GA-EP41-UD3L single versus double sided memory
Rob Nicholson
The manual and website says "Up to 8GB of RAM". So we've bought 4 x 2GB
crucial memory:
http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?imodule=CT25664AA800
But when I put in all four sticks, the systems won't boot. With two of them
(either two), it's fine. This is where it's getting confusing - according to
the motherboard manual:
http://europe.giga-byte.com/FileList/Manual/motherboard_manual_ga-ep41-ud3l(us3l)_e.pdf
it says for all four slots to be filled, it must be single-sided.
But nobody makes single sided 2GB memory!!
Either:
o Manual is wrong when it says up to 8GB and it's only 4GB (4 x 1GB single
sided or 2 x 2GB double sided)
o Manual is wrong and it can take 4 x 2GB double sided
If the later is the case, then either motherboard is broken or this memory
is somehow not compatible.
Very confused...
Cheers, Rob.
tippunmon
> Just bought a Gigabyte GA-EP41-UD3L motherboard which has four memory slots.
> The manual and website says "Up to 8GB of RAM". So we've bought 4 x 2GB
> crucial memory:
>
> http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?imodule=CT25664AA800
>
> But when I put in all four sticks, the systems won't boot. With two of them
> (either two), it's fine. This is where it's getting confusing - according to
> the motherboard manual:
>
>
> it says for all four slots to be filled, it must be single-sided.
>
> But nobody makes single sided 2GB memory!!
>
> Either:
>
> o Manual is wrong when it says up to 8GB and it's only 4GB (4 x 1GB single
> sided or 2 x 2GB double sided)
> o Manual is wrong and it can take 4 x 2GB double sided
>
> If the later is the case, then either motherboard is broken or this memory
> is somehow not compatible.
>
> Very confused...
>
> Cheers, Rob.
Rob -
Having checked the memory specs and the motherboard manual it appears
you have purchased the correct memory and done nothing wrong. This
board should take 4 x 2gig modules of the type you have purchased. I
would recommend a very careful line-by-line checking of your BIOS
settings and I have assumed the board is flashed to the latest BIOS
upgrades? Also please check the modules are fully inserted in the
correct way such that the retaining clips click securely (so that
memory is seated correctly). After all that if still a problem insert
two modules at a time and boot the computer then change the modules
(and the sockets) one by one - this will expose the unlikely
possibility that one module (or one socket on the board) is faulty.
The board will not boot if it believes there are only 3 x dual-channel
modules in place
Admittedly mine is an Asus board but I have run 8 gig of memory in 4
slots using x64 Windows for some time now (certainly over a year) -
with no problems, so there would seem to be something slightly awry
somewhere in your setup.
Please be patient and run through the obvious (line-by-line BIOS,
seating of memory etc etc) very carefully - you never know what you
may find!!
Regards
Tippunmon (Dave Richardson)
Rob Nicholson
> sided or 2 x 2GB double sided)
> o Manual is wrong and it can take 4 x 2GB double sided
Actually, I think we've sussed this. To get 8GB of memory, you have to use 2
x 4GB memory sticks which are double sided.
Cheers, Rob.
bcoombes
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/MemorySupport/mb_memory_ga-ep41-ud3l.pdf
I think you may be right, interestingly Crucial don't get a mention on the above
compatibility list as suppliers/fabs of 4gig modules. It seems to be OCZ,
Kingston, Aeneon or Samsung.
Rob Nicholson
> Kingston, Aeneon or Samsung.
And a bit like rocking horse shit at the moment in terms of availability for
the OCZ ones - the other manufacturers are about two the price for 2 x 4GB
compared to 4 x 2GB.
Considering returning the motherboard instead...
Cheers, Rob.
John Jordan
Yeah, that's correct. 4 x 2GB single-sided would work if anyone actually
made them, but they don't so you have to use 4GB sticks.
It's a deliberate move by Intel to cripple the lower-end chipsets. The
G31 and P31 had the same limitation, except those also had the x3x 1GB
per side limit.
--
John Jordan
bcoombes
looked at the delivery time...usually within 1 to 3 months....
bcoombes
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/11/intel-pays-amd-125-billion-to-settle-all-disputes/
Rob Nicholson
> this.
> http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/11/intel-pays-amd-125-billion-to-settle-all-disputes/
I class myself as reasonably savvy when it comes to computer bits and pieces
but this is something where it's difficult to say whether we made a mistake.
