first post should not have any problems at all with these modules I would suggest loading setup defaults and set the memory Voltage to 2.8 Volts and then test the modules one at a time with http://www.memtest.org to make sure you don't have a failing module.

[revinpontaic]

Thanks Ramguy,

It is the same motherboard, and I tried another of the same unit with them.

It's kinda like another post I read later, that they had to keep increasing the voltage to remain stable.

That's where i'm at now. Since you last asked me to look into the power issue, i have did that replacement with the 700w.

The thing is that now I cant get the machine to work with any of them at all.

I've tried loading safe default's, but the wierd thing is that no matter what I do in BIOS, when I reset the voltage and it reboots, it will default back to 2.6volts, and keeps in some kinda loop, either blank screen or reboots back to BIOS with the lower voltage. I have tried up to 3.05v and still nada.

Again if I use the 333 ram it works fine, and yes i've tried the dividers @ 3:2,

and 5:4,SPD and even set timing to 4.4.4.8, but nogo.

I can change the voltage with the 333's and it will remain.

The only thing I have not done is reinstall windows again.

I cant do the memtest anymore due to booting failure, but had used it a time back, and had some errors, but dont remember the specifics, and only had a 204 FSB with 2.9volts.

Recently Everest Ultimate Engineer Edition Stability test would fail in just a couple minutes, but dont know which failure item it is.

I'd like to know how you would have me check the memory controller?

[RAM GUY]

Wait?

Are you using 4 modules? if so then that is normal for this platform you would need to set the memory frequency at DDR333 and 2T command Rate (If it's listed) and I would set the timings to Cas 2.5-3-3-7.

[revinpontaic]

Ramguy,

This is an Intel i865PE 800FSB ceritified board. It will support 4 GB of DDR400.

 

I have tried all along to use the differant dividers ie 3:2, 5:4 which was 200/160 {ie less than 333DDR}and that was not the issue. I have tried 1 stick, 2, and yes all 4, and for about the past couple years have had all 4 stick in and running. Albeit it has never overclocked nearly close to DDR500 chips, that you previously said that these modules are comprised of.

The current issue is that over time, i've had to keep increasing voltage and as of now, the machine will not run with ANY of the XMS modules.

That's where I dont know how to proceed, since the machine will not run with them.

Thanks

[RAM GUY]

I am sorry but DDR333 would be suggest with that chipset and it has been hit and miss if the MB Intel or AMD will run at DDR400 with 4 modules installed especially if they are not matched or with aggressive modules like XMS3200XL modules. Will the modules run and pass http://www.memtest.org one set or one module at a time? If the answer is yes I am sorry but its not the memory that is the problem.

[revinpontaic]

I understand what you are saying about running all 4 slots, but the problem is NOW, NONE of the Corsairs will operate in the machine at all, zip, nada!

I keep needing to put the other ram in to respond with you.

This i865PE board is fully capable by Intel and Abit, of supporting DDR400.

Again I have tried just 1 stick of each before, and just now, tried the 3200's in each slot, alone (2x4=8 times of trying)and I did yet another format, and install, and even tried 5:4 divider,but yet none will work in any slot.

Here's a snip from the Intel white paper:

Mixed DDR Speeds

The 865 GMCH/MCH will accept mixed DDR speed population, assuming the SPD on the

DIMMS are programmed with the correct information and the BIOS is programmed as outlined in

Intel’s BIOS reference code.

For example, a DDR400 DIMM installed with a DDR333 DIMM should run at 333 MHz. The

DDR400 DIMM should downshift to DDR 333 timings, thus allowing the system to run at

333 MHz speeds. The DDR400 DIMM will only downshift to DDR333, if the timings for

DDR333 are programmed in the DDR400 DIMM’s SPD.

CAS, RAS, Precharge, will default to the slowest setting, assuming the DIMM SPD is

programmed with the proper settings.

Do you still feel there is an issue with my machine now? even though that now, none of them will operate?

[RAM GUY]

I would suspect there may be a problem with your system yes, can you test the modules in another system? And I don't have a problem replacing your modules if you want. Please follow the link in my signature “I think I have a bad part! Or *New* Tech Support Express” and we will be happy to replace them or it, please note that you are posting from the forum!

[revinpontaic]

Thanks Ranguy,

I got a guy at work that's gonna try them in his AMD board, so i'll let you know next week.

If you do need to replace them, can all 4 be exchanged for 2x1GB DDR500?

 

Also note that during the last post trials, that the voltage was default to 2.55, and will not allow me to keep any voltage change, but any other change like timming to 3.3.3.7 would stay, but yet any voltage change made with the DDR333 will stay in effect.

The CPU FSB is still reporting the correct for where I set FSB, so I dont think that the entire FSB is in ill effect.

Is it possable that the mem controller is faulty, and wont allow any DDR400 to run, but will still allow 333 to run?

[RJLeong65]

Thanks Ranguy,

I got a guy at work that's gonna try them in his AMD board, so i'll let you know next week.

If you do need to replace them, can all 4 be exchanged for 2x1GB DDR500?

 

Also note that during the last post trials, that the voltage was default to 2.55, and will not allow me to keep any voltage change, but any other change like timming to 3.3.3.7 would stay, but yet any voltage change made with the DDR333 will stay in effect.

