can't use dual channel on my mobo

[leafer]

A friend just bought some super duper ram and gave me his old 2*4 GB Corsair value select, but when I installed them to use dual channel my comp won't even post. Yes, I installed them in their proper places as my MSI P55-GD65 has two blue and black slots. I ended up having to install them next to each other and the pc posted fine and registered 8gb in Win7 as well as resource monitor. The thing is when I tried to install them on the opposite end of the slots Windows sees only 4 gb so what is going on?

[PoleCat]

Is the memory you were given qualified for that MB? Is the voltage correct?Might need a bios update. Might need to up the voltage on the memory controller. Ram may be incompatible.

 

Just because memory fits in the slots does not make it compatible. With some boards 2 modules populating slots 1 and 3 (dual channel) posts fine while on others the board will only post with the modules inserted into slots 2 and 4.

 

Out

[leafer]

I did not know about ram compatibility and after some searching, I think that might be it. Corsair website even has a memory finder and the one given to me isn't listed for my mobo. :(

 

Also, I tried to update the bios but they sure made it a pain to do so. I'm supposed to make bootable USB drive and extract the latest bios there. WTH?

[Bodo]

Hmm, doubt you'll need a bootable drive. Go into BIOS start the flash prog and make sure ya have your USB drive plugged in? You tried that anyway?

[leafer]

There's a program called liveupdate which I'm downloading now.

[PoleCat]

If the memory is not compatible with your board there may be no good reason to update the bios. Voltage is important as well. Many modules look exactly the same and fit the same slots but the voltages required by the memory and the memory to memory controller compatibility matters. If the corsair web site indicates the memory is not the right type or it is not compatible with your board I would not run it.

 

Good luck.

 

Out

Edited November 8, 2012 by PoleCat

[Kuky]

I have a feeling you are confusing the DIMM's on the motherboard which is which... are there 4 DIMM slots? Are they colour coded? If they are you need to insert the RAM stick into slots of same colour, usually if some slots are black and others are blue/red/green/etc the coloured ones are channel A or main slots to use and you should put the sticks into those slots.

 

If the RAM was not compatible it would not recognize them no matter what clots you put them in. And if you have later BIOS for your motherboard its good idea to update it anyway.

[leafer]

Interesting that MSI doesn't recommend using its own liveupdate software but recommend Svet's auto bios update which is what I used. Well, it's the best little program that makes updating the bios painless. I will test the mem in dual channel when I have time to fiddle with the voltage. Kuky, yes, I know about the color coded slots. :)