DDR2-800 and Socket-AM2 woes D:

[Stigmata]

According to... well, everyone, there are huge voltage issues with all DDR2-800 DIMM modules and Socket-AM2 motherboards. Apparently, all the memory slots on these boards push out 1.8/1.9 volts, and all the DDR2-800 modules I've looked at require 2.0/2.1/2.2v, or the system simply will not work properly at all.

So, is it possible for this voltage issue to be fixed via a BIOS update, rather than the purchase of a new motherboard? And would I be able to post my system and clock the memory down to workable voltages if such an update isn't available?

 

[NetGuru42]

Unfortunately, because my AM2 motherboard still hasn't been released (last thing I'm waiting on, dammit!) I can't tell you for sure... however, there is a forum on the OCZ website that may be able to help you.

From the way it sounds, there are ways you can possibly get far enough into the POSTing process in order to flash the stock BIOS to an updated (and hopefully fixed) BIOS. As I said, I don't know any specifics for right now, but I'm anticipating problems with mine, so let me know how it goes. If that forum doesn't help totally, you can try e-mailing one of the OCZ people directly with THIS e-mail address. Note this is suppossed to be specifically for OCZ RAM, so if you e-mail him, keep that in mind.

 

[Fliko]

It'd be nice if you cost post what your board is

 

[NetGuru42]

It'd be nice if you cost post what your board is

It doesn't really matter... all AM2 motherboards have the same problems with DDR2-800 at this point, with only slight variations in symptoms.

 

[Stigmata]

I don't have a motherboard yet, I'm upgrading in a week or so. But that's the whole reason why I posted. I'm just wondering if it's possible for a BIOS update to actually change how much voltage goes towards memory slots, or if such a feature is "burnt" into the board.

 

[NetGuru42]

I don't have a motherboard yet, I'm upgrading in a week or so. But that's the whole reason why I posted. I'm just wondering if it's possible for a BIOS update to actually change how much voltage goes towards memory slots, or if such a feature is "burnt" into the board.

Yes, on all but the most entry level boards, you should be able to change the voltage going to memory modules in the BIOS manually. And if a motherboard has issues with memory by default, a BIOS update can fix that as well.

The problem is that you may or may not be able to get into the BIOS or flash the BIOS in the first place, as described in the forum I gave you a link to.

 

[Stigmata]

Yes, on all but the most entry level boards, you should be able to change the voltage going to memory modules in the BIOS manually. And if a motherboard has issues with memory by default, a BIOS update can fix that as well.

The problem is that you may or may not be able to get into the BIOS or flash the BIOS in the first place, as described in the forum I gave you a link to.

Well that's no good. Would it be possible to get into BIOS with no memory installed? I mean, motherboards boot before checking if the RAM is even there...

 

[Asus]

Well that's no good. Would it be possible to get into BIOS with no memory installed? I mean, motherboards boot before checking if the RAM is even there...

It would just beep at you with nothing on the screen. So no.

 

[NetGuru42]

Well that's no good. Would it be possible to get into BIOS with no memory installed? I mean, motherboards boot before checking if the RAM is even there...

As ASUS said, no... if you had read the forum posts, you would see that there are some workarounds that may or may not work... if they don't, your only alternative would be to get ahold of some DDR2-533 RAM and update the BIOS with that installed (or manually change the RAM voltage and immediately switch back to your DDR2-800 RAM).

However, depending on when you buy your motherboard, and when the stock that the retailer you get it from was manufactured, it may already have an updated BIOS. You may get lucky, who knows?

 

[Stigmata]

I did read the forum posts, I was just wondering if there was a simpler workaround that relied on installing the ram post-BIOS edit. Looks like I may have to wait a bit though :/

 

[Killing2Live]

I just recently built a brand new AM2 system and boy I sure didnt know what I was getting into but suprisingly there was no hair pulling. Well to start things off I built a M2n-SLI Deluxe with a Socket AM2 3800+ with a Nvidia 7600gt. The first thing I noticed right off the bat after installing XP is the constant crashes and after a little googling I found out that the Nvidia Drivers are having conflicts and need to get the beta drivers, alright that slows the crashes down but there still there. Now I turn to memory because I could sense it was memory crashing the system. Well the voltage was at 1.8v and I am an experienced builder but a newbie to ddr2 and am2 but I went on to newegg and read the description of my RAM and i wrote down the timings and voltage. I rebooted went into the BIOS and changed the voltage to 2.1 and timings to 4-4-4-12 and everything is running sweet. Awsome Rig after it was completed but what a rough road this time through.

 

[Asus]

I've had similar experiences with RAM. Not on AM2 though. Put in some DDR333 2-2-2-5 memory into a system that had been running at DDR400 3-3-3-8. It just beeped at me since the board was still trying to run at DDR400. It happens. Just have to keep in mind the specs and the logic of it all. Especially if you are going to run out of spec parts.