Hi all.

This is my problem.

Im trying to upgrade my RAM memory from 2GB to 4GB (I run Windows Vista 64)

My Motherboard, with a Core 2 Duo 6600 installed
Asus P5N32-SLI Premium

Old Ram installed
Kingston DDR2 800, 4-4-4-12, 2x1GB, 2v.

New Ram installed
A-Data DDR2 800, 4-4-4-12, 2x1GB, 2v.

Once I installed the second memory pair ( both kingston and Adata installed properly in motherboard slots so they can run in Dual Channel) I noticed windows vista started to run very slow. Even the window starting is now x2-x3 longer than before, and all applications I run in windows work very slow too. Some games are unplayable.

I tried each memory set independently, and both work very well at 800 setting, timing 4-4-4-12 and 2v.

With both memory sets installed I tried everything (I think) in BIOS.

-Tried at 800, with all timing in auto. Windows go slow.
-Tried at 800, forcing timing to 4-4-4-12, same thing.
-Tried at 800, forcing timing to 4-4-4-12, and forcing 2v. Same result.
-Tried at 667, all in auto. Windows slow again
- ... at 667, forcing timing to 5-5-5-15. Same.
- ... at 667, forcing timing to 5-5-5-15 and forcing 1.9v. Again Windows go very very slow.

Im about to give up and buy anpther set of A-Data memories, so if it is a compativility problem I will solve it.
But I still have the doubt that maybe is a motherboard problem, or maybe changing some setting in Bios I will solve that issue.

Any advice will be very welcome

Mixing RAM brands is always a risk for compatability problems. Would suggest you replace one set to match the other. My choice would be to run the Kingston unless you can't find an identical set.

I had same kind of problem since I uppgrade from 2GB to 4GB--> Vista starting slowly--> I did not find any problems, after 6H of testing...
I put my memory in diffrent order. Fist startup was slow but after restart it did run like a dream.

Remove Kingston and try Adata only and see the result
It is a known issue the some motherboards do not 4 dimms full with Ram sticks

Thanks all for the tips

Indeed it was a motherboard issue Seems to be a know problem with that asus model, and when you fill all 4 RAM slots all system go slow ^^ so weird, and my bad for not think about the motherboard before.
Just upgrading the BIOS to the last one solved the problem.
Tho, I had to set myself all BIOS settings to make the memories work properly, even the voltage. If I leave it in auto it gives me a windows error ^^
So the memory is working now at 800, 4-4-4-12, 2v. and windows and games seems very stable.


btw, any reliable memory-speed test software you can recommend me? I already did check them with Memtest86+ 2.01 and at least theres no errors

jeah that's really a big issue of this MB P5N32SLI PREMIUM. I have it too. I'm tried to fill all 4 RAM slots with 4 identical Kingston 1GB modules, and when Windows XP 32bit or 64bit system boots up it works very very slowly..
So you say first of all we must upgrade the BIOS ? For this reason what tool do you used for flashing BIOS, DOS or EZ flash ? What do you recommend ? Of course I don't want to corrupt my MB BIOS.

thanks for suggestions

I always use DOS to upgrade a BIOS.
Somehow to upgrade a BIOS from Windows scare me a little *g*
I use to boot the system in DOS with a CD for that, and run the tool from the hard disc. Never had a problem doing it this way.

Dont flash the Bios from a floppy disc, it can give you errors

It is a problem on nVidia motherboards as well, it is always good just to have 2 sticks of RAM instead of 4, saves a lot of headaches.