GA-N650SLI-DS4L can't install memory into slots 3 and 4

[nga]

I decided to upgrade the memory on my machine. It is built on N650SLI-DS4L motherboard and currently have 1 memory bar of 2GB. I just bought two more bars of 2GB memory in order to extend the total memory to 6GB. I use Ubuntu, so after installing the two new memory bars, I run the memory test from the boot menu. The test runs well until the last 2GB where it keeps printing errors. If I try to boot into ubuntu, the computer hangs. Then, I try to test each memory bar, plug them it the first slot. The computer boots fine and it can boot ubuntu for all the memory bar. If I install 2 memory bars in the first and second slots, everything is working fine as well. But if I install a third memory bar (either in slot 3 or 4), the computer can turn on, the POST screen show 6GB of memory, but the test memory from the boot menu shows errors and it does not boot into ubuntu. I suspect there may be a problem with the memory in the second channel (slots 3 and 4). I unplug all the memory bar, and try to install only one of them in every memory slot. Only the 1st and 2nd work, the 3rd and 4th even not start the computer, it turns on but does not show the POST screen (just a black screen). Does this mean the 3rd and 4th memory slots of the motherboard have gone? I heard that the problem could come from the bend pins of the processor socket. Is there any chance that could happen? Please help me!

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte UK Forum.

There is a possibility of bent pins but lets check out some other options first.

What BIOS version are you running?

The motherboard wont boot with memory only in slots 3 or 4.

Is all the memory exactly the same ( make/model/size etc)?

Try running memtest86+ on the modules one stick at a time for at least ten loops each.

Memtest86+         http://www.memtest.org/

[nga]

Thank you for your quick reply.

-I look for the BIOS version, dont really know where it is but I find on the POST screen: v6.00PG (hope that is what your ask for)
-The old ram stick is 2GB, unbranded and I have owned it for 1 year, everything is fine. On the stick I find: 2G DDR2 PC 800P. Using CPU-Z, it is recognized as a 2GB PC2-6400.
-The two newly purchased sticks are 2GB, from Hynix with the information: PC2-6400U-666-12 and they are exactly the same.

-Using memtest86+ for testing all there sticks one by one (all in slot 1): all of them are ok!

-Using one memory stick only, the computer only boots when it is installed in slots 1 and 2, but not in slots 3 and 4.
-To avoid the difference, I try 2 Hynix sticks and the computer boots only iff I install them in slots 1 and 2. I try to enable dual channel by installing them in slots 1 and 3 or slots 2 and 4 but both fail the computer to boot.

Please help me, if you need me to provide more information, please ask!

Thank you very much!

[Dark Mantis]

If you have CPU-Z then just look on the Mainboard tab of that for the BIOS version. It will probably be F1 or F3.

The two new sticks of Hynix memory were they purchased as a matching pair?

The two slots for Dual Channel memory mode  are DDR1 and DDR3, or 2 and 4. The computer won't be able to run with three sticks it must be 2 or 4 modules in total.

From the manual:
When enabling Dual Channel mode with two or four memory modules, it is recommended that
memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used and installed in the same
coloured DDR2 sockets for optimum performance.

[nga]

From CPU-Z, I got: BIOS version: F2, date: 10/12/2007

Yes, 2 hynix memory were purchased as a matching pair. I try dual channel by pluging 2 hynix memories in slot 1 (ddr1) and slot 3 (ddr3) together but that did not boot the computer.

Please help me!

[Dark Mantis]

Put the memory back in the best position for it to boot properly and then the next thing to do is to clear your CMOS memory completely. Remove the power cable from the mains supply and then press the power switch on the case for a few seconds just to drain any residual energy in the PSU capacitors. Once done remove the motherboard battery for at least ten minutes before replacing it. Next plug back into the mains supply and boot. You will now need to enter the BIOS by pressing DEL and load Opimised BIOS Defaults. Make any other changes to the BIOS settings to suit your self and then press F10 to save and exit.

[nga]

Thank you for the instruction. Just a silly question, what should I do after following your instruction?

[Dark Mantis]

Well you can try the memory you have in single channel mode by installing the modules in 1,2 and 3 slots and see if it works. If not you are no worse off and we can try something else.

[nga]

Hi, I tried that but still got the same result. 3 modules are plugged in slots 1,2 and 3. Computer can boot, POST show that Bios recognizes 6GB of memory but the memory test 86+ still produces errors, just like before. The errors are in the first test, namely: address test, own address and the address range is 4096-6144M. Hope that you could have more information.

[Dark Mantis]

From what you have posted last you are testing the memory all at once but you need to test it one stick at a time to find which is the one that is giving you problems.

The errors are in the first test, namely: address test, own address and the address range is 4096-6144M.

This is saying that the errors are being produced by the 3rd memory stick but as it is hard to know if that means physical or just logical you need to test them singly to be sure.

[nga]

Thank you for your reply.

I did more tests with the 3 memory modules and still got the same results:
- If I use 3 modules in slots 1,2 and 3: computer boot but memorytest86+ gives errors (at test #1: address test, own address, in the memory range 4096-6144MB)
- If I use 2 identical Hynix modules, the computer only works fine if they are plugged in slots 1 and 3. Whenever plugging them in other slots (1 and 3; 2 and 3; 2 and 4; 3 and 4), the computer just do not boot.
- If I check each module again using slot 1, the computer works fine.
- If I check each slot again using 1 module, the computer only works for slot 1 and 2; it does not boot when plugging in slot 3 or 4.

Please help me!

[Dark Mantis]

Maybe I am not making myself clear here. You need to check each of the modules on their own in the first slot with Memtest86+ for at least ten cycles/loops. Whether they boot or not isn't important right now, just the tests.

the computer only works for slot 1 and 2; it does not boot when plugging in slot 3 or 4.

For your information the computer isn't suposed to boot when the memory is inserted in slots 3 and 4 only.

[nga]

Yes, I did that already. I use slot 1 to test 3 memory modules, one by one. The computer boots and I run memory test 86+ as you told me!

[Dark Mantis]

What results did you get?

[nga]

Hi, for each memory module, memory test 86 went through all the tests and the final report shows no error.