Memtest86 not seeing 4gb of ram in DFI SLI DR board

[n2gaming]

Ok this is Now the 4th thread I have running in 3 different forums for this issue.  " Bones insisted "  Let me copy and past the original complaint.  Hang in there with me I'm still learning how to post things here like images, page links etc.  EDIT:  Other thread with the most participants can be seen at the following link to see what has been discussed.  www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/memtest86-not-seeing-4gb-of-ram-in-dfi-sli-dr-board.301203/


Testing hardware: 

4x 1GB OCZ platinum ddr400 Ram in a DFI Lanparty NF4 SLI DR motherboard De-lided AMD x64 3500+ cpu.
OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K   &   OCZ4001024ELPE





Problem:

Memtest86 ver: 1.47 from with in the mobo bios or ver: 4.xx from a boot cdrom is only seeing 2047MB of Ram with all 4 slots being populated. Has me wondering if that would suggest some type of hardware issue or bios setting that’s causing an issue. I’ve never had all 4 slots populated for testing until now. Owned the main board since new.  Got it at Fry's in Fremont.



I can boot into windows And CPUz sees all 4 Ram sticks and reports as 4gb OS is Win 7 x64.



Any ideas why Memtest86 is not able to see all 4gb of Ram during testing?



When looking at the score of win 7 x64 to see if it is actually reporting 4gb it's not. Performance info is only reporting 2GB of RAM While CPUz still shows 4GB of ram. Very odd. Pics below show this.



CPU-z validation link showing all 4 sticks of ram: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ @ 2210.12 MHz - CPU-Z VALIDATOR  valid.x86.fr/jl54js



Things that have been suggested and tried:

Move ram sticks to different slots,

change ram divider to run from default DDR400 to 333 or 300

Loosen timings from 2-3-2-5 2T to 3-4-3-6 2T

Enable Memory Hole remap PCI MMIO

Use 3 sticks or ram

Remove and re-seat the CPU

Install a fresh copy of the OS with all 4 sticks of ram populated.



Things I have not Tried yet:

Use a different CPU

Flash the bios to a different version like N4D623-3 or N4D623-1 or N4D623-2 and there was another one with a 7 in the number but I can't remember where I saw that.

Throw it in the trash in a fit of rage  j/k.  I could never do that.



I know I am leaving some things that have been mentioned and tried out but my eye's feel like they are about to bleed out so this will be it for an opening post.  Every thing that is obvious has been mentioned and most of them have been tried.  I just purchased a used X2 4400+ cpu on ebay awaiting shipment and will wait to flash the bios until after I try that cpu just in case that cpu is in fact broken I don't want to risk bricking the board with a bad bios flash.  I'm probably worrying too much about that, since I was able to install an operating system twice on two different drives.  74gb WD Raptor and a 512GB SP SSD but I figure better safe than sorry.

[agentx007]

Hello


^Based on this, I still think this is MB/BIOS limitation (or a BIOS bug), that prevents BIOS/IMC from adressing full memory capacity with Memory Hole option (which is either broken or not working for this CPU).
I would suggest swaping CPU for 130nm one, to check if that changes behaviour of Memory Hole option.

[pioneerisloud]

I concur with agentx007, and its what I've been telling you on Steam for days now N2. It's either a BIOS bug with the memory hole option not working properly, or its a CPU problem. Swap CPU's when you get your x2 in and see if that fixes it. If it doesn't, upgrade BIOS. @mr.Scott I believe has a collection of BIOS's for that board and I believe he has the proper flashing tools too. These guys here, at least a few of them, are experts with DFI's.

EDIT:
By the way agentx007, you sir are absolutely legendary between a buddy and myself.  I saw your runs with an FX-60, 8GB RAM, and a GTX 780 running Crysis in 4k.  I saw you running that same ECC RAM at DDR500 with 1T.  Dude......teach me, oh wise one!     Hahaha.  Seriously, I don't know how the universe seems to collide things like that so often.  I built my 939 rig basically trying to do exactly that like a year ago now (of course, always changing things).  The whole purpose behind me building "one of every generation" was to prove that you CAN still play games on retro kit today in 2022.  Just haven't finished them all yet.

