So… this weekend I have been trying to get my HTPC setup to function properly, and after some headaches, I discovered my DDR400 memory is only operating at DDR200. As it is operating at half speed Vista is miserably slow.
Presently I have 3 pieces of memory 2×512 and 1x1gb. If I only run the 2×512 the mobo will allow me to run at DDR400, 200Mhz, or if I run the single 1gb it will also allow me to do the same. But if I operate all 3 in unison I only get DDR200, 100Mhz. (The sticks are different brands, the 2×512 are Muskin High Performance and the 1x1gb is Corsair XMS). (Mushkin is rated at 2-2-2-6 and 2.9V and the Corsair is 2-3-3-8 at 2.7V)
Reading the manual doesn’t give much insight, as the manual tells the wrong slots to operate in Dual Channel mode even. I thought it may be the bios as I had read online that a 1009 update had ‘fixed’ DDR400 stability. After struggling to find a floppy disk (No one actually carries them anymore and Asus doesnt have a vista bios update tool for this mobo), I pulled my xp HDD and booted to xp’s dismay and flashed the bios.
Reboot and the system memory still only operates at 100Mhz unless the chips are seperated. I have also tried changing power supplies as the voltages were a little lower than I would like. (No dice) I additionally tried forcing the bios to operate at DDR400 which only made the system not boot and force a hard bios reset. (In addition to various timings and ddr voltages)
I do believe that one of the memory slots on the board is no longer functioning of the 4, so this worries me that the board may be on the fritz anyway. So my question:
Should I invest in a matched pair of 2x1GB DDR modules to get 2gb or should I seek an alternate motherboard or operate with 2GB at 100Mhz or operate with 1GB at DDR400?
Motherboard in question is the Asus A8N-SLI Premium current bios version is 1303? I really am trying to limit my cost, and what I fear most is putting money into something and having it not fix the problem in the long run >:(
Soo… after that long shpill … any suggestions?
Cheers!
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