Upgrading Ram...System Hangs

Okay...I've tried adding more RAM but my system just hangs and never gets to the Bios screen. Currently my RAM is a Corsair XMS2 DDR2 2x1Gb and I wish(well I'm trying!) to add an extra 2Gb of RAM so I have puchased the same one again but the newer version.

Old RAM:
Corsair XMS2 DDR2 CM2X1024-6400 1.9V Ver. 5.1 5-5-5-12 800MHz
New RAM:
Corsair XMS2 DDR2 CM2X1024-6400 1.9V Ver. 5.2 5-5-5-18 800MHz

My Specs:

Vista Home Premium 64-bit OS
Asus M3A Motherboard
AMD Phenom 8650
Hard drives...I've got a couple of them
Asus EN9800GX2 Graphics Card
Antec 1000W PSU

I've updated the BIOS after reading about this problem in another forum but this did not help nor did clearing the RTC.
Also in the BIOS setting under Mem Clock Value...is that supposed to be set to 800MHz and not on the 400MHz?

Thanks in advance from a "scared to touch my Bios" person!

 

Ofetn using all 4 DIMM slots can create a bit of a drain on your PSU and you need to tweak some BIOS settings. Can you post your mobo make and model please. Change the BIOS settings and save "before adding" the new modules!

Otherwise you need to look at your Jumper Free Configuration or Advanced Chipset options (depending on motherboard) and manually adjust your vMCH (Voltage to Memory Controller Hub) up 0.1-0.2 and or vFSB. I would suggest that you set your vMCH to 1.5v and your vFSB to 1.50v and then add your new modules and see if you can boot. You obviously have the right RAM kits but may not be getting enough power "delivery" for the system to run stable.

 

Thanks for the input Bold Eagle and I'll try your recommendations when I get home from work.

Asus M3A Motherboard...http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1934&l1=3&l2=149&l3=592&l4=0

 

I just realised after re-reading your first post that you will probably have to manually set the RAM timings. The new RAM has 5-5-5-18 and may not be happy trying to run at 5-5-5-12 (old RAM). So try and change the settings firstly to reflect the higher timings and then see if you can boot. Going from 18 to 12 is a big step and may cause the RAM to throw a wobbly.

Goto:
1. Advanced Chipset Settings
2. Change the "Configure DRAM timing by SPD" to disable. This should allow you to change the RAM primary timings.
3. Set the timings to 5-5-5-18, (i.e. tCL-tRTC-tRP-tRAS).
4. Leave this BIOS section and goto "JumperFree Configuration"
5. Change the "AI Overclocking" to Manual
6. Look for "Memory Voltage" and set that to 1.9v.
7. Save BIOS and then reboot, power off the system, turn it off at the back and unplug the power cord.
8. Now add the new RAM modules and see if you can boot.

This is the method I would follow in my specific BIOS yours maybe slightly different but you should find many similarities. If the system still wont boot then we will look at the vMCH and vFSB and give them a "little" tweak.

 

In an ASUS BIOS the settings are either in Extreme Tweaker, or Advanced Memory Settings, depending on the age of the board. Let me know if you want details, I'll fire up the ASUS system and get into the BIOS and find more details.

BE is giving some really good and solid advice here, so aside from this little comment, I'll stand aside and let him do his thing

 

I tried everything but got fed up and left the computer off for the night.

In the BIOS...
"Memory Voltage" is set to 1.9v.
"Memory Clock Mode" to Manual
"2T Mode" to Auto
"DRAM Ganged Mode" to Enabled
Now this one I'm not sure of the right setting..."DRAM Timing Mode" which has Auto, DCT0, DCT1 or Both

DCT0 OR DCT1 has....

Cas Latency(CL)..I set this to 5
TCWL
TRCD
TRP..I set this to 5
TRAS..I set this to 18

Setting it to Both....As above plus...
TRCD
TRP
tRTP
TRAS
TRC
tWR
TRRD
tWTR
tRFC0
tRFC1
tRFC2
tRFC3

Mimsy...I think it is an "Advanced Memory Settings" board.

Thanks very much for helping although baldness is starting to take hold as I'm ripping my hair out!:-D If only the computer was set to "Install & Go" mode and the computer could figure out the new settings for you...life would be so much easier!

 

Also..I forgot to mention in my last post that if I only insert the new pair RAM...the system will hang. Throw the old pair back in and the system will start...Faulty RAM?

 

The second lot of timings, "advanced memory timings" I will recommend you stay away from. It would be very good if you could try the RAM in another system.

 

Okay after a bit more searching (I'm really tired right now) I have found forums for your Motherboard at ASUS:

http://vip.asus.com/forum/topic.asp..._id=1&model=M3A&page_size=20&page=3&count=317

I have started flicking through looking for RAM issues to see what others have explored.

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?id=20080823233719968&board_id=1&model=M3A&page=1&SLanguage=en-us

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?id=20080910045753984&board_id=1&model=M3A&page=1&SLanguage=en-us

Will have another look a bit later, heaps of info on your motherboard there.