GA-MA790X-UD3P Ram problem - wont boot

[Webby182]

Hi all, firstly I appologise if this issue has been mentioned many times before but I've had a quick flick through and not found my answer.

Ive recently just upgraded to this mobo with a amd 955 be, all other components I reused from my now old pc setup.

Ive got two sticks of Corsair Tracer Balistix, 1 = 800mhz 2.0v 4-4-4-12 and the other stick is a 1066mhz 2.2v 5-5-5-15.

I received the second 1066 ram stick from a RMA of the original 800mhz. Corsaid have told me that at a lower speed the 1066 will rn identically to the 800mhz. And in truth, it has worked for a year perfect in my last setup.

However, now with the new board, With both ram in slots the PC wont boot past the splash screen. Ive tried to up volts but still unstable.
As of yet Ive not tried playing with the other values, fortunatly after I put just the 800mhz in solo the pc is running ok.

However I really want to have both installed or I would have upgraded to a ddr3 board!!! grrrrrrrrrr
Ive got the original bios and Ive never upgraded a bios before and scared to ruin my new purcahse, has anyone got some advise please?

Regards

Matt

[absic]

Hi Matt,

I think the first thing to do would be to update the bios to the latest version which you can download from here: http://www.giga-byte.co.uk/Support/Motherboard/BIOS_Model.aspx?ProductID=3107

If you read through this thread: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,1599.msg7296.html#msg7296 I go through the steps for using QFlash to flash BIOS. It's not that difficult and as long as you take it step-by-step, it shouldn't be a problem. (I have sent you a PM with a BIOS flashing Guide)

Your memory will need to be manually configured to get it to work properly and you do this by using the MIT section in BIOS. However, it would be best to tackle this once you have done the BIOS.

[Webby182]

Thanks for the swift reply, To give you a slight update from the orginal post.

I can have my 800mhz stick working fine on its own. HOWEVER!....

I cannot get past boot on my 1066mhz stick solo or dual band!! wtf?

I swear the stick is in good condition with no problems, but this mobo is not happy with it. as posted before its a Tracer Ballistix 2.2v 1066mhz 5-5-5-15

I'll read your details now but any additional info from this latest news would be appreciated.

Thx

[absic]

Have you tried the 1066 stick in all the slots?

[Webby182]

I had yes and all failed, However Ive just updated the Bios and DING! 1066 works.....


Ive not tested it properly yet but Im currently in windows without problem with both sticks in (the first time). So hopefully this is resolved. Thank you a bunch dude I wouldnt have got to this resolve so quickly without your help.

Regards

Matt

[absic]

No problems,

Pleased to have been able to help. 

[Webby182]

Damn,

Still not working!!

For a minute I thought it was all resolved.

The 1066 just wont function with it and I dont know what to do.

How do I even know if the bios is updated ? it doesnt say a model number etc?? or does it?It looks the same to me.

Im not sure what to try next

[absic]

oh dear,

You can tell your BIOS version when you first boot up. It passes pretty quickly on the screen but it will show during post.

You can also find out your BIOS if you use CPUZ. (if you haven't got this piece of software you can download it from here: http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php )

Are you getting post beeps when you boot to indicate a memory problem?

Which slots are the Memory Sticks in? I would suggest you put them into slots 1 & 3 or 2 & 4 so they are on separate channels.

When you say it doesn't work can you get into bios with the 1066 stick on-board?

Sorry to ask what might seem like dumb questions or state the obvious but I want to make sure that I know what you've done.

[Webby182]

Ive tried the 1066 in slots 1 and 3 solo.

Duel ive tried 1& 2 and in 3 & 4 . not 1-3 or 2-4.

Ive tried upping the DDR volts to 2v and 2.2v.

lowering the lateincys.

STill noting.

Im not getting the beeps on boot, it just hangs, sounds like the computers thinking but nothing happens. I can normally get into bias with the 1066 stik once then 99% it will hang on reboot

[absic]

Hi,

sorry to be a pain but it would help if you can post your full system specs. HDD's, DVD/CD, Graphics Card (if any) PSU, other add-on cards etc.

Cheers

[Webby182]

Sata Veliraptor HDD 10k rpm, 4890 HD GFX ATI. 450w PSU Antec True Power Trio. DVD RW

[absic]

Does the PC start from cold boot with 1066 Mhz onboard?

Is the problem only occurring when you reboot from BIOS or Windows?

[Webby182]

The problem seems to be just with the 1066 stick, and Ive tried this on a different boad it worked perfect.

I can seem to get to windows no problem with the 800mhz stick but the 1066 just wont boot, it trys but then just either restarts to boot or just freezes on splash screen all together.

The only changes ive made in bios is ive tried upping volts and lowering timings. but only the first 4 timings. ie 4-4-4-15 etc

This is driving me crazy now. I was so looking forward to my new pc.

[absic]

Have you tried this?

Re-setting BIOS to Optimised Defaults (just the 800 stick on-board) save the settings, re-boot, then shut down.

Swap out the sticks and then boot-up with just the 1066 stick on-board. (At Mobo defaults; no alteration to voltage or timings)

If yes, does it still hang?

[Webby182]

Ok so I did exactly that,

After I shut off and swapped the ram, it booted 100% fine with the 1066mhz stick. I then rebooted, and on restart it hung on the black and white writting before windows appears. I forced reboot and it wouldnt pass the splash screen, it just restarted itself over and over untill force shut down,

I then put the 800mhz back in and, loaded to windows no prob.

I wonder if the 1066 is a dead stick?? but then i dont know why : -

A. it worked 100% fine in my last rig
B. it can boot on occasion and work without problem

If this helps.... I just put 4 x 1gb 1066mhz sticks from a friends pc and it booted fine, although crashed when i swapped settings to 1066 speed from 800 in bios. However I didnt really give it time to play around with different volts etc.

Wehere do I go from here??

Thanks