4 Gigs of RAM won't boot up?

JDayton64 · Joined: Jan 02, 2008 Posts: 12

Here are the specs: Biostar Geforce 6100-M9 Motherboard - NVIDIA, Socket 939, MicroATX, Audio, PCI Express, 10/100 Ethernet LAN, USB 2.0, Serial ATA, RAID; AMD Athlon 64 4000 SanDiego Core Socket 939 CPU.

I specifically bought that motherboard because I wanted to be able to upgrade to 4 Gigs of RAM. Well, I finally got 4 Gigs but when I install them, the system won't boot up at all. When I install 3 Gigs the system turns on but that's it. I have swapped out the various RAM sticks so I don't think it's the memory itself. I am running with 2 Gigs now.

Is there something I need to do to be able to run with 4 Gigs of RAM? The only other thought I had was that maybe the motherboard itself is defective.

Werebo · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:22 am Post subject:

Allo JDayton Smile

Quote:

I have swapped out the various RAM sticks so I don't think it's the memory itself. I am running with 2 Gigs now.

I assume from that, that you've tried all the possible combinations of swapping the memory cards, so that rules bad memory out.

Is the memory type correct and identical to each other - speed, clock freq. etc???

I fount this PDF file on the BIOSTAR site, it should be identical to the User's Manual that came with your mobo, but if you scroll down to section 2.2.2, there's a chart that explains what memory should be in which slot etc. It might help Wink

JDayton64 · Joined: Jan 02, 2008 Posts: 12

All of the memory is exactly the same--the first thing I checked. Very Happy

Basically it's telling me to load all 4 Gigs and it works. I'll try again and see.

goretsky

Hello,

Are the four 1GB memory modules identical? That is, are they the same brand and model?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

JDayton64 · Joined: Jan 02, 2008 Posts: 12

All 4 sticks are identical: Ultra 1024 MB PC3200 DDR 400 MHz.

Werebo

By trying the various memory sticks in the various slots, try to discover whether it's a specific slot that's bad. The mobo might well be faulty Sad

goretsky

Hello,

The manual that Werebo found for your Biostar GeForce 6100-M9 motherboard states that up to eight banks of RAM are supported. Do you know how many banks each of the Ultra Products 1024MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz memory module uses? Another possibility might be that the computer will only recognized 4GB of RAM using slower memory, in which case you might need to return the memory and get PC2700 RAM.

What I would suggest you do is check with Biostar's technical support and see what troubleshooting steps they recommend.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Broklynite · Joined: Dec 25, 2008 Posts: 7

I have the same/similar problem from day one I owned my motherboard a couple of years ago. At the time, I initially thought it was because I didn't know what I was doing and was doing something wrong (I was just starting at building my own and all, it seemed reasonable). Now, however, I've concluded that its the motherboard.

Sorry, I should say I also have the Geforce 6100-M9, tho I'm using different RAM. Let me try giving some details.

I have four sticks of RAM. One is a matched 1 Gb pair. Of the other two, one is a single gig stick and the other is a single 512 meg stick.

Okay, yes I have read the manual and it is effing useless.

Biggest issues:
1. If using only two sticks, they can only seem to be inserted into the DIMMA1 and DIMMA2 slots. But they work...ish. (will get to that in a minute)
2. If all four sticks inserted, it either works or it doesn't. That is, playing around with slots used to work....now it doesn't.

What do I mean when I say it doesn't? Either I get the not reading ram-long beep and it won't even start up, OR (more annoying) it begins to start up but won't even get to post, it just hangs. Very annoying.

Some oddities I noticed: All the ram is 400Mhz. When one stick is inserted it reads as 400. When two are inserted they are read as 333. Dunno if this is a clue, but it seems odd. Also reads as 64 bit single channel when only two are inserted.

Once 3-4 have been inserted, the unable to read klaxon no longer occurs, but instead it won't POST.

When only one or two have been inserted into the DIMMA1 and DIMMA2 slots, comp boots up, no issue. It doesn't matter which sticks I use, it's always the same.