You only find out about this requirement by reading the motherboard manual.
All the eBuyer website site said was "4 slots, 8GB maximum". I'd say it was
reasonable to assume in light of no other information that 4 x 2GB would
work. Esp. after we've recently built two other systems using a very similar
named motherboard from Gigabyte. We *had* checked the compatible memory page
on motherboard and it didn't mention anything about limits of double-sided.
This RAM looks like it should work:
http://www.businessdirect.bt.com/products/crucial-8gbkit--4gbx2--240pin-ddr2-65LC.html?q=memory
And *appears* to be in stock within week and the price is okay. We'll see...
We've requested the return of the RAM to eBuyer saying we got it wrong.
Mainly because out of the three sets of bits we bought for three systems,
we've compromised a motherboard/CPU/heatsink pack more than memory back in a
box.
Cheers, Rob.
bcoombes
>> Yeah, Intel up to it's old tricks. It was with some amusement that I read
>> this.
>> http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/11/intel-pays-amd-125-billion-to-settle-all-disputes/
>
> I class myself as reasonably savvy when it comes to computer bits and pieces
> but this is something where it's difficult to say whether we made a mistake.
> You only find out about this requirement by reading the motherboard manual.
> All the eBuyer website site said was "4 slots, 8GB maximum". I'd say it was
> reasonable to assume in light of no other information that 4 x 2GB would
> work. Esp. after we've recently built two other systems using a very similar
> named motherboard from Gigabyte. We *had* checked the compatible memory page
> on motherboard and it didn't mention anything about limits of double-sided.
>
> This RAM looks like it should work:
>
> http://www.businessdirect.bt.com/products/crucial-8gbkit--4gbx2--240pin-ddr2-65LC.html?q=memory
>
Hmm, it's weird, yesterday I had a look on Crucial's website for 4 gig modules
for that board and there didn't seem to be any, checked again today for the
modules you've ordered from businessdirect and they don't seem to be listed. God
knows if Crucial have got some special arrangement to supply some resellers with
memory they don't make generally available. Anyway I hope it works ok, it's
ridiculous having to go thru that kind of hassle.
Rob Nicholson
> modules
Weirder than that - I actually chatted with Crucial web live on-line
yesterday when they confirmed all their 2GB modules are double-sided. But
they also said they don't sell 4GB modules ;-)
Cheers, Rob.
Mad Ad
"Rob Nicholson" <rob.ni...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:m7adnVKmqfIb2WDX...@posted.griffininternet...
A quick search on their manufacturer id number shows them to be FB-DIMM
modules.
Ad
bcoombes
Rob you may be needing this link
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=KVR800D2N6/4G&oe=utf-8&rlz=1R1GGGL_en-GBGB329GB329&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=11257373618745965788&ei=MBH_SoqpAca5jAe75f2LCw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBkQ8wIwAw#ps-sellers
(I just adore mega-links)
Rob Nicholson
> modules.
What are they when they are at home and is that an issue?
Cheers, Rob.
Rob Nicholson
i.e. will they not work in the aforementioned motherboard? Whilst shown as
in stock 3-5 days at Dabs, they are in fact out of stock so can easily
cancel them.
Cheers, Rob.
bcoombes
>> What are they when they are at home and is that an issue?
>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fully_Buffered_DIMM
At this point in time you probably actually didn't want to read about serial
access memory controllers but if you did follow the link.
> i.e. will they not work in the aforementioned motherboard? Whilst shown as
> in stock 3-5 days at Dabs, they are in fact out of stock so can easily
> cancel them.
>
FB memory modules won't work in your mobo because it doesn't have the
aformentioned serial memory controller.
HTH.
Rob Nicholson
> aformentioned serial memory controller.
Thanks, better to learn that now whilst still on order. Will go with the
Kingston ones linked in another post.
Cheers, Rob.
Rob Nicholson
> 2 x 4GB memory sticks which are double sided.
This is indeed the case and we've finally managed to get 2 x 4GB sticks at a
reasonable price.
Mental note for future - when buying RAM for motherboard, download
motherboard manual first to check the memory configuration very carefully.
Don't go off what the vendor's page says...
Cheers, Rob.
pl1...@gmail.com
because I have this mobo Gigabyte EP41-UD3L