WRXRaven Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 Purchased back in 2005 for my motherboard (ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard) I finally settled on the following CORSAIR memory CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWINX1024-3200XLPT I am now looking at upping the memory to 3GB and the configurator on the Corsair site recommends TWINX2048-3200C2PT Details Memory Type » DDR-400 (XMS-3200C2) Size » 2GB Kit (2 x 1GB) Latency » 2-3-3-6-2T Format » 184-pin DIMM Heat Spreader » Platinum Any caveats on this purchase? - I have been reading about issues filling out all the slots on this motherboard. Am I better taking out the existing sticks? - Any manual configuration in the BIOS required for the upgrade? - Are the timings going to be a factor? Current Cas Latency 2, Timing 2-2-2-5, Voltage 2.75V Suggested 2-3-3-6-2T - Other memory stick suggestions? TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 30, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 30, 2007 You cannot mix memory with this MB, all of the modules would need to be exactly matched. I would just replace what you have now with one set of Twinx2048-3200C2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXRaven Posted October 30, 2007 Author Share Posted October 30, 2007 That was building suspicion. With my current memory being unavailable I wasn't going to be able to match it that way...I knew I should have gotten more at the time...ah well. Thanks for the reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXRaven Posted October 30, 2007 Author Share Posted October 30, 2007 ...any difference between that part and TWINX2048-3200C2PT? I cannot tell any difference apart from the price ($100 less for the above!) and slower(?) timings for the more expensive one. Anyone point me at a good reference to the a-b-c-d...cause I always thought lower was best... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 30, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 30, 2007 XMS3200C2 and C2PT would be the exact same part just the "PT" version has Platinum Heat Spreaders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXRaven Posted November 3, 2007 Author Share Posted November 3, 2007 Well....I received the memory 2GB CMX1024-3200C2PT matched pair...and....after putting them in I couldn't get a boot. Hard reset and I got it into memtest....everything ran without error on one pass. I went to bed pretty happy. Next evening I cannot boot again. Took out the module from Bank A2 leaving in A1, and it boots. Move Module from A2 to A1 nothing. I have the memory voltage set to 2.75V and the rest to Auto in the BIOS, as I am unsure what values I need to put in each spot. The Motherboard tells me memory failure with the one "bad" module in. Any tricks that I am missing....or do I really have a bad module. I assume I would then need to RMA them both back to Corsair? Frustrated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekT Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 Use two sticks. Enter BIOS, set to 333MHz, DRAM Voltage 2.75V, and Command Rate to 2T. Save settings, shut the system down. Insert the second set of sticks. Results? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXRaven Posted November 3, 2007 Author Share Posted November 3, 2007 I have some large downloads going at the moment so I cannot interrupt and try your suggestion yet. My A8N-SLI BIOS has the following settings Max MemClock : Auto / DDR200 etc... DDR333, DDR400, ....DDR600 (you are suggesting setting this to the DDR333 setting) 1T/2T Memory Timing: Auto / 1T / 2T (you suggest hard setting to be 2T) CAS# Latency: Auto / 2 / 2.5 / 3 (leave as Auto or set to 2?) RAS# to CAS# delay: Auto / 2/3/4/5/6/7 (auto?) Min RAS# active time: Auto/5/6..../14/15 (auto?) Row precharge time: Auto / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 (auto?) Memtest reported testing the memory as 3-3-3-8 the one time I got both sticks to work...but for the life of me I don't know how those numbers translate to the BIOS settings. Memory hardware just ain't my thing. I was also going to try putting the sticks in the same channel. I misstated earlier, I had them in A1 and B1. I was going to try A1 and A2 and see if that made any difference...I doubt it will since the "bad" module won't work by itself in A1. I appreciate the response and will try and get to making those changes a little later and post back the results. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXRaven Posted November 3, 2007 Author Share Posted November 3, 2007 I can report that setting to DDR333, 2T and 2.75V resulted in no change. With the one "bad" module in nada works. When I was in the BIOS I noted the following additional settings from the ones previously mentioned: Row cycle time Row refresh cyc time Read-to-write time Write recovery time I didn't change those from the defaults. I think I have a dead module.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekT Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Download Memtest from http://www.memtest.org. Extract the ISO image and burn the ISO image to a CD. Enter BIOS and set to these values. Max MemClock : DDR333 1T/2T Memory Timing: 2T CAS# Latency: 3 RAS# to CAS# delay:3 Min RAS# active time: 8 Row precharge time: 3 Row cycle time: Auto Row refresh cyc time: Auto Read-to-write time: Auto Write recovery time: Auto Set your DRAM Voltage to 2.8v Test with memtest for 2 full passes. Test with each module singly in slot 1 and then in the pair in slot 1 and 3. Results? