Memory issues on Barton Athlon XP 2500 DDR

[DavidLeeRoth]

I've just bought a new motherboard (Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro2), Processeor (Barton Athlon XP 2500) and RAM (2x 512MB PC3200). I'm running XP Home on an ATA133 80 GB HDD.

I can't get XP to boot with both RAM sticks installed. When both sticks are installed the POST completes OK, and IDE detection works OK, but as soon as XP starts to load the PC re-boots. I've tried the 2 sticks in different combinations of slots, (1&3, 1&4, 2&3, 2&4) and get the 'Dual Channel enabled' following POST when I'd expect it - but XP still fails to load.

If I boot with only one memory stick (512MB), XP loads OK and everything works.

 

[biglebowski]

try one stick at a time it may be faulty memory

The two basic principles of Windows system administration:
For minor problems, reboot
For major problems, reinstall

 

[DavidLeeRoth]

Have tried and failed. Each stick seems to work OK by itself. They fail only when they're combined.

 

[temporello]

Try and boot with the memory frequency reduced to 333 Mhz!

 

[cdogg]

I'm assuming that you have two identical sticks of DDR, and that your FSB is set to 200MHz (which is 400MHz theoretical)? Does the Barton CPU you have require 333MHz or 400MHz FSB?


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[ceh4702]

If the CL ratings are different that can cause problems. The Sticks have to be exactly the same.

If you are using them with a 333Mhz processor what is your memory bus speed? Do you have it set to BY PSD or whatever that setting is. If memory runs faster than the processor it doesnt do much good unless you are overclocking.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[Lemon13]

did you do a fresh install or did you just overwrite the chipset drivers?
set in bios the most conservative settings for ram timings or bios save mode. sometimes a bios reset helps.

 

[BionicJohn]

Detals of AMD CPUs are at:

http://www.thedigerati.us/info/amdcpuchart.html

Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[norty303]

Did they do a 400fsb 2500 Barton?? I've got the 333 2500XP which is locked (and I'm assuming if it's a new system yours will be too) so it won't overclock. I've got the same mobo as you with a single stick of 512 PC3200 ram and it'll crash out on boot if I try to go much over 350 on the timing. Make sure you've got the fsb set to 333 and try again. Incidentally the locked 2500 WILL go to (and detect as) a 2600XP by upping the fsb but will not go any further without crashes and bios resets on this mobo.

 

[DavidLeeRoth]

Setting the FSB to 333MHz worked.
I got a bit confused 'cos you actually have to set it to 166 which doubles up to 333!

Thanks a lot guys.

Incidentally, everything worked OK using a single stick of 512MB, even with the FSB set at 200 (400MHz) - the resulting CPU speed during POST was 3200MHz. Too good to be true I suppose!

 

[norty303]

Nope, actually it's very true. BTW you mean it said processor 3200xp not 3200mhz I presume....

You seem to be one of the lucky people who got one of the unlocked Bartons. If it will run under 60C under load you should be ok leaving it like this. This is one of the reasons why AMD locked their processors, because people were buying the MUCH cheaper 2500xp and running it as a 3200xp meaning AMD weren't selling hardly as many 3200 chips.

It may be worth investing in a decently HUGE heatsink/fan and running at this speed if it will allow you to..... I spent a long time looking for one of those processors, in the right circles you could probably sell it for more than you paid for it!! ;-)

 

[cdogg]

Actually when a processor is locked, you can always raise the FSB. However by doing so, you are increasing the frequency for PCI and memory as well which worsens your system's stability. This is the worst form of overclocking.

An "unlocked" CPU means you can change the clock multiplier which only affects the CPU. Obviously this is preferred.


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[BionicJohn]

Hi, DavidLeeRoth,

To check the details of CPU, multiplier, bus frequency, internal clock etc., there's a simple utility called "WCPUID".

You can d/l it from

http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA002374/src/download.html

Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.