Serious problem with my Dual Channel RAMs

[GLH]

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+
Mainboard: GigaByte GA-K8NS Ultra-939
RAM: Corsair ValueSelect 2x 512 MByte PC3200/400 (Dual Channel)

Now i bought 2 additional RAM, excatly the same (Corsair.....)

Everything works fine, but now my RAM work only with 166 MHz instead of 200 MHz !!!

WHAT'S WRONG ???

(There is no setting in the BIOS to change this.)

[henry]

Is it possible the second DDR RAM's are 333 instead of 400?
This would explain the drop in speed.

It doesn't look possible to change the speed of the RAM in the MIT(MB Intelligent Tweaker) in the bios.
You could try the 'Top performance' in the main bios settings, but I'd check the RAM before you try anything first.

Sometime pressing 'Ctrl' and 'F1' in the main bios menu gives extra options.

[Luciel]

i have the same problem, 2 512 400ddr and it runs at 166 :/

[Eagle]

That's a feature/issue/whatever of the Nforce Chipset. You have to live with it.

[Luciel]

crap

[GLH]

Originally Posted by henry

Is it possible the second DDR RAM's are 333 instead of 400?
This would explain the drop in speed.

No, all 4 sticks are 400.

Originally Posted by Eagle

That's a feature/issue/whatever of the Nforce Chipset. You have to live with it.

Do you know, if there will be a firmware update to fix this, or is it impossible?

[kosmiq]

The problem is in the A64 memory controller (the one built into the CPU-core u know)... Currently it can only handle 4 DIMMs if they run at 166MHz.

Using 2xDIMMs gives the opportunity to run at 200MHz.

Future revisions off the A64 core/memory controller may allow 4xDIMMs @ 200MHz. But as it is now, thats a no go.

So it is not the nForce chip that is the problem, it is the memory controller (and as I said it is built in into the CPU).

I would suggest selling the 4x512mb DDR and buy 2x1024mb instead.

[GLH]

Originally Posted by kosmiq

I would suggest selling the 4x512mb DDR and buy 2x1024mb instead.

That would be a solution. I will think about it.

[DABhand]

2x1GB will still run at 166, as the motherboard cuts the speed to ensure that possible data loss is kept to a very minimum.

[Luciel]

yes cos i ran 2x512 and it still runs at 166

[DABhand]

You can however set the speed manually in the BIOS, but that is not recommended, especially if you use cheap generic memory.

[GLH]

Originally Posted by DABhand

2x1GB will still run at 166, as the motherboard cuts the speed to ensure that possible data loss is kept to a very minimum.

Real

Originally Posted by Luciel

yes cos i ran 2x512 and it still runs at 166

Before i bought the second pair of rams, it was running on 200.

Originally Posted by DABhand

You can however set the speed manually in the BIOS, but that is not recommended, especially if you use cheap generic memory.

The is no option to set the ram speed in my bios.

[kosmiq]

Whenever you install 2xDIMMs it is supposed to run at 200MHz no matter what the size is. As long as the RAM is made for 200MHz, it will run at that speed.

My nForce 2 Ultra 400 will run my 2x1024mb Corsair C2 at 200MHz just as my Asus A8N-Sli Premium.

As I said the memory controller is intergrated into the CPU and that is what is limiting the speed when using 4xDIMMs. Using 2xDIMMs will run at 200MHz if the modules are rated for that.
That's the way it is, I suggest you take a look in the bios on how the memory multipliers are set and if there is any bios that fixes any possible bug between the motherboard and the CPU.

[DABhand]

Ahhh you think its running at 200, but It isnt..

Some motherboard will possibly allow upto 2GB (the more expensive, like the SLI board you have), but on a whole most motherboards after 1GB the speed will slow to 166.

[kosmiq]

Please take a look in the Asus forums if you feel like, there are several post regarding the issue with 2gb of rams built up by 4x512mb DDR. And also the solution to the problem -> Use 2x1gb DDR.

Want to know something? The only difference between the nForce 4 SLI and the nForce 4 Ultra is the fact that the SLI version has SLI unlocked and comes with SLI support directly. There are ways of unlocking some nForce 4 Ultra so that they support SLI.

Most Intel motherboards will not slow down the memory when getting over 1gb RAM. Had a intel rig which could handle 1.5gb ram without slowing it down. The only reason that it would slow it down would be because one of the modules is either defective or rated as 333MHz.

Please trust me on this, most, if not ALL, nForce 4 based motherboards will handle 2x1gb modules in 200MHz.

And what do you mean with "Ahhh you think its running at 200, but It isnt..". I can tell you that I know for fact that it runs at 200MHz. POST shows it does, any windows overclocking utility shows it does. I have enough experience with computers to know when something runs at the speed it should and when it does not. So please, accept the fact that nForce 4 and the A64 memory controller (it is still much much more depending on the CPU than the chipset when talking about the A64) can handle 2x1gb modules at 200MHz.

To go further and avoid more posts please consider this;
the memory controller is built into the CPU (as stated already), it has nothing to do with chipset limitations (chipset on the motherboard). Therefore it won't be any difference between different motherboards. Guess why no nForce 4 based system can handle 4x512mb modules running at 200MHz. Got a good guess? Well because it is the memory controller in the CPU that is the limiting factor. Therefore it won't matter if you buy Abit, Asus, DFI, Gigabyte or whatever the CPU is still the factor (the memory controller in it).
Now maybe something like "newer A64 CPU's has an upgraded and better memory controller and can therefore run 2x1gb modules at 200MHz" will come?
Truth is, there is a new memory controller. It is upgraded and it is better. But it has not changed when it comes to the memory setup in terms of number of modules. It has changed on how picky it is about ram. The new ones will accept cheaper brands of ram and run them better.

No offense is intended with this post, nor am I trying to make you look like a fool or anything similar. I am only telling you how it really is. If you feel offended report me or whatever... Still friends?

Edit: crap that was a long post