EP45-DS3R reboot loop at splash screen

[dgorgan]

I'll try and keep this brief since I've been fighting with this motherboard since last Friday. I'm looking for help on getting past a reboot loop at the motherboard splash screen on my new PC build.

Gigabyte EP45-DS3R
E8400 Processor
Corsair XMS2 DHX TWIN2X4096-6400C4DHX 4GB DDR2 2X2GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL 4-4-4-12 240PIN Memory Kit
Palit Radeon 4870 video card
Antec TP3-650 PSU

System powered up and shut down randomly until I installed a $10 stick of Kingston ValueRAM rated to run at 1.8V. After reading about the issues with Corsair memory requiring 2.1V, I was hoping to bootstrap my way into the Corsair RAM by accessing the BIOS with the one stick of accepted memory.

It almost worked too. While I can now get the single beep indicating successful POST, the system restarts about a second after getting to the motherboard splash screen. About one time in six, the system hangs on the splash screen without accepting keyboard input (del doesn't access the BIOS menu, numlock doesn't turn on the light).

I've checked all power connections, tried resetting the BIOS by jumper and battery removal. The parts above (beyond swapping RAM modules) are the only items connected to the mobo, and it's sitting outside of the case to avoid shorts.

I have an open RMA back to the retailer, but I'm hoping to save the time and expense of shipping. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them.

[Lsdmeasap]

Use a PS/2 Keyboard and put your other ram in. Then go in the BIOS and set your Corsair Voltage to 2.0-2.1 and then put performance Enhance on Standard, set trfc to 62 for now and be sure static tread on both channels is set to 8-9 or above for now as well.

Then also set MCH voltage to 1.2-1.3 and you should be good to go. Once you get going let me know your planed CPU Speed and I can help you with all other settings if you like

[dgorgan]

I am using a PS/2 keyboard.

I can't reach the BIOS with either type of RAM.

The system will not POST with the Corsair RAM and goes into a power up/power down loop.

The system goes into a reboot loop (mobo lights stay on throughout) when the 1.8V Kingston RAM is installed. I get to the splash screen and the system either instantly reboots or freezes up and is completely unresponsive - even keys like NumLock stop responding and the power switch doesn't work to shut down the system.

My plan was to do as you suggested, since my system didn't post with the Corsair RAM. Unfortunately, when I used the new RAM last night before my post, I hit this new problem.

[Lsdmeasap]

Have you tried cleared the CMOS while using one stick of the kingtsons to get going?? When you properly do you should see a CheckSum error, that is how you know it was cleared.

Unplug the PSU from the wall. Press and hold the Case power switch for one minute, then remove the CMOS battery and put a Jumper on the Clear CMOS pins and let it set for about 20 minutes. You may also press and hold the Clear CMOS button for a minute if your board has one during this wait.

Then put the battery back in, remove the jumper and plug the PSU back in and start the system. You should see a checksum error and be given some choices, choose load optimized defaults. Then you should be able to get into the BIOS and make the needed changes.

If you still cannot after you do get the CMOS properly cleared (Must see CheckSum error screen otherwise it was not cleared/try again) then you may just have to buy/borrow some other more compatible ram