AD2550B-ITX - sodimm ddr3 800 not recognized in bios

[Mathias Leblanc]

Hi,

I have just purchased a mini-itx AD2550B-ITX
I had two 2 GB sodimm ddr3 800.
As the doc said it supported 1066 / 800 I choose that motherboard.

However the bios doesn't not recognized the frequency.
When I run the memtest86 in Ubuntu livecd it gives errors.

I have upgrade to the BIOS version 1.20

Does the motherboard really work with sodimm ddr3-800?
If so how can I fix the BIOS?
(I plan to use Ubuntu server (64bit) - so no need of advanced features graphic / sound, etc.)

[profJim]

What is the brand, size and model number of your memory?
Is it a matched set?
Did you try booting with only one memory module at a time to verify that each one works?

You might need to buy a set of compatible memory from the QVL list: http://www.asrock.com/mb/memory/AD2550B-ITX.pdf

QVL = Qualified Vendor List

[Mathias Leblanc]

What is the brand, size and model number of your memory?
> Kingston ValueRAM memory - 2 GB - SO DIMM 204-pin - DDR3 - 800 MHz / PC3-6400 - CL6 - 1.5 V - unbuffered - non-ECC
Is it a matched set?
> Yes

You might need to buy a set of compatible memory from the QVL list: http://www.asrock.com/mb/memory/AD2550B-ITX.pdf
QVL = Qualified Vendor List
> this is not an option as the only reason I purchase this motherboard is because it said it would work with ddr3- 800 mhz.

[profJim]

Try booting with one module at a time in the proper slot; the user manual should tell you which slot to use when only one module is installed.
You might need to return the motherboard if you can't get your memory to work.
Read the user manual assembly steps carefully and make sure that you follow all of the instructions.
I'm not familiar with your motherboard but you probably need to load some sort of bios defaults and possibly change some bios settings to get your memory to work.
Make sure that you are testing with the latest version of Memtest86+ from Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool.
Post a picture of the Memtest86+ screen and we will see what memory timings are being used.

[Mathias Leblanc]

As you can see in the pictures I am using memtest86 4.20 (which must be the latest available now)
You can also see that I have upgrade to the BIOS version 1.20 (sold with 1.0) - but that didn't solve anything.
(see image1-memtest.jpg)

I have tested with one module at a time in slot 0 as describe in the documentation but it gave the same result for BOTH modules (see image2-memtest-error-jpg).

The BIOS identify the memory module as of 1066 and there is no way to change it. (image3-bios.jpg).
I would love to found out how to set the BIOS to make it work but I can't find info about it.

[Mathias Leblanc]

image 2

[Mathias Leblanc]

image3

[profJim]

This is a spec sheet for one of Kinston's PC3-10600 memory kits: http://www.kingston.com/dataSheets/K...D8R9S_4GHB.pdf
This means that your memory is rated to run up to 1333MHz. I have to leave for several hours, but I'll download the user manual for your board to see if/how the memory speed can be set to 800MHz or 1066MHz later tonight. Incorrect memory settings or voltages will generate many Memtest86+ errors or prevent your system from booting.

[synack]

As you can see in the pictures I am using memtest86 4.20 (which must be the latest available now)
You can also see that I have upgrade to the BIOS version 1.20 (sold with 1.0) - but that didn't solve anything.
(see image1-memtest.jpg)

I have tested with one module at a time in slot 0 as describe in the documentation but it gave the same result for BOTH modules (see image2-memtest-error-jpg).

The BIOS identify the memory module as of 1066 and there is no way to change it. (image3-bios.jpg).
I would love to found out how to set the BIOS to make it work but I can't find info about it.

Actually it says the SPD info from the memory itself is coming out as 1333 (pc3-10600) not 1066.
800 Mhz ddr3 would be "pc3 6400"
and 1066 Mhz DDr3 would be "Pc3 8500"

Basically multiply Mhz x 8 and round to the nearest hundred.

SPD means Serial Presence Detect and it is how the memory reports to the motherboard/bios its existance and what timings to use.

You may need to manually slow down the memory if the board is rated only up to 1066. I'm not familiar with your bios to know if it can do that.

Syn

[synack]

This is a spec sheet for one of Kinston's PC3-10600 memory kits: http://www.kingston.com/dataSheets/K...D8R9S_4GHB.pdf
This means that your memory is rated to run up to 1333MHz. I have to leave for several hours, but I'll download the user manual for your board to see if/how the memory speed can be set to 800MHz or 1066MHz later tonight. Incorrect memory settings or voltages will generate many Memtest86+ errors or prevent your system from booting.

Darn.. you beat me to it! But i win with more blathering... haha