Motherboard: Gigabyte EP45-DS3L rev 1.0 (Bios f9, updated to f10)
CPU: Intel Q8200 Core2Quad CPU (2.33 ghz fsb) SLB5M
Memory tried:
- OCZ 2F10664GK (PC8500) Fatality Edition 4gb kit
- Corsair TWIN2X4096-8500C7 G (composed of 2 dimms: CM2X2048-8500C7)
Both are kits of 2 dimms, 2 gb per dim, 4 gb total
Test situation: Motherboard installed in a desktop case, no hard drive, no CD rom. Generic video card plugged into PCI slot. Floppy drive connected to motherboard. memtest86 (v 3.5, single core version) booted and run from floppy drive.
http://www.memtest86.com/download.htmlMemory is tested (first, all dimm's installed individually, one at a time). All dimms pass (pass = memtest86 runs for several minutes, for as long as I care to let it run).
Next, memory is installed in pairs (single channel mode, dual channel mode). 2 dimms max. Dimms are not mixed.
System fails test when both dimms are installed. memtest fails at exactly the same point - early during the first pass. System reboots itself.
Have tried both 800 and 1066 mhz ram speed. Have raised ram voltage to 2.2v (for OCZ) and 2.0v for Corsair. Have set the timing to both auto/spd and manual (according to ram documentation).
I called OCZ and confirmed that this ram has not been QVL'd on this board. In addition, the OCZ tech said that he's read that gigabyte mobo's have a lot of problems running 4 gig kits (2 x 2mb).
I tried a bunch of different timing settings and ran the voltage up to 2.20 v (That number 2.20v is stamped on the sticker on this memory, the OCZ tech says he's not seeing that on his screen). OCZ phone is 800-459-1816.
I tried a 2gb kit (2 x 1gb) Kingston (KHX6400D2LLK2/2G) and was able to clock them to 800 mhz no problem.
I tried calling gigabyte, but after 15 minutes on hold I hung up. Phone (626) 854-9338.
I called Kingston and asked what they have for QVL on that board (4gb kit). They said:
KVR1066D2N7K2/4G
But they said they stopped making them July 2008. They say that you are not going to see much DDR2-1066 anymore because everyone is focusing on DDR3 at that speed and faster.
Called Corsair (510) 657 8747. They suggested Q2x8G6400C4DHX (8 gb kit). I want to run 8 gb on this board. That product is not available locally.
Gigabyte memory support list for this board is useless. Hardly any listings for 2gb dimms.
I have a package of Kingston KHX8500D2K2/4G that I haven't yet opened (unless I open it carefully I won't be able to return it).
Bottom line (so far) - impossible to get two 2gb dimms to run memtest 3.5 on this motherboard. I bought 3 of these boards, two of them to run XP-pro 64-bit with 8gb each. I've only been working with one board so far. I won't touch the other 2 unless (or until) I get this first one working.
This seems to have been a well-reviewed motherboard back last summer. If anyone here has experience running it with 2gb dimms (4gb total) or even up to 8gb total, please tell me what ram was used, and what bios settings.
Newegg has lots of people writing about memory issues with this board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16813128345Please tell me if my experience with memtest is a correct indication that this board has problems with 2gb dimm sticks, and also please tell me if this board is capable of running with 8 gb of memory with quad-core CPU without causing grief and frustration.