[n2gaming]

Today I went to boot it up with two sticks of ram out of the computer. Yhe two closest to the cpu. So basically I was trying to post with 2x1gb in single channel if that is correct. I had the ram sticks out of the board last night so I could compare them to another kit I purchased last night.

Anyway this brings up another thing that could potentially be part of the issue.


Just tried something I should have from the get go. I mixed up the two sets of Ram so one from each set would be paired per channel and I used just two sticks of Ram and the system would not post. Same in either channels yellow or orange. One set of Ram “newest set to me” reports default timings of 2.5-3-2-5 in cpuz while my original set reports 2-3-2-5 in cpuz. Wondering if having mix matched ram has anything do do with it?

The set with default timings of 2.5-3-2-5 have a slightly taller PCB and look a bit different.

[Macsbeach98]

That could have a lot to do with it.
Its hard to find 4 matching DDR sticks these days.

[n2gaming]

The x2 4400+ is out for delivery along with 2 more kits of ram. Hopefully I'll end up with 2 exact matching OCZ Platinum kits of 2x  2x1GB = 4 matched sticks of ram.

I should know later this evening if I'll be flashing the bios as a last ditch resort to try to make the system see 4gb of ram as well as Memtest86+

[n2gaming]

Ok I got all the items. 2 separate kits of ram and the cpu. The cpu looks like it has some TIM on several of the pins. I'm thinking I should be able to clean it using a soft bristle tooth brush and some rubbing alcohol.



One of the ram kits has a broken capacitor or some other ic on the pcb so I am scared to even try that kit. The other kit looks identical to the kit I had originally but on the right upper side of A side of the ram pins 1-92 side the chip on the edge is smaller and more under the heat spreader vs sticking out close to the edge of the pcb half under the heat spreader and half outside.



I installed the ram and still get the same thing and CPU-z reports the ram as being a different part number just like the other kit I have that is using a taller non BP PCB. So now I think I'll try the other taller ram kit to see if CPU-z reports all 4 sticks of ram as the same and what it does to the bios being able to address the ram. It's still not being addressed on the post screen or in Win 7



CPU-z Validation Link: valid.x86.fr/qxh32v

[n2gaming]

Ok, the two most recent kits I got that don't appear to have any damage are in the system and running just fine with the 3500+ but still only showing as 2GB in the system.

The good news is CPU-Z is reporting all the ram sticks as the same according to the part numbers and Timings.

valid.x86.fr/7h061l

I did not get around to swapping out the CPU yet. Got busy watching Bullet Train. Lots of fighting, shooting stabbing etc. So next on the list is clean the cpu and see if it makes a difference. If not it will be flash the bios time after verifying the system is 100% stable.

[mrpaco]

If you have 4 confirmed working stix of ram; just for giggles try this, put the 4 working stix in and go to system configuration and in boot advanced options set the maximum memory to 4096 > ok>apply>restart.

[n2gaming]

Problem solved: My conclusion after a lot of detective work and help with definitive results = It was the ram causing the system to not see all 4GB. Ram was not exact matching sets even though the part numbers on the labels say they are.

@mrpaco, I don't understand what purpose that will serve. The system see's all 4GB of ram now and all is good.  To see this please visit this thread as it is much easier to post pics over there.  You'll see how the system is seeing and using all of the 4GB of ram. 

www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/memtest86-not-seeing-4gb-of-ram-in-dfi-sli-dr-board.301203/post-4889306

[Macsbeach98]

Congrats on getting it working.

I just read your thread at TPU I dont know why HWBot gave you the idea that running 4GB is better good luck getting a good overclock out of it with that ram in there you will do a lot better with 2 512Mb sticks in there.
I am different here is W7 64 on socket 754 running on 512Mb ram at 272 Mhz 2.5-3-3-7-1T for the gold cup its NF4 too.
Ram speed and timings = better performance 4 sticks load the IMC down too much

hwbot.org/submission/5113078_macsbeach98_geekbench3___multi_core_mobile_athlon_64_4000_(newark)_1495_points

[n2gaming]

No no no. HWBot did not give me any ideas as such. I just want to be able to run 4GB in the system

1.72V 3550 Mhz and DDR546 overclock. Woooooo that's a good one. I know overclocking with 4 sticks of ram is not going to provide the best outcome and is harder on the memory controller. If / when I try to push for max overclocks I'll definitely only do it using 1 or 2 sticks of ram.

