Asrock G41M-VS3 R2.0 accepts Kingston KVR1333D3N9/4G but not KVR13N9S8/4, why?

[asarock]

First time I have problems with a Kingston Value Ram memory.

I bought a G41M-VS3 R2.0 to replace a bad G41M-VS3, and a KVR13N9S8/4 to use as memory (4GB) and the motherboard won't boot at all. I suspected the CPU (Intel Core 2 Duo E8400) was bad too but when I removed the memory and turned on the board without any memory I could heard 3 short beeps.

Then I used a KVR1333D3N9/4G from another machine and this time the board booted correctly. The problem is reproducible 100% of the time.

KVR13N9S8/4, no boot.
KVR1333D3N9/4G, boot.

Why? And is there a way to make the KVR13N9S8/4 work?

By their specs, the memory and the board should be compatible.

Update: What I already tried.

Change memory frequency in BIOS from Auto to 1066 MHz, using the working module, then save changes and turn off. Reinstall the conflictive module. No boot.

Install both modules. The working one in memory slot 1. No boot.

I didn't try with the FSB1 jumper that Asrock says you must move if using a CPU with 1333 FSB and a 1333 MHz memory because my CPU is not 1333, but, after googling I learned that other people with similar issues tried and this should result in no boot again (but, again, I didn't try).

 

[spooky2th]

One stick is single rank memory and the other is dual rank memory. They will usually work and even together. There probably is a quirk with you MB and/or CPU that prevents the dual rank stick from working. When mixing sticks there is no guarantee that they will work together even if the sticks are identical models. Kits of two or more sticks are tested to make sure that the sticks work with each other.

 

[asarock]

Thanks for your answer. After learning about the ranks I searched for both sticks and I can confirm that:

KVR1333D3N9/4G ... Dual Rank
KVR13N9S8/4 ......... Single Rank

[strike]Except that this list is wrong[/strike] By each memory specs PDF from Kingston memory search, the board wants the dual rank one, not the single rank one. Can that be possible?

Also, it seems that this board is ok with single rank up to 2GB. But this is based on web research, not actual experience.

May a BIOS update solve this?

Edit: I read in the downloads page for this board at Asrock's web site that the latest BIOS update has the description "Improves memory compatibility". I'm tempted to attempt the BIOS update. I will report back if this solves the problem.

Edit 2: BIOS updated successfully using Asrock Instant Flash, last update was from 2013, but no change with this memory stick, still no boot. The only solution I see is to buy another KVR1333D3N9/4G stick that I already know that works with this board. I will try to sell the KVR13N9S8/4 but I will have to state that some boards don't like it.

 

[spooky2th]

You could have gotten a bad stick? RMA the stick. Should have a lifetime warranty.

 

[asarock]

I will try RMA it but looks like a compatibility issue more than a bad memory (nobody made the KVR13N9S8/4 work in this board). Well, the worst that may happen is that they send it back to me saying that nothing wrong was found with the memory.

Edit: lucky, they said the stick is not bad but that is not the first case like this they had. They accepted the stick and returned me the money, as they do not have others brands of memories right now.

 

[sasa318]

I think your mb doesn't support single sided(read densiti 512m ) chips on kvr13n9s8/4. KVR1333D3N9 is double sided so it is 256m. That is the difference. 😉

 

[zoli2k]

Hi, to asarock, can you confirm that two KVR1333D3N9/4G work on a G41M-VS3 R2.0 ? Thanks

 

[asarock]

Hi, to asarock, can you confirm that two KVR1333D3N9/4G work on a G41M-VS3 R2.0 ? Thanks

I didn't tried two KVR1333D3N9/4G, I have that board with two Samsung 2 GB (Sorry, I don't remember the part number) for 4 GB in Dual Channel. But... If it is the KVR1333D3N9/4G stick, I'm pretty sure that they will work. The KVR13N9S8/4 is the problematic one.

 

[Tradesman1]

The KVR13N9S8/4 appears to be a newer line from Kingston and is prob made with high density memory chips which aren't compatible with socket 775 mobos, can confirm via Kingston's rep here on the forums, send a PM to KingstonHQ he can let you know for sure

 

[asarock]

The KVR13N9S8/4 appears to be a newer line from Kingston and is prob made with high density memory chips which aren't compatible with socket 775 mobos, can confirm via Kingston's rep here on the forums, send a PM to KingstonHQ he can let you know for sure

Thank you and sasa318 for the density info. I will MP later. The problem is to find the older line when you need it for a 775 mobo, at least where I live I had no luck then I switched to Samsung. These boards even run Windows 10, they are not trash yet. I still can game in a Core 2 Quad.

 

[Tradesman1]

Very true - just hard to find the older - low density chips stiicks - might look for the original Ripjaws (not the Ripjaws X or Z lines) or GSkill's NT series of value DRAM - both are made with the older low density chips

 

[zoli2k]

I just found a second hand KVR1333D3N92k/8G (2x4gb, double sided) kit on the internet, and I really hope it will work with the core 2 quad processor i'm getting soon...

 

[asarock]

I just found a second hand KVR1333D3N92k/8G (2x4gb, double sided) kit on the internet, and I really hope it will work with the core 2 quad processor i'm getting soon...

Lucky you.