Help please

[air_rush1]

Hi
I have purchased some new memory from Novatech: 533Mhz 512 240 Pin DDR2 Pc4200
I Have already installed: 266Mhz 512 240 Pin DDR2 in my machine.
When i added the new memory it showed on start up that i now had 1Gb of memory but then once it got to the windows start up it kept re-booting for some reason?
I tried with just the new memory it also showed i had 512Mb of memory but the same happened, it just kept re-booting?
I put back my old memory all was fine?
What can i do to resolve this?

My Motherboard is a: P4M800PRO-M V2 (ECS)
My processor is: X86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 9 Genuineintel~3061Mhz
Windows: XP PRO Service pack 2
Graphics: Radeon X1650 Pro Series

Thanks
Andy :?

[system7]

I'll just recap your other thread for anybody following this INTERESTING problem... :wink:

The motherboard is, with hindsight, a notorious ECS P4M800PRO-M (V2.0) socket socket 775, that takes 2XDDR or 2XDDR2 memory:
http://www.ecsusa.com/ECSWebSite/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?detailid=673&DetailName=Specification&MenuID=44&LanID=9

You have added a 512MB (Novatech?) DDR2-533 stick to the existing DDR2-533 512MB stick.

Read THIS and weep, because it's probably not a memory fault... :roll:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/186416-12-p4m800pro-ddr2-problem

First let's test the new RAM. Try starting with the new stick on its own, but unplug the machine and take out the CMOS battery for 2 minutes. On reboot enter the bios, set time and date and exit saving changes. See if it will then boot into Windows. And get back to us. Also run CPU-Z and find out from the memory tab what bus speed the working memory is running at.
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

This is a FSB 533 3.06GHz Pentium or Celeron you are running, right?

I'll have a read of the manual, and try to figure out some manual RAM settings that should work on this troublesome board. :?

[air_rush1]

Thank you for your reply.
I did as you asked and took out the battery and inserted the new stick of memory.
When i rebooted it kept re-booting, i changed slots and it did the same?
I placed my original memory back in and all is well. Except i had to re-install my wireless card drivers to get the internet connection back again?
I read the link you gave about the type of motherboard i have, bummer.....
I have never had any problems before with the system re-booting and never had this issue when i put it all together at the beginning of this year.
I have copied below further info from the CPU-Z programme.
Please let me know what to try next as i am not computer terminoligy sound at all.

Many thanks
Andy

Bois date = 07/19/2006
Model = P4M800PRO / 1.0 (the motherboard states V2?)
Memory type at present = PC2-4300 / 266Mhz
Dram Freq = 266.1Mhz
FSB:Dram = 1:2
Processor = Intel Celeron D 346 / 533 Mhz FSB / 256KB L2 Cache

[system7]

If you can't boot with the single new stick after clearing the CMOS battery, things look pretty hopeless. Especially if you can't get into bios to play with anything. :cry:

The devil is in the detail when you have memory problems. That's why most threads never resolve a problem, and you and I waste a lot of time looking for an answer.

What is the module serial number and maker, as given by CPU-Z, that works? Do a registers dump to a text file, look in the SPD part and tell me if it single or dual bank as well.
What is the module that doesn't? Novatech Generic or Corsair Value Select?

I have found a module that will work, but I'm going to be a tease, and not reveal it till you identify the two RAM modules... :lol:

Because I want to understand this INTERESTING problem... :wink:

[air_rush1]

Right then...
I followed your instructions and info as follows:

Installed memory:
Serial# = 050222c4
Part# = 64MX64K-53D
Manufacturer = Blank
# of banks = 1

I hope this helps
Andy

[air_rush1]

The module that does not work is, i believe: Novatech

[air_rush1]

I didn't try to get into the Bios when i restarted, earlier, would there be something i can do if i managed to get to this ?

[system7]

I thought it would be a single bank 512MB type. They are a rarity. :D

You have to go into the bios to reset date and time at least. You can also load optimal, or better still, safe defaults. Then save and exit.

While in there, you can manually set DRAM frequency to 266, and timings to, say, 4-4-4-12 for DDR2-533. Also disable bank interleave. Maybe turn off S3 power saving. I'm guessing...maybe it's not worth the trouble. :?

Anyway the stuff that seems to work is 1GB sticks of Kingston KVR533D2N4/1G. Possibly in a kit of 2 if you need 2GB, to be sure they are identical, if you can find it.
http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/chipsets/memory_validation/p4m800pro_533.jsp

[air_rush1]

Cheers for your help.
So maybe tomorrow i give the bios challenge ago and see where that gets me?????
I suppose if no good then i just go back to the original bios settings and put back the old memory.
So basically i have to fork out quite abit to get a better performance?
Is it only Kingston who do this or can i find a cheaper copy of 1G that would work?
I will also keep you updated if i get any results from Bios tampering. If i get confused i think i will leave it........

Cheers
Andy

[system7]

You won't break anything by experimenting, and you can always get back the original bios settings by taking out the CMOS battery, as all overclockers know. Unfortunately I couldn't identify the working module.

I'll have to reread that endless Tomshardware thread, but it does look to me like twin bank 512MB causes the problem. Maybe exchanging to a 1GB stick of Corsair Value Select, which I happen to know is dual-bank, will do the trick. But the 1GB of Kingston is only £17 at microdirect, the problem with generic memory being is you can't find out its specs.

EDIT: I just reread that Tomshardware thread. Certainly a single 1GB stick of DDR2-533 Kingston looks the best hope. But I think you could waste a lot of time on this. Might be better to get a new motherboard and explain to Microsoft your old one is broken for purpose of transferring your Windows license. They are usually understanding. :?

[air_rush1]

Well tried the options you gave and to be honest i thought it was almost there.
Couldn't find where to do the: 4 4 4-12 bit though?
Got to the desktop pic & Icon installation section of windows starting then it went :cry:
Oh well, i tried. Thank you very much for you help in this matter.
I will be away for over a week with work but when i return i hope to have the issue sorted with a 1G piece(perhaps) to see how that goes.
I will let you know if i have any further luck with that.

Cheers
Andy :wink:

[system7]

When Windows boots to the desktop, it is steady with onboard graphics. If you have a video card, the desktop appears, then goes black for two seconds, then reappears when it switches to the video card driver. Don't know if there is a compatibility problem with the X1650 PRO video as well here. Is your power supply >350W. :?

You might need a bios upgrade to open up the RAM timings...I thought I saw the option in something I read. You normally switch from Auto (set by SPD) to Manual somewhere. Point being you could start with something slow like 5-5-5-15 at DRAM=266 and build it up.

In fact, I'm sure I saw the option, because the article explained that you got a choice of timings for DDR and DDR2 in one window. Bios upgrades are dead easy these days, you just run a simple Windows app. Not like the old days of floppy drives and terrifyingly mysterious command switches... :shock:

[air_rush1]

Hi
Right i eventually got round to doing what you said regarding the purchasing of the 1Gb ram of Kingston from Microdirect.
Installed just now and so far so good no re-boots / no shut downs, it just works...
Thanks for all you help on this.
Hope it lasts.

Cheers again and have a good Christmas and New Year.

Best
Andy :D