My memory is doin my head in

TFT

TFT

VIP Member
Cmon chaps, explain why.
Motherboard - ASUS P5KPL runs ok with 2 sticks of 1GB DDR2 ram in the yellow slots A1 and B1 and running in Dual Channel.

So I ordered from Crucial what I thought was 2x2GB sticks but what arrived was 4x1GB sticks. OK I thought I would populate all four slots but on booting, the BIOS recognised the 4GB but refused to load windows with just a black screen to look at.
I went back to 2 sticks and everything was fine, added one more to make 3GB and it booted into windows fine but after a minute or so shut down with a memory error.
Why have four slots if I can't populate them with matched dimms.:confused:
 
Have you tried running Memtest with all four sticks in?

Checked the BIOS has the voltage for the RAM set correctly? I know for my Ballistix it's 2.2v, but the BIOS defaults at 1.8v.
 
yeah run Memtest for 1-2 passes (takes 30-40 mins per pass)

Though it sounds to me like your board simply can't handle 4 sticks...a lot of AMD boards had that issue too. I say return them and sell your 2x1GB sticks and pick up some G-skill 2x2GB sticks for $40 it is probably cheaper then what you spent on 2x1GB sticks ^-^
 
Kornowski said:
Have you tried running Memtest with all four sticks in?

Checked the BIOS has the voltage for the RAM set correctly? I know for my Ballistix it's 2.2v, but the BIOS defaults at 1.8v.
Click to expand...

No good Danny, it won't attempt to go into Windows. :(
My memory is 1.8v and the Crucial memory is also.

Twist86 said:
yeah run Memtest for 1-2 passes (takes 30-40 mins per pass)

Though it sounds to me like your board simply can't handle 4 sticks...a lot of AMD boards had that issue too. I say return them and sell your 2x1GB sticks and pick up some G-skill 2x2GB sticks for $40 it is probably cheaper then what you spent on 2x1GB sticks ^-^
Click to expand...

Yeah, shame I got my 1's and 2's mixed up :o I'm sure it would have been OK if what I thought I ordered had turned up. I know the board will handle 4GB but it seems only on two slots.
I was just getting it ready for the big Windows 7 64 bit upgrade :)
 
Kornowski said:
You can run Memtest off a CD, so you wouldn't need to boot into Windows ;)

http://www.memtest86.com/
Click to expand...

Just shows how much I know, never had too use it before. I think because I blobbed in ordering it I'll drop an Email to Crucial to see if they will accept it back in return for what I wanted in the first place.
Obviously the MB doesn't like all the DIMM slots populated.
 
TFT said:
Just shows how much I know, never had too use it before. I think because I blobbed in ordering it I'll drop an Email to Crucial to see if they will accept it back in return for what I wanted in the first place.
Obviously the MB doesn't like all the DIMM slots populated.
Click to expand...

If it's been advertised falsely then you should be able to get your money back!
 
Kornowski said:
If it's been advertised falsely then you should be able to get your money back!
Click to expand...

It was their description that threw me, it said a 2GB kit and I wrongly thought it was one piece and not 2x1GB. Not to worry, I'll see what they say, if not I'll sell it on at work. :)
 
TFT said:
Just shows how much I know, never had too use it before. I think because I blobbed in ordering it I'll drop an Email to Crucial to see if they will accept it back in return for what I wanted in the first place.
Obviously the MB doesn't like all the DIMM slots populated.
Click to expand...

I heard something awhile back that when all 4 slots are filled you have to up the voltage. You might want to check into that first.
 
johnb35 said:
I heard something awhile back that when all 4 slots are filled you have to up the voltage. You might want to check into that first.
Click to expand...

Could be that, Yeah. Having all 4 slots full with put more strain on the NB. Try bumping the voltage up a notch?
 
I'm bumping my old thread guys, to save you reading it all I have an ASUS P5KPL motherboard with 2x1GB sticks of RAM. the MB has a G31 chipset with four slots so it's populated with two only in dual channel. But it will take a maximum of 4GB with 1GB sticks in each slot.

I put all the info into the Crucial site and purchased 4x1GB sticks and populated each slot but it blue screened every time so I returned it.

I contacted ASUS who told me if I populate all 4 slots then it must be single sided memory modules and not double.

How do I know whether what I am purchasing is single or double?

Hoping Stranglehold might read this :)
 
I know Kingston/A-Data and Super Talent still make some single sided 1gb DDR2 800, plus probable a bunch of no name brands. I've saw some but cant remember the model numbers. Look for 128M x 8 on them
 
Thanks John and Stranglehold, Every bit of info on the website still doesn't give me the info I need but have now Emailed Crucial to try and determine if what they recomend is single or double.
I'll look up the Kingston site and see what they have to offer and if their specs include 128Mx8.
Funny thing is I ran PC Wizard and the info on the Kingston memory I have gave me a part number so I punched that into the Kingston site and it came back as not recognised, ah if only life was easy.
 
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I was looking at your Supported Memory list. It support two double sided sticks or four single sided to get 4gb. total. Your best bet is just to order two DDR2 800 2gb. sticks like you did to start with instead of hunting down four single sided 1gb. sticks. It was a bummer they sent you a 4 stick set to start with.

I know your in the UK but any of these sets on Newegg should work just fine on your board. Just match the model numbers to ones you can get in the UK.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...iption=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=
 
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Thanks, reading deeper into my MB manual it states that each slot will only support 1GB max but for the cost of memory I'll do as you say. If it works then great, if not then I've tried all combinations.

Only reason for upgrading is moving up to W7 in October and thinking of the 64 bit OS. Then again perhaps I'll go for the 32 bit W7 and upgrade the computer next year, it is getting a bit long in the tooth now.
 
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