Curse

End · Dec 29, 2009, 11:17 PM // 23:17

So...had this computer for awhile now...as some of you may remember it has hated me every day I've had it...
So anyways in my computer atm I have 3x2GB stick of ram...The issue comes when I try to put the 4th stick in...When I put the 4th stick in the it doesn't get to the BIOS Post...
At first I assumed the stick was severely RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GOed but I tested it by putting it in anther slot and it passed Memtest...so the sticks fine...letting me believe my mobo hates me...just hoping that theres something I can try that dosen't involve getting a new mobo (but if I do I might as well upgrade my cpu while I'm at it

)

So basically...Any idea besides needing a new mobo as to why that 1 slot hates me?

HollaBigj · Dec 29, 2009, 11:48 PM // 23:48

Maybe you got a wrong bus speed for memory ram ie. pc4800

or

You have reached Windows maximum physical memory limits.

Windows XP 32 bit: 4 gb
Windows XP 64 bit: 128 gb

All Vista 32 bit verison except starter: 4gb
Vista 64 bit home prem: 16gb

You need to have physical address extension to support additional physical memory. I can't help you with PAE, you need to find out by yourself.

source: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...78(VS.85).aspx

You need to check your motherboard spec to find out maximum memory capacity that MB can holds.

Press_ALT_F4 · Dec 29, 2009, 11:52 PM // 23:52

Well, I am no computer wiz, but what is the max amount of memory your system can handle? You might be putting in more memory than the system can actually use, therefore the BIOS won't read/use any extra memory you add. My old emachine had a max of 2gigs of ram, and if you go over 2 gigs, it wont read/use more than 2.

If your system can handle all the memory, and the memory stick your trying to add is fine, maybe the slot your trying to add it to is malfunctioning/broke. try and swapping out one of the memory units and putting it in the one where the new one will be going.

Quote:

You have reached Windows maximum physical memory limits.

Windows XP 32 bit: 4 gb
Windows XP 64 bit: 128 gb

All Vista 32 bit verison except starter: 4gb
Vista 64 bit home prem: 16gb

I doubt this would affect the amount of memory displayed in the BIOS. It would however affect the displayed and usable amount once the OS is running.

If you discover that your mobo is broken, you might be better off buying a new and improved computer. Usually buying a new motherboard is almost the same (or a large part of) the price of a new and better computer.

I hope my little bit of knowledge helps you, and wish you luck in diagnosing this problem.

End · Dec 29, 2009, 11:54 PM // 23:54

64 bit os (which shouldn't be the issue as it's before the OS loads)
and mobo is capable of upto the full 16

and yeah...no point in getting a whole new computer when all I need to fix is the mobo (if indeed that is the issue here) the case, cooling, hd's, psu's (had to have a seperate one for the water cooling yes i know it's weird), ect. are all fine...No reason to waste all the working parts just because the mobo is messed up...now that I think about it even if i did need a new mobo I probably wouldn't upgrade the cpu it's fine as is...

moriz · Dec 30, 2009, 12:04 AM // 00:04

3x2gb of RAM... is it safe for us to assuming that you have a core i7 processor and X58 chipset motherboard? if that's the case, then i strongly recommend you to not put in the fourth memory module. core i7 processors have triple channel memory interfaces, so putting in three modules will fill all three channels. putting in that fourth module will force all four modules into a single channel configuration. at best, you'll lose performance. at worse, the computer doesn't POST.

so yes, this is actually normal.

HollaBigj · Dec 30, 2009, 12:05 AM // 00:05

Ok, would you check your new ram stick's bus speed is right for MoBo -- I think you may got a wrong bus speed memory ram for MoBo. Thus, this may not let you go past the POST.

Do you see the monitor is black out? If so, wrong bus speed memory ram.

Otherwise, your 4th slot may be deficit.

End · Dec 30, 2009, 12:09 AM // 00:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by moriz

3x2gb of RAM... is it safe for us to assuming that you have a core i7 processor and X58 chipset motherboard? if that's the case, then i strongly recommend you to not put in the fourth memory module. core i7 processors have triple channel memory interfaces, so putting in three modules will fill all three channels. putting in that fourth module will force all four modules into a single channel configuration. at best, you'll lose performance. at worse, the computer doesn't POST.

Sorry but its not...it's acctually a crosshair II mobo with an Phenom 9950 processor.... So still good ole fashion Duel Channel memory...i7 wasn't released when I started figuring out what parts I wanted for my computer...

Sorry just saw you thing about the bus speeds yes I checked they were fine :\

Quaker · Dec 30, 2009, 04:52 PM // 16:52

It most likely is a limitation of the motherboard. Some motherboards have limitations on the physical number of RAM chips they can handle because of loading issues, etc.

Are all the RAM sticks identical? You could also have timing problems. Most motherboards are set (in the BIOS) to read timing information off the RAM modules by default. Usually, they only read the timing info off one module and assume the rest are the same. It's possible that either the timings set by the previous modules don't work with the new one, or that the system is reading timing info off the new module which doesn't work with the old ones. (I mean more than just the clock speed, there's also all those RAS, etc. timings.)
You can get around that by manually setting the timings in the BIOS, but you may then need to know the timings for each module and set it to something that works for all of them.

End · Dec 30, 2009, 07:38 PM // 19:38

Sorry quaker...bought at the same time from the same vendor...so unless they messed something up they're the same but I will double check...

Quaker · Dec 30, 2009, 09:12 PM // 21:12

If that's the case, it still comes down to a problem with the motherboard.

Have you tried replacing one of the original RAMs with the new one (so you still only have 3)? Does it work?
There's always the possibility that the RAM timings are set incorrectly in the BIOS but they happen to work on the original 3 sticks, but not on the 4th (or the 4th stick causes timing problems because of loading). Is the BIOS set to "auto"/"SPD", or are they set to manual?

End · Dec 30, 2009, 10:00 PM // 22:00

it worked when I did put it in 1 of the spots first thing I did and it worked there...I will hop into the bios and check the settings in a minute after this cod4 map is done...

DarkGanni · Dec 30, 2009, 10:12 PM // 22:12

(Not sure if mentioned didn't read all posts) Sometimes it's a problem regarding Dual/Single sided ram modules.

For example if you put 3 Double sided rams on a motherboard with 4 DIMMS it will work on 3 but not with 4. If you add the same amount of ram but with single sided modules instead, that may do the trick. :-)

End · Dec 30, 2009, 10:50 PM // 22:50

So played around in my BIOS all my memory options were set to auto...I tried manually configuring all the settings...no change though...