Strange RAM Behavior

[sechs]

As part of the previously mentioned work in my case, I swapped my 2x Opteron 246 (CG stepping) to 2x Opteron 850 (E4 stepping). Before doing so, I updated to the latest official BIOS for my board, an Iwill DK8N; the computer did not show any unusual behavior after the update.

Since the processor change, the computer has exhibited the following unusual behaviors:

1. Memory on CPU1 (the second processor) is either not recognised or not recognised with the correct amount. Usually I get a RAM R/W error along with a bad count. This is irrelevant of whether there are two sticks (dual-channel) or one.
2. The system does not POST with a single stick of RAM on CPU0. There are no beep errors.

All of my memory appears to be fine. I can put all four sticks of OCZ OCZ400512SSER onto CPU0 with no problems. They appear run at DDR400 speeds with no issues, passing Memtest.

Any thoughts on what the problem may be and additional troubleshooting steps?

 

[Bozo]

Did you ttry re-flashing the BIOS now that the new CPUs are installed?
And with the memory installed.
Bozo :mrgrn:

 

[sechs]

No, I haven't, although I had considered flashing to a newer, unofficial BIOS version. Then, of course, one person who has tried it reports hosing their computer.

I have reset the BIOS about six times, to no avail.

 

[ddrueding]

Have you tried slower timings?

 

[Howell]

Have you tried going back to a less progressive BIOS?

 

[sechs]

I have considered both of these.

Right now I'm waiting to see if someone from Iwill gets back with anything useful before I work on it again, later this week. Right now I have:

1. Relax memory timing
2. Reflash to current BIOS
3. Reflash to previous BIOS
4. Flash to newer BIOS
5. Swap processor slots

I may also put the old processors and, to see if they still work.

 

[Howell]

5. Swap processor slots

I may also put the old processors and, to see if they still work.

Did the error stay with the slot even though it has the other processor in it?

 

[sechs]

I let you know once I get past 1 through 4, later this week....

 

[sechs]

Todays update:

A. Tried reflashing to the previous BIOS. No change.
B. Tried reflashing to current BIOS. No change.
C. Tried relaxing memory timing. No change.
D. Swapped the processors. No change.

I'm still skittish on the newer BIOS, so I'm leaving that be. I did notice that, while the BIOS *recognises* all of the RAM, it will not count it all up. If I turn on the quick boot (no memory test), the board POSTs with no errors, but Windows crashes during boot.

The issue seems to be somewhere south of the socket and north of the memory slots. What might be going on with this motherboard?