4Core-Dual VSTA 775 Problems with DDR2

Been trying everything to get this to work, but all I get is BSOD crashes
with DDR2 fitted.

This motherboard also takes DDR memory, and with that fitted it works fine.

So, the DDR2 slots could be faulty, but I'm not sure if there's anything in
the bios I could change for the DDR2 memory.

This is the motherboard....

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.as...eDual-VSTA&s=n

Yes, I have fitted the DDR2 in the correct slots! I've also tried 3
different lots of memory (2x1GB DDR2 533), of different makes, to no avail.

I've also made sure I'm using the latest BIOS, latest drivers, tried 3
different hard drives, formatting and reloading XP Pro each time.

The processor is an Intel E6600, for info.

Before I return the board, was wondering if anyone had any bright ideas...

"andy" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Been trying everything to get this to work, but all I get is BSOD
> crashes
> with DDR2 fitted.
>
> This motherboard also takes DDR memory, and with that fitted it works
> fine.
>
> So, the DDR2 slots could be faulty, but I'm not sure if there's anything
> in
> the bios I could change for the DDR2 memory.
>
> This is the motherboard....
>
> http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.as...eDual-VSTA&s=n
>
> Yes, I have fitted the DDR2 in the correct slots! I've also tried 3
> different lots of memory (2x1GB DDR2 533), of different makes, to no
> avail.
>
> I've also made sure I'm using the latest BIOS, latest drivers, tried 3
> different hard drives, formatting and reloading XP Pro each time.
>
> The processor is an Intel E6600, for info.
>
> Before I return the board, was wondering if anyone had any bright
> ideas...
Historically, Asus boards often tend to be really 'fussy' about memory.
Part of this is that they are often slighty 'incorrect' in their memory
voltages. In the past it was common to find that you had to manually set
the memory voltage.
Seperately though, do you really need a board able to support both memory
types?. This adds an extra set of timing problems to the memory system,
and personally I'd feel much happier with a board without this...

Best Wishes

"Roger Hamlett" <> wrote in message
news:hUMNh.9329$...

> Historically, Asus boards often tend to be really 'fussy' about memory.
> Part of this is that they are often slighty 'incorrect' in their memory
> voltages. In the past it was common to find that you had to manually set
> the memory voltage.

Cheers Roger, I'll have a look at the bios settings when I get home, with
regards the voltage. How do I know what the voltage should be?

Asrock have got back to me and suggested the following steps...

1. Clear the golden finger of both memories.
2. Enter the BIOS and load BIOS default
3. Only install one DDR2 memory to test different DIMM slots.
4. Test both DDR2 memories on another PC and change aother DDRII memory on
your PC.

I take it by step 1, they mean clean the contacts on the memory. What's the
safest way to do this?

> Seperately though, do you really need a board able to support both memory
> types?. This adds an extra set of timing problems to the memory system,
> and personally I'd feel much happier with a board without this...

Good question. I didn't need the support for both types of memory, it was
more to do with all the IDE hard drives I've got and can't afford to replace
them all with SATA drives!

"andy" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> "Roger Hamlett" <> wrote in message
> news:hUMNh.9329$...
>
>> Historically, Asus boards often tend to be really 'fussy' about memory.
>> Part of this is that they are often slighty 'incorrect' in their memory
>> voltages. In the past it was common to find that you had to manually
>> set the memory voltage.
>
> Cheers Roger, I'll have a look at the bios settings when I get home,
> with regards the voltage. How do I know what the voltage should be?
Do you have access to an accurate DVM?. The problem on some boards, was
that (for instance), the manufacturer specified 1.85v, and the BIOS
'claimed' this was what was delivered to the modules, but measurement at
the memory system itself, was often significantly lower. Basically Asus
were measuring the voltgae directly at the output of the supply inverter,
and not what actually 'arrived' at the slots. On these, raising the
delivered voltage 0.05v, made all the difference

> Asrock have got back to me and suggested the following steps...
>
> 1. Clear the golden finger of both memories.
> 2. Enter the BIOS and load BIOS default
> 3. Only install one DDR2 memory to test different DIMM slots.
> 4. Test both DDR2 memories on another PC and change aother DDRII memory
> on your PC.
>
> I take it by step 1, they mean clean the contacts on the memory. What's
> the safest way to do this?
I'd say something like a small brush, and alcohol (with a wrist strap.

>> Seperately though, do you really need a board able to support both
>> memory types?. This adds an extra set of timing problems to the memory
>> system, and personally I'd feel much happier with a board without
>> this...
>
> Good question. I didn't need the support for both types of memory, it
> was more to do with all the IDE hard drives I've got and can't afford to
> replace them all with SATA drives!
Er. This board has no more IDE connections than most others...

Best Wishes

"Roger Hamlett" <> wrote in message
news:0bNNh.22129$...

> Do you have access to an accurate DVM?. The problem on some boards, was
> that (for instance), the manufacturer specified 1.85v, and the BIOS
> 'claimed' this was what was delivered to the modules, but measurement at
> the memory system itself, was often significantly lower. Basically Asus
> were measuring the voltgae directly at the output of the supply inverter,
> and not what actually 'arrived' at the slots. On these, raising the
> delivered voltage 0.05v, made all the difference

Yep, got a DVM somewhere, could try raising the voltage then?


> I'd say something like a small brush, and alcohol (with a wrist strap.

Cheers.


> Er. This board has no more IDE connections than most others...

Also needed an AGP slot, so I can use the existing graphics card. Geforce
FX5700LE. This was the first board I found that met my needs.

andy wrote:

> I take it by step 1, they mean clean the contacts on the memory.
> What's the safest way to do this?

A rubber (hard- or the softside... you should determine. E.g. Rust with
the Hard side, mainly in Blue color on the rubber). Contact-Spray might
be better, but it needs overhauling (spraying again) after some time.

> Good question. I didn't need the support for both types of memory, it
> was more to do with all the IDE hard drives I've got and can't afford
> to replace them all with SATA drives!

Who needs Soletti-A [copyright Mandic] (Soletti = salty sticks, here
where I am :-), due to its phenomenal super-thin vulnerable data-cable
and the too big power cable. Idiocy.). Std. IDE is the same crap.



Best regards,

Daniel Mandic