Weird memory errors...

[Cobra]

I've just built myself a new Athlon64 machine, and I'm running the following memory in it:

- 2 x Corsair TwinX PC3200 dual-channel kit (1GB total)
- 2 x Kingston HyperX PC4000 dual-channel kit (512MB total)

I ran MemTest from a boot floppy to check my memory. It reports many errors when all the RAM is present, but both pairs of modules test fine individually, and in either pair of memory slots. The same happens with Windows-based MemTest.

I can only see that the two different brands are conflicting with one another on the motherboard (an Asus A8V Deluxe). However, both are on the Asus compatible memory lists.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Many thanks,

Cobra

[dobbin_uk]

Hi. Just a guess but are you setting the memory timings manually or letting the motherboard detect them by SPD? If the motherboard uses the slot, that the faster Kingston RAM is in, to detect and set the timings then perhaps they're too fast for the slower memory. I always thought boards set the memory speed to the slowest detected module but you never know. I've read in lots of places that you shouldn't mix memory brands in the same machine but never tested the theory myself.

Regards,
Lee.

[banger298]

get ride off kingston i had the same thing it turned out to be the crap kingston ram and psu 350 .
they (kingston ) replaced it twice no joy just using Corsair ram a lot better and a 525 psu.
try taking the kingston out and runing it to see what happens if nowt happens put one stick back in and try

[Cobra]

Thanks for the replies.

The memory modules are all capable of a CAS latency of 2 cycles, but they are currently running at 3 cycles. The BIOS is set to AUTO, and has picked up the SPD of 3-6-6-8.

All four modules are flawless in performance - they have each checked out in MemTest for hours with no errors. The problems occur when they are combined.

Any ideas as to why this is, and how to fix it?

Thanks again!

Cobra

[dobbin_uk]

Sorry Cobra. Apart from the mixed brand/speed I don't know what could be causing the problem as your memory is capable of running at the auto detected settings.
You could try testing the various combinations of mixed pairs in your machine. Perhaps you may weed out the module that doesn't like being mixed (if one exists). Good luck.

Regards,
Lee.

[Ripper2860]

Perhaps 1 pair requires a higher VDimm voltage. My Kingston HyperX requires a higher voltage (2.6v) and it may be that the memory voltage is defaulting to the Corsairs which is probably the standard 2.5v.

Just a guess, but worth checking..

[makntraks]

I've just built myself a new Athlon64 machine, and I'm running the following memory in it:

- 2 x Corsair TwinX PC3200 dual-channel kit (1GB total)
- 2 x Kingston HyperX PC4000 dual-channel kit (512MB total)

I ran MemTest from a boot floppy to check my memory. It reports many errors when all the RAM is present, but both pairs of modules test fine individually, and in either pair of memory slots. The same happens with Windows-based MemTest.

I can only see that the two different brands are conflicting with one another on the motherboard (an Asus A8V Deluxe). However, both are on the Asus compatible memory lists.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Many thanks,

Cobra

Maybe you were on the naughty list after all...

Back to your regularily scheduled thread...
makntraks

[rallynavvie]

You can't mix Kingston with anything. In fact you shouldn't mix brands unless you know the memory chips are from the same manufacturer. Not only that but mixing speeds is kind of odd. After a disaster with Crucial and Kingston memory in my old workstation I stopped messing with mixed memory modules. If at all possible you should be running all identical sticks, and if the board is dual-channel the identical sticks should be in pairs. Also depends on the memory achitecture. I'd assume the on-chip memory bus on the A64 is a lot more finicky than the MCH on most 32-bit boards.

[Capmaster]

Try alternating the brands ...Slot 0 = Kingston, slot 1 = Corsair, slot 2 = Kingston and slot 3 = Corsair.

I've got a P4 and that's how I mixed two different brands of PC3200 memory. No problems with it

[Cobra]

DIMM_A1 and DIMM_B1 must be populated with the dual-channel kit. The other two can be populated with whatever you like, supposedly - it just so happens that I have a Kingston dual-channel kit to use.

Thanks for the replies - I have contacted Asus support, so I'm hoping for a useful answer.

[Cobra]

Asus said that I cannot mix RAM of different speeds and timings. Simple.

I have therefore ordered another 1GB kit of Corsair RAM, providing me with 2GB of dual-channel RAM in all. I hope the new modules will clock as high as my current ones - 256MHz as opposed to their rating of PC3200 200MHz. I'll drop them in and see, anyway.

Just thought I'd post the conclusion to the problem up for future reference.

Cobra

[ViRaL1]

If you need the address to send the other RAM to, let me know. :P

[Cobra]

Too late - I have already installed it into another machine. :P