ASUS Nforce boards with IGP, PICKY about memory

Norvac · 03-10-2004, 05:07 PM

Hello

I am a reseller of strictly Asus motherboards. My biggest seller was the A7N266-VM or A7N8X-VM(400) Bundled with Kingstons "value" ram line. Kingston part numbers used are either KVR266X64C25/256 (or) /512 and KVR333X64C25/256 (or) /512. Up until about three weeks ago this was an awesome combo. Sometime recently Kingston has switched to using an "elpida" module on their value ram, and this has caused what a lot of people had experienced with these boards and cheaper memory.
In Win 2kpro after loading graphics drivers system becomes unstable, artifacting, graphical tearing, different colors appearing on screen and random blue screen errors or rebooting. In Win XP Home or Pro after initial load of OS and the system first tries to boot on its own, blue screen errors and random rebooting. This was always a problem with the Corsair "value select" series of memory as well. I have tried approx 6 different motherboards different revisions of those boards and different BIOS revisions as well as NFORCE and ASUS driver versions and all exhibit the same problems. ASUS and Kingston are aware of the issue and are looking into it. The only solutions that I have found are adding a video card (unacceptable for a board that has video on it) or using high end memory, which doesn't fit with the price point this board is supposed to be in (i.e. mushin, ocz, kingston hyperX, or Corsair XMS) I just wanted to let users of these boards know that the board is a wonderful board and the issue lies with the memory compatablility. I am in the process of receiving 5 different brands of other "value" type memory from micron, infineon, samsung, and a couple other manufacturers to test with. If these modules work out I'll post my results and part numbers. If anyone has any ideas that I didn't try please let me know.

Later
Norvac Electronics

woofybear · 03-13-2004, 02:34 PM

How do you know if the Kingston ram has the bad chips? I'm having massive problems with this ram combo on an A7N8X-E Deluxe mobo... I've been on the phone repeatedly with both Kingston and Asus and all they have done is point fingers at each other.

Thanks
Woofy

Norvac · 03-16-2004, 03:13 PM

Hello

I know that the new revision of Kingston is the problem because I can take an older revision with the exact same part number and there are absolutely no issues the systems will run rock solid. Same thing happens if I replace Corsairs "value select" ram with their "XMS" series memory system is completely unstable with value select and rock solid with XMS. Trial and error I guess is the answer to your question.

Norvac

woofybear · 03-16-2004, 10:01 PM

Well thanks for the input.. But after 3 weeks of garbage with Asus and Kingston tech support I'm returning them and the memory and going with Gigabyte Kt600 boards. Neither Kingston nor ASUS will be seeing anymore of my money... Thanks again.

Woofy

Heretix · 04-05-2004, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Norvac
Hello

I am a reseller of strictly Asus motherboards. My biggest seller was the A7N266-VM or A7N8X-VM(400) Bundled with Kingstons "value" ram line. Kingston part numbers used are either KVR266X64C25/256 (or) /512 and KVR333X64C25/256 (or) /512. Up until about three weeks ago this was an awesome combo. Sometime recently Kingston has switched to using an "elpida" module on their value ram, and this has caused what a lot of people had experienced with these boards and cheaper memory.
In Win 2kpro after loading graphics drivers system becomes unstable, artifacting, graphical tearing, different colors appearing on screen and random blue screen errors or rebooting. In Win XP Home or Pro after initial load of OS and the system first tries to boot on its own, blue screen errors and random rebooting. This was always a problem with the Corsair "value select" series of memory as well. I have tried approx 6 different motherboards different revisions of those boards and different BIOS revisions as well as NFORCE and ASUS driver versions and all exhibit the same problems. ASUS and Kingston are aware of the issue and are looking into it. The only solutions that I have found are adding a video card (unacceptable for a board that has video on it) or using high end memory, which doesn't fit with the price point this board is supposed to be in (i.e. mushin, ocz, kingston hyperX, or Corsair XMS) I just wanted to let users of these boards know that the board is a wonderful board and the issue lies with the memory compatablility. I am in the process of receiving 5 different brands of other "value" type memory from micron, infineon, samsung, and a couple other manufacturers to test with. If these modules work out I'll post my results and part numbers. If anyone has any ideas that I didn't try please let me know.

