4GB of RAM, but only 2GB usable?

[pb18]

Hi guys

I recently made a hardware change to my computer which was changing the motherboard, before changing the motherboard i performed a sysprep which removes all the hardware drivers etc.. and prepares windows 7 for new hardware.

system specs:

Motherboard (old: ecs mcp73vt-pm), (new: Asus p5e-v hdmi atx crossfire motherboard)
intel core 2 quad q8300
4GB DDR2 RAM
Intergrated onboard graphics
XFX 550W PSU
WD 640GB Caviar Blue
HAF 922

I managed to get the PC to boot, however I previously had 4GB 2x2GB installed and the PC will now only recognize 2GB (both sticks worked fine), when i go to msconfig in advanced boot options it wont let me go past 2048mb (2gb), when i install the second stick the cpu fan revs up and no display but when i remove and (reboot with one stick) it says overclocking failure

I have tried removing cmos battery, removing jumpers, re-seating RAM, booting with one stick of RAM, made sure 24pin and 4pin cpu power plugged in, I dont understand whats wrong as everything was working before and this was just supposed to be a simple motherboard change and now its driving me nuts!....

replies would be greatly appreciated

 

[bignastyid]

Test the sticks 1 at a time in the same slot if one works and 1 doesnt then you have a bad stick of ram.

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

are your ram sticks identicle (a matched pair)
DDR 2 or DDR 3 ?
does the motherboard web site state the type of RAM is supported
do you have 2 or 4 ram slots ?
(which two out of 4 you use can cause problems)

Motherboard change is not simple unless a direct replacment of same model

regards
Mike Barne

 

[zdbc13]

Compare the model of RAM you have with the motherboard's QVL list on the ASUS download site. It may have compatibility problems on the motherboard.

 

[pb18]

Test the sticks 1 at a time in the same slot if one works and 1 doesnt then you have a bad stick of ram.

Hi bignastyid i did that and nothing, but it definitely works because it was working in my old motherboard a few days ago

 

[pb18]

Hi

are your ram sticks identicle (a matched pair)
DDR 2 or DDR 3 ?
does the motherboard web site state the type of RAM is supported
do you have 2 or 4 ram slots ?
(which two out of 4 you use can cause problems)

Motherboard change is not simple unless a direct replacment of same model

regards
Mike Barne

Hi mbarnes86
yes the ram sticks are a matched pair 2x2GB DDR2,
the motherboard says it supports up to 8GB max DDR2
motherboard has 4 RAM slots

 

[pb18]

Compare the model of RAM you have with the motherboard's QVL list on the ASUS download site. It may have compatibility problems on the motherboard.

Hi zdbc13

OK thank you , I will do that

I have looked and it says:4 x DIMM, Max. 8 GB, DDR2 800/667/533 Non-ECC,Un-buffered Memory
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P5EV_HDMI/#specifications

my ram is 4GB 2x2GB DDR2 800mhz, not sure about the make though as it was from a pre-built system, model number: gu342goalepr692c6f1 4gb,
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/OTAwWDE2MDA=/z/-iEAAOxy83JRHAB7/$(KGrHqNHJEwFERuY949CBRH!B7nVDw~~60_1.JPG?set_id=880000500F

 

[bignastyid]

Test the sticks 1 at a time in the same slot if one works and 1 doesnt then you have a bad stick of ram.

Hi bignastyid i did that and nothing, but it definitely works because it was working in my old motherboard a few days ago

So they both work individually or neither work?

 

[pb18]

Test the sticks 1 at a time in the same slot if one works and 1 doesnt then you have a bad stick of ram.

Hi bignastyid i did that and nothing, but it definitely works because it was working in my old motherboard a few days ago

So they both work individually or neither work?

its a 4GB kit 2x2GB, one stick works but when i put the other in the machine the cpu fan revs up and no display

after i boot the pc again with (one stick of ram) there is a display and it says overclocking failure and press f1 to continue to operating system, is there a setting in the bios i need to enable as both sticks worked fine only a few days ago in my previous motherboard

 

[bignastyid]

So they both work individually but the system will not post if both are installed correct?

 

[pb18]

So they both work individually but the system will not post if both are installed correct?

yes that is correct

 

[bignastyid]

When both stick are installed are you putting them in the same colored slots both in the yellow or both on the black.

 

[pb18]

When both stick are installed are you putting them in the same colored slots both in the yellow or both on the black.

yes both sticks are installed in the same colored slots, i made sure they were installed in dual channel mode

 

[bignastyid]

Either the rams not fully compatible with the board check the QVL as mentioned by zdbc13 or the motherboards memory controller has issues, you may check for a bios update as that may help with compatibility.

 

[pb18]

Either the rams not fully compatible with the board check the QVL as mentioned by zdbc13 or the motherboards memory controller has issues, you may check for a bios update as that may help with compatibility.

Hi

I have updated the bios to the latest version but no change..

 

[bignastyid]

The ram you have is some generic memory that was used in Dell systems and may have issues in a retail board. Do you know someone who has a set of dual channel ddr2 you could try?

 

[pb18]

The ram you have is some generic memory that was used in Dell systems and may have issues in a retail board. Do you know someone who has a set of dual channel ddr2 you could try?

Hi bignastyid

yeah this ram looks to be generic, this ram was originally from a Packard bell ixtreme x5620uk and i decided to change the case to a HAF 922, psu to an xfx 550w and the motherboard to an asus p5e-v hdmi. Also i dont know anyone that has a set of dual channel ddr2 i could try.