I went to the biostar website. It's useless. But I was able to find in their FAQ (which is terrible) one small interesting thing:

"Question:
I am using a Biostar Socket 939 motherboard with one stick of memory module. Can I install the memory module in any available memory slot?
Answer:
No. AMD Athlon 64 and Sempron Socket 939 processors support 128-bit and 64-bit memory access mode. However, when operating in 64-bit memory mode, only the lower memory channel is supported. Therefore if you are using only one stick of memory, it must be installed in slots DIMM1 or DIMM3. "

Naturally in the manual and on the board it referrs to DIMMA1, DIMMA2, DIMMB1, DIMMB2, and not to 1 or 3, so that is little help. As I said though when the two sticks are inserted and it works, they are downgraded to 333, 64-bit single channel.

Here's the kicker. Yesterday morning ti all worked just fine, no problem. Yesterday I installed a new CPU fan which required me to remove the ram (its kind of tight). I also decided that I was pushing my PSU a little too much and removed my DVD-burner, which dropped me back below the wattage.

I go and put the ram back in and the problems begin. But this has been an issue since I first bought this stupid motherboard. I've read other people talk about how the board is "very finicky" when it comes to RAM.

Please help! My thumbs are aching from swapping the ram. I have indeed tried every single combination of putting in the four sticks mathematically possible (I kept track). I also tried unhooking my drives and such. Can anyone suggest anything?

Werebo

Broklynite · Joined: Dec 25, 2008 Posts: 7

Thanks very much. I hadn't thought about it but I was playing pretty fast and loose with the compressed air can yesterday and my rig was pretty dusty. Maybe some got into the sockets. Thanks!

goretsky

Hello,

Try installing the memory in this order:

DIMMB1 - stick #1 from 1GB matched pair
DIMMB2 - single 512MB stick
DIMMA1 - stick #1 from 1GB matched pair
DIMMA2 - single 1GB stick

Does that make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1508 Location: Central FL, USA

I hope everyone had a good Christmas!

I've been working on my 7 yr old PC bringing it up to maximum proficiency.
I bought two 1 gig sticks of Super Talent DDR 400 ram and eagerly took it out of the factory sealed packages and plugged it in to my old AsRock mobo.

It bucked and snorted like a mad bull, then beeped and crashed! WOW!
So I killed the power and sat there looking at it for a few seconds, which seemed more like an hour. Rolling Eyes

Then I pulled out the two ram sticks, cleaned out the ram sockets with an old toothbrush, sort of like Werebo said earlier and then cleaned the edge connectors on both sticks, with a soft cloth soaked in Denatured Alcohol.
Then I reinserted the two ram sticks in their sockets and gave them a little wiggle to make sure they were properly seated.
I re-applied the line power and rebooted the system.
I was delighted to hear the single post BEEP and the system booted up normally. It's been running like a champ ever since.

Evidently, there was some kind of Schmutz left on the ram from the manufacturing process.
I almost always clean new ram (at least the edge connector) before installing it..... but in this case, I was in a hurry and forgot to clean it first.

I love the following picture, because it graphically demonstrates how the CPU fan can blast surrounding components, even the ram, with a coating of dirt.

In some cases, dirt can be as detrimental to electronic circuits as iron filings.

Whenever a PC comes into my shop for service, it gets a thorough cleaning and the ram, if dirty, gets a good washing.
I know I defuse many problems with just some basic maintenance.

Then there are subtle differences in brands of ram.
Some brands even though of good quality, just won't work right in some motherboards. Only a professional ram seller would know those things.

Then some folks are under the false impression that putting faster ram in a PC will make it run faster. Evil or Very Mad

Nothing could be further from the truth. Sad

Every motherboard is designed for optimum performance with just ONE type and speed of ram. Some are more fussy than others, but using the ram recommended by the board manufacturer is always best.

Happy New Year Everyone!
The Doctor Cool

Broklynite · Joined: Dec 25, 2008 Posts: 7

Well. This got interesting.

So, before exposing anything to any solutions, I removed the ram, gently gave it all a wipe-down, and carefull tried to clean out the RAM slots. Plugged everything back in, and booted up.

To my surprise, it detected all the RAM, detected the IDE drives and sat awaiting my command to proceed. I discovered that I had unplugged my keyboard. I plugged it in. No responce. Very well, thinks I, and I shut the comp down, plug in my keyboard and various other accoutremones and start her up.