Later
Norvac Electronics

Hi!

I have nearly the exact same problems as you've described, and i've used BOTH the types of Kingston RAM that you've listed with my Abit NF7-S (nforce2 motherboard).

Interestingly, i've had problems with my rig since a year ago, so maybe that memory problem has been around for quite some time?

ahile · 04-05-2004, 04:29 PM

I have had TONS of problems triing to find a good memory that would work GOOD in Dual Chanel mode , and after tring about 20 memory tipes and about 6 or 7 productor , I found 1 that is ROCK solid Twinmos Twister PC 3500 512Mb , works great on my E-deluxe mobo ( I must mention that I could not find for testing Gail Dual memories , I heared they are good too )

pls excuse my bad english

stfederico · 10-13-2004, 01:00 PM

Hello there, I am Asus and Kingston reseller in Argentina and had this exact problems.
I made some test on this board, A7N8X-VM400TV with KVR RAM.
KVR DDR333 and DDR400 with ELPIDA chip either single or dual channel don´t work. Blue Screens, Video corruption, etc.
I had some KVR DDR266 modules with "Kingston" and "VS" chips and work ok, either single or dual channel.
PC Doctor hangs during some of the memory tests, but I still couldn´t troubleshoot this, and I don´t know if I will.
Memtest did ok for hours and hours always, even with elpida chips.

I think I am selling one PC with the KVR266 "VS" chip in dual channel and wait for any call. ;-) My tests did ok.

This PC will be used for Autocad, 3DMax, etc, so problems will be easy to appear.

Hope this can help you and thank you all for sharing all this experience, since ASUS and Kingston don´t seem to have a clue about this.

pony-tail · 10-22-2004, 02:49 AM

I have an asus A7N8X-VM400 running a 3200+ Barton ,I also had issues with kingston memory - But found that Ledgend DDR 400 works fine (2x256 dual channel) , I use mine with an albatron FX5600 Vid card but it works ok with onboard graphics ( I put the video card on because the previous ram worked fine with a video card but not the onboard graphics and left it there after I upgraded the ram 'cause I preferred it to the onboard graphics )
All in all once I sorted the memory out this is one excellent board .
I am still using it because I have not found anything enough better to warrant my upgrading .
Just a note I still have my old A7N266-VM 2400+ combo as well ,and that is what I am doing this on .
Just waiting for a new mATX Socket 939 board with an NVidia chipset to come out (mATX because I use very small cases)

Dary · 06-21-2005, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pony-tail

I have an asus A7N8X-VM400 running a 3200+ Barton ,I also had issues with kingston memory - But found that Ledgend DDR 400 works fine (2x256 dual channel)

Does your mobo recognize Ledgend DDR400 memory as such on boot? Or it shows as DDR333?
Thanks

03-10-2004, 05:07 PM	#1
Norvac Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14	ASUS Nforce boards with IGP, PICKY about memory Hello I am a reseller of strictly Asus motherboards. My biggest seller was the A7N266-VM or A7N8X-VM(400) Bundled with Kingstons "value" ram line. Kingston part numbers used are either KVR266X64C25/256 (or) /512 and KVR333X64C25/256 (or) /512. Up until about three weeks ago this was an awesome combo. Sometime recently Kingston has switched to using an "elpida" module on their value ram, and this has caused what a lot of people had experienced with these boards and cheaper memory. In Win 2kpro after loading graphics drivers system becomes unstable, artifacting, graphical tearing, different colors appearing on screen and random blue screen errors or rebooting. In Win XP Home or Pro after initial load of OS and the system first tries to boot on its own, blue screen errors and random rebooting. This was always a problem with the Corsair "value select" series of memory as well. I have tried approx 6 different motherboards different revisions of those boards and different BIOS revisions as well as NFORCE and ASUS driver versions and all exhibit the same problems. ASUS and Kingston are aware of the issue and are looking into it. The only solutions that I have found are adding a video card (unacceptable for a board that has video on it) or using high end memory, which doesn't fit with the price point this board is supposed to be in (i.e. mushin, ocz, kingston hyperX, or Corsair XMS) I just wanted to let users of these boards know that the board is a wonderful board and the issue lies with the memory compatablility. I am in the process of receiving 5 different brands of other "value" type memory from micron, infineon, samsung, and a couple other manufacturers to test with. If these modules work out I'll post my results and part numbers. If anyone has any ideas that I didn't try please let me know. Later Norvac Electronics
(Offline)

