P4C800-E Del...where to get memory?

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Craig

I have a P4C800-E Deluxe...I keep getting blue screens while playing Halo PC
(thought it was a PSU problem at first, so got the best new PSU I could
find, just to have it still doing it). Downloaded Windows Memory Diagnostic
from MS, and both sticks failed (tried them together, then seprate). So,
I'm looking at the Qualified Vendor List from Asus, and almost NONE of the
memory it listed can be found. I found some Kingston ValueRam...but I don't
want some cheaper ram when I can afford "the good stuff". Also concerned
that it shows very few sticks of ram that you can use all 4 sockets on the
mobo, not to mention that a search did not find any of them.

I always thought memory was memory. Did not expect this problem. Didn't
know you had to match memory to the mobo like this. As Asus hasn't updated
their Qualified Vendor List with any new memory, I don't want to risk
getting quality name brand ram, just to not have it work also. So, I would
like to stay with the ram on the QVL. Please help me in this endevor.

Thanks,
Craig
 
Craig said:
I have a P4C800-E Deluxe...I keep getting blue screens while playing Halo PC
(thought it was a PSU problem at first, so got the best new PSU I could
find, just to have it still doing it). Downloaded Windows Memory Diagnostic
from MS, and both sticks failed (tried them together, then seprate). So,
Click to expand...

Anybody know how reliable this microsoft memory diagnostics program is? I
have a 512mb stick of Kingston HyperX in my P4C800-E Deluxe purchased only 3
months ago and out of curiosity I ran the diagnostics program and the memory
failed EVERY test although I'm having no noticeable problems with my pc. It
just doesn't seem reasonable that the memory could fail every single test,
yet have no problems with my pc running......
 
"Craig" said:
I have a P4C800-E Deluxe...I keep getting blue screens while playing Halo PC
(thought it was a PSU problem at first, so got the best new PSU I could
find, just to have it still doing it). Downloaded Windows Memory Diagnostic
from MS, and both sticks failed (tried them together, then seprate). So,
I'm looking at the Qualified Vendor List from Asus, and almost NONE of the
memory it listed can be found. I found some Kingston ValueRam...but I don't
want some cheaper ram when I can afford "the good stuff". Also concerned
that it shows very few sticks of ram that you can use all 4 sockets on the
mobo, not to mention that a search did not find any of them.

I always thought memory was memory. Did not expect this problem. Didn't
know you had to match memory to the mobo like this. As Asus hasn't updated
their Qualified Vendor List with any new memory, I don't want to risk
getting quality name brand ram, just to not have it work also. So, I would
like to stay with the ram on the QVL. Please help me in this endevor.

Thanks,
Craig
Click to expand...

Have you tried MEMTEST86 from memtest86.com ? That program, when executed,
will format and prepare a standalone bootable floppy. When you boot with the
floppy, the boot program will test all of the memory, even lifting the
program oui of the way, to test underneath.

You have to be careful with the BIOS on 875/865 boards, because they
report the nominal memory clock rate. If you have overclocked the
FSB of the processor, the amount of overclock is also reflected in
hardware as an overclock of the memory. So, perhaps by accident you've
surpassed the memory rating.

If MEMTEST86 shows errors, try relaxing the timing to 3-4-4-8, as
at DDR400 rates, memory timing isn't nearly as important as it is at
lower clock rates.

If you want a better method of finding memory, try reading the
thousands of posts over at Abxzone.com. They mention, for example,
that your memory might need a slight bump to 2.75V. Start making
a list based on what they find works or doesn't work.

http://www.abxzone.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=50667

If you are interested in a particular brand name, there are forums
like this one (Corsair forums):

http://www.houseofhelp.com/v2/

HTH,
Paul
 
No, I haven't overclocked anything. I'm not an overclocker. Bought this
mobo for the features (raid, ext.). Don't want to risk burning out
components when it's plenty fast enough already. Looking for a stable
machine more than anything.

Will try memtest and give results.

Thanks,
Craig
 
OK, tried memtest86. It locks up EVERYTIME I run it!!! I downloaded
version 3.0 first, then tried 2.9. Still locking up. It even made it to
98% of the pass once before it locked up. So, test is inconclusive.
BTW...Windows Memory Diagnostic also uses a bootable floppy that runs on
boot-up.

I'm wondering if this dual channel config is throwing off the test. But,
have tried them as single sticks with same results. My dad ran the Windows
Diagnostic test on his computer (he doesn't have dual channel memory), and
it showed it passed. May take my sticks to his house and see what it says
if I ran it on his machine.

Well, still need an answer to my first question. So if anyone knows where
to get some of this memory on Asus QVL, please let me know.

Thanks,
Craig
 
Okay, I've seen this stuff about setting the timings manually for Corsair
memory on the P4C800-ED. However, I'm unsure how to do this, as my memory is
quoted at 2-3-2-6-T1, and in the bios the following settings are listed in
this order:

CAS Latency
RAS Precharge
RAS to CAS
Precharge Delay
Burst Length

How does this correspond to the Corsair settings?

Thanks...
 
CAS Latency 2
RAS Precharge 2
RAS to CAS 3
Precharge Delay 6
Burst Length - not spec'd for Corsair. 8 is faster/tighter than 4
 
That did it, thanks!!! Memtest showed no errors. I wonder why Windows
Memory Diagnostic failed when this one didn't. Anyway, must be a problem
with the graphics card then.
 
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