K8N Diamond - 4GB RAM only running at 333MHz?!

Printable View

03-22-2006, 04:07 AM
CHaynes112

K8N Diamond - 4GB RAM only running at 333MHz?!

I was building a PC at work for a customer and ran into a snag. It's a MSI K8N Platinum Plus, Athlon 64 X2 4800+, 4GB PC3200 RAM, and a MSI GeForce 7900GTX. The system is running 4 x 1GB chips. I did successfully enable to MemoryHole option in BIOS to enable the entire 4GB of RAM... However, my problem is, I can only get the RAM to run at 333MHz. The chip is a Rev E6, so I think it is capable of running 4 x DIMMS at 400MHz (2T of course). I understand it won't do 1T with 4 DIMMS and that's fine... but even at 2T it will NOT go above 333MHz. I even pulled out 2 DIMMS (which left 2 x 1GB = 2GB in the PC) and it would still only goto 333MHz. When I pulled 1 more DIMM out (now total of 1 x 1GB in PC) it finally went to 400MHz?! This is killing me... I know this isn't a DFI board, but I was hoping someone may have some idea? MSI's site doesn't have a BIOS manual download for it... I am gonna install Windows today and do the LiveUpdate thing to check for possible BIOS updates (however the board is brand new).

NOTE - I just looked in the book, and it says when using Double-Sided memory sticks the board will only do 400MHz with 1 stick installed. When 2-4 sticks if Double-Sided memory is installed, only 333MHz is possible?!?! AAHH!! Can this be true? I have 2 x 1GB of OCZ (double sided) in my DFI board and 400MHz is no problem at all Is this just a limitation of the MSI board? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated...

-Thanks
03-22-2006, 04:37 AM
GoThr3k

just put it to 400mhz in the bios??
ow, thats 200 mhz btw :p
03-22-2006, 05:53 AM
CHaynes112

I don't see an option to change it. It automatically shows 333MHz and it's grayed out. I don't see an option to set the actual MHz.. The only thing I see is one that says DRAM/FSB and it is set to 1/1... :confused:
03-22-2006, 06:02 AM
pcdoc1

In the chipset menu the first option is "Auto/Manual".. Chose manual and then 200....
03-22-2006, 06:04 AM
CHaynes112

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHaynes112

NOTE - I just looked in the book, and it says when using Double-Sided memory sticks the board will only do 400MHz with 1 stick installed. When 2-4 sticks if Double-Sided memory is installed, only 333MHz is possible?!?! AAHH!! Can this be true? I have 2 x 1GB of OCZ (double sided) in my DFI board and 400MHz is no problem at all Is this just a limitation of the MSI board? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated...

-Thanks

Okay, I just got back to work and re-read the book... It is possible to get 400MHz with 2 DS DIMMs (I previously stated 1)... The slots are just a little different on this motherboard (on the DFI, you match Orange and Yellow... or this one you match first 2 (Blue and Purple) and last 2 (Blue and Purle)... So now I successfully have 2 x 1GB = 2GB in the PC running at 400MHz... I still can't get 4 double sided DIMMs to run at 400MHz... is this even possible on any board? I know DFI's can run 4 x DIMMs at 400MHz 2T, but maybe that is only for 4 single sided DIMMs (and not 4 double sided DIMMs)?!
03-22-2006, 06:06 AM
Order

Have you tried calling MSI?
03-22-2006, 06:07 AM
CHaynes112

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcdoc1

In the chipset menu the first option is "Auto/Manual".. Chose manual and then 200....

There is no such menu or option...? This is the MSI K8N Diamond Plus motherboard... The "Cell Menu" is where the changes are made... I see nowhere to manually set the MHz though?!

-Thanks