03-13-2004, 02:34 PM	#2
woofybear Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Battle Creek, MI Posts: 9	How do you know if the Kingston ram has the bad chips? I'm having massive problems with this ram combo on an A7N8X-E Deluxe mobo... I've been on the phone repeatedly with both Kingston and Asus and all they have done is point fingers at each other. Thanks Woofy __________________ Athlon 3200+ Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe 512 mb Kingston Valueram single channel Radeon 7000 VE WD 40GB ATA 100
(Offline)

03-16-2004, 03:13 PM	#3
Norvac Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14	Hello I know that the new revision of Kingston is the problem because I can take an older revision with the exact same part number and there are absolutely no issues the systems will run rock solid. Same thing happens if I replace Corsairs "value select" ram with their "XMS" series memory system is completely unstable with value select and rock solid with XMS. Trial and error I guess is the answer to your question. Norvac
(Offline)

03-16-2004, 10:01 PM	#4
woofybear Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Battle Creek, MI Posts: 9	Well thanks for the input.. But after 3 weeks of garbage with Asus and Kingston tech support I'm returning them and the memory and going with Gigabyte Kt600 boards. Neither Kingston nor ASUS will be seeing anymore of my money... Thanks again. Woofy __________________ Athlon 3200+ Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe 512 mb Kingston Valueram single channel Radeon 7000 VE WD 40GB ATA 100
(Offline)

04-05-2004, 04:29 PM	#6
ahile Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 17	I have had TONS of problems triing to find a good memory that would work GOOD in Dual Chanel mode , and after tring about 20 memory tipes and about 6 or 7 productor , I found 1 that is ROCK solid Twinmos Twister PC 3500 512Mb , works great on my E-deluxe mobo ( I must mention that I could not find for testing Gail Dual memories , I heared they are good too ) pls excuse my bad english
(Offline)

10-13-2004, 01:00 PM	#7
stfederico Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1	Some tests Hello there, I am Asus and Kingston reseller in Argentina and had this exact problems. I made some test on this board, A7N8X-VM400TV with KVR RAM. KVR DDR333 and DDR400 with ELPIDA chip either single or dual channel don´t work. Blue Screens, Video corruption, etc. I had some KVR DDR266 modules with "Kingston" and "VS" chips and work ok, either single or dual channel. PC Doctor hangs during some of the memory tests, but I still couldn´t troubleshoot this, and I don´t know if I will. Memtest did ok for hours and hours always, even with elpida chips. I think I am selling one PC with the KVR266 "VS" chip in dual channel and wait for any call. ;-) My tests did ok. This PC will be used for Autocad, 3DMax, etc, so problems will be easy to appear. Hope this can help you and thank you all for sharing all this experience, since ASUS and Kingston don´t seem to have a clue about this.
(Offline)

10-22-2004, 02:49 AM	#8
pony-tail Certified Ancient Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: QLD Posts: 72	I have an asus A7N8X-VM400 running a 3200+ Barton ,I also had issues with kingston memory - But found that Ledgend DDR 400 works fine (2x256 dual channel) , I use mine with an albatron FX5600 Vid card but it works ok with onboard graphics ( I put the video card on because the previous ram worked fine with a video card but not the onboard graphics and left it there after I upgraded the ram 'cause I preferred it to the onboard graphics ) All in all once I sorted the memory out this is one excellent board . I am still using it because I have not found anything enough better to warrant my upgrading . Just a note I still have my old A7N266-VM 2400+ combo as well ,and that is what I am doing this on . Just waiting for a new mATX Socket 939 board with an NVidia chipset to come out (mATX because I use very small cases) __________________ pony-tail Rig 1 Asus P4C800e - 3.4gig EE ATI 9800 XT Sonata case Mepis Rig 2 Shuttle SB61 3.2g ATI X800 pro Mepis / Win2K Rig 3 Shuttle SN45G xp3000+ GF 5900 Kubuntu Rig 4 Asus A8N-SLI premium X2 4400 Sonata case Kubuntu 64
(Offline)

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