Now, suddenly, its back to no longer posting. After experimenting with it a little, I determine that if anything (I even tried a little USB thumb drive, not just my keyboard) is plugged into any off the 6 USB slots, it won't post. I double check by digging out an old serial adapter keyboard and plug it in- and it detects the hard drives no problem. So, I go into the BIOS and find that for some reason USB keyboard and USB mouse support have been disabled. I realize this shouldn't really matter, but just in case, I enable them both. Reboot the system.

Things start getting wonky again. With USB it still won't respond. But now even if nothing is plugged it it won't post. But now its different. Now it detects all the RAM but stops after NVMM, and doesn't detect the hard drives. Essentially it is still pausing, but waiting a little longer.

I play around with things drawing power from the motherboard- no, that isn't the problem.

I try removing two of the USB sticks form the "problem" slots. No problem booting up.

I tried re-cleaning them and reinserting them, and nothing changes.

So, I remove the two sticks, disable the USB keyboard and mouse support, reinsert the two sticks, and see what happens (effectively bringing it back to the way it was). To my surprise, by disabling USB keyboard and mouse support, I can detect the hard drives with a serial keyboard plugged in. However, once past that, the next screen says:
"
MediaShield IDE ROM BIOS 6.21
Copywrite (C) NVIDIA Corp

Detecting array...
"

And there she hangs.

Any ideas, ladies and germs?

goretsky

Hello,

Have you checked with Biostar to verify you have the latest BIOS installed for the GeForce 6100-M9 motherboard? It sounds like you may have come across a bug in the BIOS. Hopefully, it is one of which their engineers are aware and have released a fix to repair.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Werebo

Just out of curiosity, what's the power-supply rating, in Watts?

Broklynite · Joined: Dec 25, 2008 Posts: 7

The BIOS updates are an absolute laugh. Seriously. They are only cosmetic.

As for the power supply, it isn't that. I have a 400W power supply, but this has been an issue since I bought the thing. The power supply is more than enough, I'm afraid.

Broklynite · Joined: Dec 25, 2008 Posts: 7

The frustration has become way way way too much for what should be such a minor issue. I've decided the motherboard is just screwed up, and has been since day one. Had I been a little more confident with myself when this problem showed up the first time I installed RAM on the motherboard I might have saved myself the hassle. Oh well. I've instead opted to buy the Foxconn NForce 4 which will allow me to keep using all the same RAM, processor, everything, but will have more SATA ports and such to use (which caused problems) and most importantly will stop being so damned frustrating.

Thank you all for all of your help, I really appreciate it. Happy New Year to everyone!

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1508 Location: Central FL, USA

Broklynite · Joined: Dec 25, 2008 Posts: 7

"
Your symptom is that when you plug in more devices, the system won't boot.
That's typically a symptom of a low power condition. "

Sorry, you misunderstand. I actually have a good PSU I bought seperately. Nice one, never had a problem with it. Ram it with all kinds of stuff plugged in no prob. I also tried with the whole RAM thing with nothing plugged into the motherboard or otherwise drawing power, such as hard drives, optical drives, etc. The only difference is the RAM. My symptom is not that when I plug in any more devices it will not boot. Again, it turns on fine but refuses to post. My symptom is that specifically when more than 2 slots of RAM are filled in the entire thing goes to hell and gone.

I was very careful when buying this PSU to make sure it was more than adequite in terms of the wattage, the rails, and my system configuration. It's only about a year old.

I also mis-spoke. When I said the problem had been a problem from the beginning I should have been a little more clear. The problem with the RAM has been a problem since the first day I was putting the system together. I did not buy the power supply until about a year after I put the system together as I was adding a new video card which required more power than my old PSU could handle. So I know that this is not recent but instead has been happening since I first attempted to plug in the RAM.

Werebo

If you've tried cleaning the RAM-sticks + sockets and certain that the PSU is up to the job, then all I can suggest is that the mobo itself is faulty Sad

When you consider that PC mobos nowadays are 'layered', (up to 9 boards sandwiched together) that gives literally thousands of contacts to solder, where the component pins are inserted.

All it needs is either 1 faulty component or (more likely, seeing as it all worked once or twice) a dry solder joint and everything goes pear-shaped.