[pioneerisloud]

Nov 26, 2022 19:29:45 GMT -5 n2gaming said:

No no no. HWBot did not give me any ideas as such. I just want to be able to run 4GB in the system

1.72V 3550 Mhz and DDR546 overclock. Woooooo that's a good one. I know overclocking with 4 sticks of ram is not going to provide the best outcome and is harder on the memory controller. If / when I try to push for max overclocks I'll definitely only do it using 1 or 2 sticks of ram.

2x sticks on 939, whatever you have that'll clock high / tight timings.  512MB sticks TEND to do better, but it all depends on the actual sticks you have.  Those OCZ Platinums aren't bad sticks at all (same stuff I use to bench with).  I'm also not a hardcore hwbot guy either....... *shrugs

He's using 1 stick because its Socket 754, which is only single channel memory anyway.

[n2gaming]

oh ok.

[Macsbeach98]

There is only one ram for benchmarking Winbond BH5 will run 2-2-2-5-1T at 270 Mhz

[mrpaco]

Nov 26, 2022 18:05:16 GMT -5 n2gaming said:

@mrpaco, I don't understand what purpose that will serve. 

From experience you can have X-amount of ram installed, but system will see another amount and use an even different amount . 
Was just a suggestion. Glad you got it where you want it.

[n2gaming]

that makes sense to me, especially if the os is 32 bit.

[n2gaming]

One thing I have noticed after having all 4 sticks of ram populated and working the system will not display video every other boot or so. Not sure why but so far every time I hit Ctrl/Alt/Del to reboot the video came right back. strange how it's happening now.

[Macsbeach98]

As far as I am aware DFI uses the slots differently I think its orange for BH5 and Yellow for TCCD or vica versa.

[Mr.Scott]

Nov 27, 2022 17:16:43 GMT -5 Macsbeach98 said:

As far as I am aware DFI uses the slots differently I think its orange for BH5 and Yellow for TCCD or vica versa.

Yellow = BH-5
Orange = TCCD

[n2gaming]

I have a OCZ Platinum kit that has one stick damaged and can have it for $14.00. IDK if I should keep it or send it back. It's 2.5-3-2-5-1T 2x1GB kit like all the others but the stickers say they are different then what CPU-Z is reporting.  stickers say 2-3-2-5-1T

It has me wondering if people are taking that Typhn app to reprogram any old memory and putting the OCZ heat spreaders on them and flipping them for a couple of bucks. I doubt any one would go through that much effort for a couple of bucks. Also wouldn't the OCZ label become damaged if it was pulled back to remove the clips that hold the heat spreaders on the ram sticks?

[Macsbeach98]

Whats programmed onto the sticks and the stickers can be different thats not all that uncommon.

[n2gaming]

Bones said:
Be sure you get an SD chip that's dated about 0633 and later, the ones that's close to that date and older are crap.

To define it, an LCBBE or later stepping/dated chip are the ones to look for or later ones being an LCB9E stepping, those are good too.
There were no LCBQE chips made for SD so what's named are what to look for.

Stay away from ANY SD chips with a "K" stepping, the K being the first letter of it's stepping code.
Those are lesser chips that don't do nearly as well as the ones I named.

Taken from Pio’s build thread. I’m putting this info here so it’s easier for me to remember and find

[n2gaming]

Nov 27, 2022 1:54:32 GMT -5 Macsbeach98 said:

There is only one ram for benchmarking Winbond BH5 will run 2-2-2-5-1T at 270 Mhz

This brings up an interesting topic.  How does one go about shopping for said BH5 and is it important to have heat spreaders on the ram.  I ask because if it’s not important to have the heat spreaders then it would seem it makes it so much easier for makers/sellers to disguise the chips that are known to be of lesser quality or don’t perform as well and are not as cable of being as flexible when it comes to max speeds and tightest timing.

Is there a thread that discusses and shows all the different memory chips and how to identify them?



Another set arrived today that look nearly identical to my original set.  Only difference is the heat spreaders and clip that holds them on.  I have yet to try them paired together to see if they will post and allow all 4gb to be addressed as well as show the same part number in cpuz.

