Dodgy Mobo?

Rico

Rico

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Richard
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I have a system that I built myself back in 2006/2007 that was still doing fine until I started to use Lightroom 4.
It comprises of:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Asus P5N-E
4GB (2x 2GB) DDR2-6400 (Corsair CM2X2048-6400C5)
NVidia Geforce 8800 GTX

I thought I would bump up the RAM so I purchased another 4gb (2x2GB) of the same type by Corsair but my system (Win7 Ultimate) keeps blue screening with a physical mem dump. When I go back to just 4gb it is fine.
I sent the RAM back and got it exchanged but the problem remains. It doesn't matter what combination of RAM I use in what slots, as long as it's only running 4GB then it is happy.

I've not kept up with the pc components industry since I built this system way back so can anyone tell me if it is worth trying to find another motherboard to use my existing bits (with 8GB of RAM!) or is it time to retire it and invest in a new system?

When it was running with 8GB LR was fine, not running slow or hanging like it does with 4GB but the constant BSOD was doing my head in!

If getting new parts I would like to get maximum bang for my buck as my budget is only around £500 but that's my lens fund so I would rather just get a new mobo!
 
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Hi Richard,

I has a similar experience recently when I increased the RAM on my PC from 4 to 8GB. BSOD every time it tried to power up.

It turned out to be one of the new memory modules. I discovered this by inserting them one at a time in different memory slots - one stick gave a BSOD every time it was installed. The on-line store I bought it from replaced it without quibble.

Hope that helps :)
 
Might be worth making sure you are using the latest BIOS and drivers for your board.
 
Bristolian said:
Hi Richard,

I has a similar experience recently when I increased the RAM on my PC from 4 to 8GB. BSOD every time it tried to power up.

It turned out to be one of the new memory modules. I discovered this by inserting them one at a time in different memory slots - one stick gave a BSOD every time it was installed. The on-line store I bought it from replaced it without quibble.

Hope that helps :)
Click to expand...
I've tried all the sticks individually and as pairs and as long as it's only 4GB installed in the motherboard then the system is stable. :bang:

Mikesphotaes said:
Might be worth making sure you are using the latest BIOS and drivers for your board.
Click to expand...
Everything is up to date including the BIOS but thanks. :thumbs:

neil_g said:
id be inclined to sell off the old memory and get a specific 8gb kit.
Click to expand...

This is looking like the only plan left. Any suggestions on new bits anyone?
I'm thinking i5 (but what one?), motherboard and 8gb DDR3, reuse my existing drives, case, graphics card and PSU but what CPU, mobo and RAM would be decent? Do RAM timings matter anymore? :thinking:
 
Might be worth checking that your motherboard is reading the SPD correctly and checking the timings and speed are set correctly. Try lowering the speed of the memory and see if that gets it running ok.
 
Check the specification of the motherboard.
Also, which version of Windows are you using?

Version Limit on X86 (Limit on X64)
Windows 7 Ultimate 4 GB (192 GB)
Windows 7 Enterprise 4 GB (192 GB)
Windows 7 Professional 4 GB (192 GB)
Windows 7 Home Premium 4 GB (16 GB)
Windows 7 Home Basic 4 GB (8 GB)
Windows 7 Starter 2 GB (N/A)

Windows Vista Ultimate 4 GB (128 GB)
Windows Vista Enterprise 4 GB (128 GB)
Windows Vista Business 4 GB (128 GB)
Windows Vista Home Premium 4 GB (16 GB)
Windows Vista Home Basic 4 GB (8 GB)
Windows Vista Starter 1 GB
((Limit on IA64))
Windows XP 4 GB (128 GB) ((128 GB (not supported)))
Windows XP Starter Edition 512 MB (N/A) ((N/A))

Hope this helps....

Cheers,

Ste
 
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Googled the board earlier, it accepts max 8gb ddr2-800.

Even if it's hit the memory limit for the OS it shouldn't cause a blue screen, id put money on hardware or as above timing settings maybe. Personally like I said I'd ditch the current memory and get a kit so that you know 100% the sticks will play nice.
 
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I would also try a non working memory stick in a known working memory slot and vice-versa.

Ste
 
Sooooo....... It is the limit of MS Windows that is the problem then.....
 
Two options.....
1. New motherboard - something compatible with all your kit or....
2. 64 Bit version of Win 7 Ultimate. Does it come on the same disk???
 
Mikesphotaes said:
What?
Click to expand...

Check the specification of the motherboard.
Also, which version of Windows are you using?

Version Limit on X86 (Limit on X64)
Windows 7 Ultimate 4 GB (192 GB)


So the limit for 32 bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate is 4Gb, but the limit for 64 bit is 192Gb.
Cheers,

Ste
 
Check what version windows you are running . Only 64bit can run more the 4gig
 
Sorry should have said that it's 64 bit Win7. Having doing some googling it seems a fairly common problem that the P5N has problems supplying adequate voltage to the 4th DIMM slot when all 4 DIMM slots are in use.
So looks like 6GB should be okay, I'll test it tomorrow. Cheers all for the help!
 
Ahhhh so its a manufacturers fault????

New updated board for free then????
 
Most of the info I found was 3-4 years old and people gave up in the end and bought a different brand!
I doubt Asus will entertain me if I ask though!
 
Having more than 4G of memory in a system running x86 version shouldn't cause BSODs.

I'd be more inclined to think timing/voltage differences TBH.

Does the BIOS allow you to see what the memory is telling the board the speed is of the different sticks of memory? If not, try CPU-Z (http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html) and check what the SPD tab is saying for each slot.

Does the system have any form of overclock on it?

EDIT: I see intervening posts have overtaken me...
 
Rico said:
Sorry should have said that it's 64 bit Win7. Having doing some googling it seems a fairly common problem that the P5N has problems supplying adequate voltage to the 4th DIMM slot when all 4 DIMM slots are in use.
So looks like 6GB should be okay, I'll test it tomorrow. Cheers all for the help!
Click to expand...

Hmm mismatched pairs, send the new lot back and sell the old lot. Get a 2x4gb kit.
 
neil_g said:
Hmm mismatched pairs, send the new lot back and sell the old lot. Get a 2x4gb kit.
Click to expand...

The maximum supported memory on this particular board is 8GB but the maximum memory supported in each slot is only 2GB so unfortunately this will not work in practice.
I'd be looking at memory timings in the Bios settings.
 
Ste_Lord said:
Check the specification of the motherboard.
Also, which version of Windows are you using?

Version Limit on X86 (Limit on X64)
Windows 7 Ultimate 4 GB (192 GB)


So the limit for 32 bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate is 4Gb, but the limit for 64 bit is 192Gb.
Cheers,

Ste
Click to expand...

Well you learn something new everyday, thanks for that.
 
neil_g said:
odd doesnt seem to say that on the asus website? i could be blind though..
Click to expand...

You're not blind, it doesn't say it on their site as I was looking yesterday. You need to check out some review sites for the specs!
My little girl is poorly today so I don't know if i will get a chance to play with the timings and voltages but I will report back when I do.
 
Rico said:
You're not blind, it doesn't say it on their site as I was looking yesterday. You need to check out some review sites for the specs!
My little girl is poorly today so I don't know if i will get a chance to play with the timings and voltages but I will report back when I do.
Click to expand...

ah right, that sucks then
 
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