The CPU FSB is still reporting the correct for where I set FSB, so I dont think that the entire FSB is in ill effect.

Is it possable that the mem controller is faulty, and wont allow any DDR400 to run, but will still allow 333 to run?

 

Actually, it's the limitation of the motherboard's memory controller. The MCH that is paired with the i865PE chipset will only support full DDR400 operation with no more than four ranks of memory installed. But most 512MB and larger DDR memory modules are double-ranked, resulting in a total of a whopping eight ranks of installed memory with four sticks installed -- too many for a modern high-speed memory controller to handle at maximum performance settings. In this particular casem the i865PE's MCH cannot operate at full DDR400 speed with more than four ranks of memory installed (either two double-ranked modules or four single-ranked modules).

[revinpontaic]

Thank you both for trying to shed light on this, and perhaps is that why I had to keep upping the voltage to get the system to run?

This is from the Intel spec sheet for the 865PE, even read the same as from the 875 chipset.

The only eratta that I came across was the issue on the 1t command which I'm to understand that an Intel cpu will not interpert, and that default was for 2t, even with all banks filled.

The only thing I dont get is did running a highgrade of ram fry my board partly?????????? or is it gonna get worse!!!!!!?????

Do you guys read something in here that may shed some light on where were going for trouble shooting?

 

I'd really like to know what procedure I can try/run to find if I have a failing MCH?????????????????????????????????????

Thanks again verry much!!!!!!!!!1:!:

 

System Memory Controller Support

— Dual-channel (128 bits wide) DDR memory interface

— Single-channel (64 bits wide) DDR memory interface

— Symmetric and asymmetric memory dual-channel upgrade

— 128-Mb, 256-Mb, 512-Mb technologies implemented as

x8, x16 devices

— four bank devices

— Non-ECC, un-buffered DIMMS only

— Maximum of two DIMMs per channel, with each DIMM having

one or two rows

— Up to 4 GB system memory

— Up to 16 simultaneously-open pages (four per row) in dualchannel

mode and up to 32 open pages in single-channel mode

— 4-KB to 64-KB page sizes (4 KB to 32 KB in single-channel,

8 KB to 64 KB in dual-channel)

— Opportunistic refresh

— Suspend-to-RAM support using CKE

— SPD (Serial Presence Detect) Scheme for DIMM Detection

— DDR (Double Data Rate type 1)

- Maximum of two DDR DIMMs per channel, single-sided

and/or double-sided

- 865PE Chipset:DDR266, DDR333, DDR400 DIMM modules

- 865P Chipset:DDR266, DDR333 DIMM modules

- 865PE Chipset: DDR channel operation at 266 MHz,

333 MHz, and 400 MHz with a Peak BW of 2.1 GB/s,

2.7 GB/s, and 3.2 GB/s respectively per channel

- 865P Chipset: DDR channel operation at 266 MHz,

and 333 MHz with a Peak BW of 2.1 GB/s and 2.7 GB/s

respectively per channel

- Burst length of 4 and 8 for single-channel (32 or 64 bytes per

access, respectively); for dual-channel a burst of 4 (64 bytes

per access)

- SSTL_2 signaling

[RAM GUY]

I would try and clear the BIOS with the Modules one at a time and see if it will post and then set the tested settings for the modules manually and test them one at a time, but you cannot mix different speed grades like that.

[revinpontaic]

Reseting did not help in this current state of dispair.

I have reset cmos a zillion times among a billion other things to do.

I'll try to get some other ddr400 and try it and see if there's a ddr400 issue that has now developed because of using such a high quailty ram for such an extended period of time:confused: that really has not been overclocked to a great measure.

I'm soooo tired of screwing with this issue:confused:

[RAM GUY]

Let's get them replaced, please use the On Line RMA Request Form and we will be happy to replace them.

[revinpontaic]

Hi Ramguy,

I talked to RMA and they have to offer 4x512 DDR500, said that they dont have any 1Gb sticks avaiable, or a pair of Twinx1024 1gbx2 3200 C2PT.

He did feel that since I already have what amounts to DDR500 comparable chips, that it wouldn't be unreasonable to do that exchange, but was not sure if there would be a concern going with those 4x'500's since they weren't as "extreme" as the XMS.

Do you feel/know if there would be any trouble =

A. using 4x 512mb ddr500? {basicly the same as now? are they?}

B. just get a pair of the DDR500 512mb sticks, and lose out on haveing 2GB?

C. Just take somewhat of a performance hit and go with the 2x 1GB XMS PC3200 C2PT?

Thanks again Sorry to be a PITA:!:

[RAM GUY]

Its up to you, but 4 512 Meg modules will not over clock as fast as two 1.0 Gig modules. I would probably go with one set of Twinx2048-3200C2 for that system.

[revinpontaic]

Thank you Ramguy,

Since this 3.4EE is very limited on overclocking, ie mabey to 215, doubful to reach 220FSB, i'm still mostly concerned about stabailty.

It appears that over the last couple years that is has become appearnt that the C2's are the recomended items to use in some of the Abit boards.

thanks again, and I'll let you know how it turns out.

BTW I hope the tech can refurbish these returns, since they are sooooo

Blazingly FAST, FAST FAST...................... really:!::sunglasse