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXRaven Posted November 4, 2007 Author Share Posted November 4, 2007 Total disaster honestly. I made the changes and it started to boot then gave me BIOS checksum error and died. I put my original memory back in and got back into windows. Then it started giving me fits with the voltage set to 2.75 rather than auto. It has taken me this long to get back up and running with my original memory, and the onboard NIC seems to have suffered during the BIOS problems, as I am now running on my Marvel onboard NIC. Probably due to a BIOS setting I am sure...but having developed a lovely dose of stomach flu I am not in the best of minds. At this point I think I'll just return them to NewEgg and eat the restocking fee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted November 5, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted November 5, 2007 You can also replace the memory directly with us using the TSX Express link below in my signature. Please return both modules so that you will get a matched and tested pair in return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXRaven Posted November 5, 2007 Author Share Posted November 5, 2007 How would my NewEgg MIR (mail in rebate) work...since it requires the UPC code from the package. Do I snip it from what I have...or hope I get it returned in time to submit it with the new package (hoping that works) Thanks for the info. I am having a buddy try them in his machine tonight (honestly I hope he has problems with the one stick too) if they/it fails in his then I'll start the RMA process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted November 6, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted November 6, 2007 The UPC code is not required to have the modules replaced, if the modules are failing on another system as well, then lets get them replaced! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXRaven Posted November 9, 2007 Author Share Posted November 9, 2007 The modules are in the post being RMAd...when I get them back I am going to try reflashing my BIOS, resetting the CMOS, and changing the CMOS battery...all suggestions I have picked up from googling. My mobo appears to be a piece of junk and very very finiky when it comes to memory. Any suggestions on settings to make? Max MemClock : DDR333 1T/2T Memory Timing: 2T CAS# Latency: 3 RAS# to CAS# delay:3 Min RAS# active time: 8 Row precharge time: 3 Row cycle time: ??? Row refresh cyc time: ??? Read-to-write time: ??? Write recovery time: ??? Set your DRAM Voltage to 2.75v I don't have auto on any of the individual settings just on the memory category. TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekT Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 The A8N-SLi did have issues but still, it was not all that bad an AMD based board. I think that your BIOS flash is a good idea. After the flash, be sure to restart, enter the BIOS and load setup defaults. Save setup defaults and shut down. Now you can enter the BIOS and make the changes you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXRaven Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 Thanks for the support. :) I reflashed the BIOS and, after having windows want to reactivate my copy of windows!!?, I was back to 'normal' running my original 1GB of memory. Managed to get some CoD4 in and stress the system...yeah that was what I was doing ;) Looks like the USPS tried to deliver my RMA memory to Corsair on Saturday...hopefully they'll try and again today...oh wait its Veterans Day...tomorrow then....I don't fancy getting that redelivered to me. Oh the fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekT Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 Let us know how you make out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXRaven Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 ...got the returned memory yesterday....cool black ones (actually go better with my case, but never mind). I just popped them in and booted up...muttered a few placations to the computer gods...and it worked without having to tweak a thing. Burned it in for 2 hours gaming, then left it running a backup for 5 hours, checked it restarted. Powered off then rechecked in a couple of hours....worked as advertised. My original modules must have been so bad they got my BIOS screwed up I guess. Couldn't be happier at this point....hopefully that will last. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted November 27, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted November 27, 2007 NP Please let us know if you have any more questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekT Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Raven;319309']Couldn't be happier at this point....hopefully that will last. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and help. And thanks to you for being so polite and dealing with the frustration and many requests regarding testing the DRAM. Very refreshing. Please let us know if you have further issues. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.