Edit:  This newest kit that just arrived and just like all the other kits I recently purchased will not post and show 4gb with my original kit and has the wrong part number listed in CPU-Z.  I'm seeing a common theme with these ram sticks either not being labeled or programmed properly :/


valid.x86.fr/cvfmud

[agentx007]

Some usefull links can be found here :
community.hwbot.org/topic/210226-links-to-identify-ddrddr2ddr3/

[n2gaming]

So Ebay screwed me again twice in less than two weeks by blocking me from bidding. I'd have a new to me A8N32 SLI Deluxe with an opty 170 and 2gb of Adata ram. But noooooo, stupid evilbay lol.

This is what I missed out on.

www.ebay.com/itm/195505129280?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11010.m1951.l7533&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=f0347c86950641de9209abc044a62cb1&bu=43376280598&ut=RU&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20221212085304&segname=11010

[Mr.Scott]

Dec 12, 2022 23:25:37 GMT -5 n2gaming said:

So Ebay screwed me again twice in less than two weeks by blocking me from bidding. I'd have a new to me A8N32 SLI Deluxe with an opty 170 and 2gb of Adata ram. But noooooo, stupid evilbay lol.

This is what I missed out on.

www.ebay.com/itm/195505129280?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11010.m1951.l7533&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=f0347c86950641de9209abc044a62cb1&bu=43376280598&ut=RU&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20221212085304&segname=11010

Ouch

[pioneerisloud]

Dec 12, 2022 23:25:37 GMT -5 n2gaming said:

So Ebay screwed me again twice in less than two weeks by blocking me from bidding. I'd have a new to me A8N32 SLI Deluxe with an opty 170 and 2gb of Adata ram. But noooooo, stupid evilbay lol.

This is what I missed out on.

www.ebay.com/itm/195505129280?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11010.m1951.l7533&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=f0347c86950641de9209abc044a62cb1&bu=43376280598&ut=RU&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20221212085304&segname=11010

How'd they block you from bidding?  That absolutely sucks, looks like the listing ended at 10:30am yesterday (12/12/22).  Somebody got an absolute steal on that setup for $30 something bucks. -_-  I hope they enjoy it at least.

[n2gaming]

I had a couple unpaid strikes from one seller who was selling ram I bid on. Got both auctions for .99 ea. Seller said the shipping would combine but it did not, messaged seller several times asking for an invoice with combined shipping but seller never did. I’m not paying shipping twice for one package.  Those two auctions caused two unpaid strikes in 12 mo. Or 30 days or some crap like that.



So anyway, the first board I lost out on was just like the one for my racing sim rig. MSI Meg X570 Unify. Think it sold for $160. When I could not bid on that one I had to contact eBay to dispute the strikes. I did and went through the whole chat window with an evilbay rep to get results. So I thought, I even asked eBay to send me an email confirmation stating the appeal was ruled in my favor.

They can be broke Dk every now and then. I have had a lot of bad luck with eBay lately. About 50/50 with in the last 20 purchases.  Had to do the return process on all of those.  Have not lost any money but just inconvenience of dealing with the whole return process can be a pita.  Fortunately it has been fairly easy for the last few returns.  Talk to people like they made an honest mistake and get posative results.  Catch more flys with honey than vinegar type of thing .  I don’t have issues when buying new stuff so much but the used items seems that so many sellers try to use eBay as a dumping ground lol.

Get this.  This kid “assuming by all the mistakes made and eBay account name and days of service” sold me a cpu.  I receive an asus motherboard.  LOL.  I contacted seller saying I bet the buyer of the motherboard is pretty bothered to be receiving my cpu.  He messed up big time.  Then he issues the return shipping labels through eBay for both of the returns and I get a return label for a cpu so the weight was off.  USPS took the package but said they would hold it at his post office until the $11.00 shortage was paid due to weight and size differences.  I told the seller but it went on deaf ears lol.  Anyway about a week after I get the refund this seller messages me asking or more or less insinuating that I never shipped the board out.   Huh?  How did eBay issue a refund then?  His head was definitely screwed on backwards for these transactions LOL.  He’ll learn or burn eventually.

[n2gaming]

I'm being cynical here but I think it is all ebay. They are saying it's the seller but the seller was messaging me before the end of sale with regards to board condition. In this pic you can see how ebay says contact the seller then when I do they say seller can not reply or get the message or something like that.