Gigabyte GA-965-xxx and DDR 2 RAM modules

reckon

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Aug 8, 2006
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Hello and thanks in advance.

I've been reading that there is a known issue about these Gigabyte's brand new mobos
and the voltage used by DDR2 RAM modules. The problem it is that systems using DDR 2 modules with
a higher voltage than 1.8v won't POST.

I also know that seems that new and upcoming BIOS version are addressing this problem.

Currently I do have a DDR 2 module that needs 1.9v and I don't know what to do. The last
day to get my refund from the reseller it's tomorrow and I don't want to have any problem.

Has anyone solved this issue? Any word about this is welcomed.

I can't test my system now because I'm waiting for the CPU (E6700) that is supposed to
come in the next week.

Thanks once more and regret any inconvenience about my english

Best Regards.
 
I had a problem where it qouldn't boot even with 1.8v RAM. It was a dodgy power connection, which a few other people have been complaining about too.
 
What ram do you have? Have you looked at gigabyte's compatibility list? I had ocz 6400 gold and xms 6400 cl5 rated at 1.9v and the they posted for me on ds3 with default and updated bios. The default bios on first generation GA has issues for specific brands with tight timings.
 
If you go to the gigabyte's offical site, you can see a full tested-compatible memory list in the GA-965P-DQ6 Specification page.

Anyway, it is said in other forums that Bios F3 version has solved this issued.

Best regards.
 
*** Success *** Thanks to this forum and another over at OCZ, I was able to solve my problem, which is similar to the one originally posted here. I have built a gaming system based on the GA-965P-DS3P (rev 3.3) mainboard, and I selected OCZ PC2-6400 (DDR2-800) in 2 sticks of 1024MB. I actually didn't have any problems to start with, and I have been using the overclocked system with standard air cooling and standard voltages with no problems these first few months (O'clocked from 2.13 -> 3.23). But a few times the system would repeatedly reboot before settling down again. A few days ago, the system booted up to the memory check and froze, then rebooted to standard (non-overclocked) speed and froze again at the memory check. Five mins would pass, and then it would continue to boot up and go into windows.

I double checked the BIOS and upgraded it. - No change.
I pulled the PC down and switched the memory sticks around, trying one, then the other, different slots etc. - No change.

I then started going to forums and looking for clues. I found a reference to "THAIPHOON Burner".

Thaiphoon Burner is the powerful SPD EEPROM reader and flasher. It enables you to reprogram the SPD directly or in the mode of emulation, to transform an ordinary DDR2 RAM stick into EEP-compliant and to edit your SPD in one minute by using the Timing Table Editor. Thaiphoon Burner can load external SPD dumps and flash them into EEPROM chip of the RAM stick. Thaiphoon creates a highly detailed reports that can be saved in a separate file. The program supports ATi and ULi southbridges, 25 Intel ICHx southbridges and 7 VIA southbridges: VT82C686, VT8231, VT8233A/Ñ, VT8235, VT8237/A.

So then I went to the Gigabyte site to find out what kind of DDR2-800 memory they recommend for this MB.

I found this PDF: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/MemorySupport/motherboard_memory_ga-965p-ds3p_3.3.pdf

In this PDF there is only one OCZ 1gb memory that is recommended : (OCZ2N1066SR2GK)

I downloaded THAIPHOON Burner (free trial, 15 days) and found it had a set of 'dumps' of various brands and types of memory. The closest I could find to the recommended type was OCZ2N1066SR1G SLi Ready DDR2-800.

Then I "read" the installed memory I already had and found that it was: (OCZ2G8001G)

THAIPHOON has a "DETAILS" function which lists out all the specs (beautiful program!)
After carefully reading the specs on my installed memory, and comparing to the OCZ2N1066SR1G specs, I could see they were practically identical physically, but only had different timings. IE, same physical height, number of 'banks' capacity, etc.

I was then brave enough to BURN the OCZ2N1066SR1G specs into my existing memory.

After a reboot, everything was PERFECT. Instant response, rock-steady performance.

THANKS to FORUMS and THAIPHOON.

Cheers everyone! ~ Craig in Sydney.