Having trouble getting dual-channel to work

[midsouthduckhunter]

I feel like I've gone down the correct path without success and here is what I have.

I have a PC-on-a-stick HP Media Center with ASUS PTGD1-LA (puffer) mobo having a maximum of 4GB 184-pin DDR memory in four slots. The mobo user manual dictates how memory sticks should be inserted to achieve dual-memory (1-3, 2-4).


I went to the Crucial site and their interrogation software revealed my existing memory (3GB) and that my hardware is capable of dual-channel operation.

The PC came with with 2x256 Samsung then added 2x512 Kingston and now have swapped the 2x256 Samsung for 2x1024 PNY for a total of 3Gb of RAM.

While troubleshooting this, I used CPU-Z and it always indicates single-channel operation. I recently removed the 2x512 sticks and CPU-Z still said I had single-channel with only the 2x1024 sticks of memory. Below is the CPU-Z info on my RAM for slots 1 & 2 (3 & 4 are the same, respectively):

Chipset
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge Intel i915P/i915G rev. B1
Southbridge Intel 82801FB (ICH6) rev. 03
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x16
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type
Memory Size 3072 MBytes
Channels Single
Memory Frequency 200.0 MHz (1:1)

Memory SPD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM # 1
SMBus address 0x50
Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) Kingston (7F98000000000000)
Size 512 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC3200 (200 MHz)
Part number K
Serial number 7A15E52F
Manufacturing date Week 19/Year 06
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no
Nominal Voltage 2.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 2.5-3-3-7-0 @ 166 MHz
JEDEC #2 3.0-3-3-8-0 @ 200 MHz

DIMM # 2
SMBus address 0x51
Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) PNY Electronics (7FBA000000000000)
Size 1024 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC3200 (200 MHz)
Part number
Manufacturing date Week 09/Year 67
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no
Nominal Voltage 2.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 2.0-2-2-6-0 @ 133 MHz
JEDEC #2 2.5-3-3-7-0 @ 166 MHz
JEDEC #3 3.0-3-3-8-0 @ 200 MHz

OK, so why can't I get dual-channel to work? Any and all responses welcome.

[Neon_WA]

some boards need dual channel operation to be enabled in the bios settings, but im not aware whether this board automatically enables dual channel mode or not

[midsouthduckhunter]

The bios has few options. Although it is for the i915P chipset, the mobo is a custom by ASUS for HP. I've been looking pretty hard online for a hint or backdoor, but no luck. I updated the bios the other day but that didn't bear any fruit.

[Neon_WA]

do any pairs on their own work in dual channel mode?

if not.. i would say there something wrong with the board chipset

[Guest]

Maybe the chipset is capable of dual-channel, but this is an option not supported by the bios or worst case even disabled for some reason.


Try a single couple of ram sticks. There is a remote possibility that you need 4x same size ram modules to achieve dual channel with 4 gb.

[JAC]

Have you put the ram in the correct slots? Try swapping the slots. Some mobo's have to have identical memory in certain slots.

Failing all the above, dont assume CPUZ is 100% correct. Get the manual for your mobo and use that!

[midsouthduckhunter]

I have never gotten any pairs to work properly. I tried putting two sticks in slots 1 & 2 and the PC did not boot. When I tried just putting in two sticks of 1024, no luck either.

I have the manual for the mobo and it indicates dual-channel is possible along with the Crucial memory site. Crucial memory interrogator said dual-channel possible on my PC, but machine running single-channel. I watch the boot diagnostics, but nothing indicates running in dual-channel mode there either.

The one thing I have not done is put 4x of the same memory. Anyone got 2x1024 DDR 184-pin memory you want to loan me for a test?