Dual Channel memory POST-ing at wrong speed

[dazzalabs]

Hi everybody,

Got a quicky query about some Dual Channel memory I've got. The system I bought originally came with 1024Mb (2x512Mb) of Original PC3200 400MHz memory. This showed up fine on startup as 400MHz memory.

I then upgraded it to 2Gb of memory by adding another 2x512Mb sticks of the same Original memory into it. For some reason on POST it says the memory is 2Gb of 333 Dual Channel memory now. :?

Is there a setting in the BIOS I need to change to ensure it picks up the memory as 400Mhz? (plz dont say I've got to change a jumper on the mobo :( ) Or does it not really matter what the POSt says because it'll run at 400Mhx regardless. As you probably guessed I'm something of a newbie with Dual Channel memory.

Thanks in advance

[Nox]

Depends on your motherboard, but its pretty unliekly to be a jumper setting - these are pretty much phased out now :)

From the sounds of it, it may be auto-detecting the wrong SPD settings, there should be some place in your BIOS to override the "auto detect" setting and manually specify the correct settings. (Please check with your mem manufacturer for these settings!!!)

Nox

[Nox]

and I should add, if you've overclocked your cpu, and are running a divider, don't worry - some motherboards will report the speed as DDR333 or slower (My mem is reported as DDR333 but cpu-z shows it as running around 220Mhz) Its a 'feature'

Nox

[Coops]

This is most likely down to chipset support please consult your mainboard manual with regard to memory configuration.

It is common for this to happen on a lot of motherboards.

When using all 4 Dimm Slots if you use ram modules that are single sided ( Only has ram on one side of the PCB ) in all four slots board will run at DDR400, if you use all four slots and the RAM is double sided or some of the modules are double sided the board may need to clock back to DDR333 as the mainboard chipset cannot support DDR400 to all double sided ram modules as it does not have enough bandwidth.

Most mainboard manuals have information on this.

[dazzalabs]

Thanks guys. I'll check it out this evening and let you know. Its no real big issue because it Dual Channel anyway... (seems to run Oblivion fast enough) but I have a habit of noticing the little things. :D

[Nox]

What motherboard are you using? I don't want to assume anything (ie nf4?) and what model?

Nox

[dazzalabs]

Finally got the individual specs for my RAM... took me a while. Cautiously entered them into the BIOS manually. Still registering at 333MHz. Think I might be better off leaving it rather than trying to overclock it to get it nearer the right speed.


What motherboard are you using? I don't want to assume anything (ie nf4?) and what model?

I've got an NF4SK8AA-8EKRS. Hope that changes things...

Thanks

[Coops]

Please provide information on which modules you are using and are they single side or double sided.

[Nox]

did a bit of googling :) looks like this is pretty common and could well be the mem controller getting a bit stressed, so dropping back to something a little slower. There are some ways around this, but will involve overclocking the motherboard.

Nox