Ram Settings Issue

[Hellwolf_36]

I recently got a Kingston 512MB DDR400 RAM stick and installed it to my computer.
Now I am recieving crashes in games like Warcraft III out of random and happens quite a bit. However, it doesnt crash on Windows when I am typing something or surfing the net. It isn't a RAM compatability issue considering that this specific block I have was recommended to be used with my system specs.

I ran CPU Z on my Memory and I got this information (stated in Frequency, FSBRAM, CAS, RAS2CAS, RAS Precharge, Cycle Time (tras)

200/1:1/2.5/4/4/9

Although not mentioned, my DRam voltage is at 2.8V!

My specs are:
Intel P4 @ 2.8 GHz
MSI SiS 648F Neo Chipset
1x Kingston 512 MB DDR400 RAM
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro (128 MB)
Sound Blaster 2 Audigy ZS
Antec Truepower 480W PSU


I have no clue what to fix or how to use AMIBIOS 3.31 to do some of these changes.

[JLK03F150]

Hi & Welcome to TechIMO!


Did you raise your dram voltage to 2.8v? It should be set at 2.6v by default.

Try resetting your BIOS, then see if you still have problems.

If problems continue try running Memtest86+ for a few hours & see if you get any errors. Errors can be caused by too little/much voltage, improper timings, or a defective piece of memory.

You can download your motherboard manual from MSI to become more familiar with your BIOS.
http://www.msi.com.tw/program/suppor...UID=470&kind=1

[Hellwolf_36]

If I try setting it down to 2.6v. It doesnt even power-up when its loading Windows, it had to be set to 2.8!

But I think its my timings that are screwed up. ITs running at 2.5/4/4/9 when the next page said something about 2.5/3/3/8 (I guess that is either prefered settings or something else). IF you get get CPU Z, and run it, you'll ge tthe idea.

[JLK03F150]

Having to run 2.8 is a little odd, but I've seen it before. My OCZ prefers 2.75v over 2.6v.

The tab after the Memory Tab is the SPD Tab. Those are the timings programed into the stick of ram. I don't know why your mobo is loosening the timings. Did you try a BIOS reset to see if it would pick up the correct timings the the SPD/Auto setting? Either that or manually set them to 2.5-3-3-8 in bios.

[Hellwolf_36]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLK03F150

Having to run 2.8 is a little odd, but I've seen it before. My OCZ prefers 2.75v over 2.6v.

I wouldnt say it is a little odd. I had to do it because of the issues involving my 256 MB stick that I had. After adding power to it, it fixed the crashings to a point where only system errors only occured (like illegal actions etc.). Besides, my 480W PSU can take it and it has enough A in the 12V line to power the ram (even if its 512).

I will go with the manual setting of the 2.5/3/3/8 (did the 2.5T already) before I do anything risky like BIOS resetting. I guess also a Memtest86 is in order as well.

[JLK03F150]

Resetting the BIOS isn't too bad, especially if you haven't changed a bunch of settings. Last time I reset mine I forgot to disable 5 or 6 things I normally keep disabled, I watched Windows XP detect new hardware & locate drivers for about 30 minutes. lol No harm done though.
Most things are auto detected & there is very little to actually set up.

IMO running Memtest would be a very good idea.

[Hellwolf_36]

I'm afraid I will have to reset the BIOS.

To make matters worse, I can't set the numbers manually because AMIBIOS 3.31 doesnt have an option to do so. If I did, I would have done so by now after I ran CPU-Z.