Asus P5K-E and 2 sets of TWIN2X2048-8500 C5D

[glocker]

I tried finding this answer in the forums but was confused about whether it was a voltage issue or if my MOBO can't handle 4 sticks of this ram.

 

Just build my machine last night. Asus P5K-E MOBO with 4 1GB sticks of the Dominator TWIN2X2048-8500 C5D RAM.

 

From cold, the machine will POST and go into the BIOS, I load all the BIOS defaults and restart. The machine doesn't POST. If I power cycle the PSU, the machine will POST and give the "overclock failed" message.

 

This seems to be a common problem with these ASUS MOBOs and this 1066 RAM. Please let me know what settings I need to change in my BIOS to get things stable (up the RAM voltage, drop frequency to 800, etc) or if I need to remove 2 of the sticks and also make BIOS changes.

 

thanks,

 

dave

[bigbuck08]

Drop the speed to DDR 800 and see if it boots. If it doesnt, take out one set. Go into the BIOS then load defaults. Test it with Memtest and see if there are any errors.

[glocker]

I checked the MOBO manual and it says that this memory is only supported when used as one pair and not two pairs. I removed one set and set the remaining set to 800 in the BIOS.

 

I was able to boot and do a full windows install without any problems. I'm running memtest now. It's been going for about 45 minutes with no errors.

 

I'm new to high end system building. If the MOBO is stated to have native support for 1066 and up to 8GB of RAM, how is it that it really only supports 2GB at 1066?????

 

Can anyone recommend stable RAM for this MOBO that will get me 4GB, even if I have to drop down to DDR2-800 MHz RAM?

 

thanks,

 

dave

[bigbuck08]

It is a problem with the memory controller on the motherboard. By having all four DIMM slots populated it has to work extra hard and it just cant do it at those speeds. If you want 4GB i would suggest 2x2GB.

[glocker]

Memtest ran through all the test for 1.5 hours with no errors.

 

I changed the RAM to 1067mhz in the BIOS (per the ASUS manual) and the computer would not even POST. I didn't modify any of the voltages or anything else. I just did what the manual said.

 

I put it back to 800 and everything is fine.

 

Looks like I'll have to wait for NewEgg to get the 6400C5DHX back in stock. Thanks for the help. Your explaination was easy to understand. I guess the MOBO should say "up to 8GB at 667" or something like that.

[bigbuck08]

You will probably have to leave it at that. You can try overclocking your CPU, thus increasing the FSB and it might give you some more room to increase the RAM speed.

[glocker]

Thanks.

 

I found some OC settings for that RAM over in the Enthusiasts forum. As fun as it would probably be to tweak around with the settings, my priority is a stable system.

 

Even if those OC settings were rock solid, it still wouldn't solve my current issue of not have 4 GB of RAM. Will send these back and wait for the 2x2GB to be in stock.

 

I just wish the MOBO really supported what the box claimed it could do. Guess it was my fault for not noticing the tiny little footnote mark on the VQL list in the manual:D:

 

thanks again for the help.

[bigbuck08]

No problem. I too hope that motherboard manufacters would figure out how to improve the memory controller. Would make life alot easier lol.