EP45-UD3L won't boot with dual channel memory - semi-urgent

[jackal14]

I hate to bother anyone, but I purchased an EP45-UD3L from a local computer hardware store Sunday and I can't get it to run with more than one memory stick in anything other than slot 3. I thought it might be a faulty module, so I removed both sticks and tried using them one at a time; the system would boot on each occasion as long as they were in slot 3. I've tried Hynix DDR2 533 and Patriot DDR2 1150 only to encounter the same issue. I've tried raising the MCH and DRAM voltage to see if there was any impact in regards to booting in a dual channel configuration, but it doesn't. I took it back to the store with intention of exchanging it, but they recommended I see their technician just to be sure it was completely screwed up. He installed a different processor (E5200 while I use an E4400), threw a stick of DDR2 667 into slot 1 (something I still can't do), and was able to boot it up just fine; he tried three more times, using a different slot each time, and encountered none of the problems I have. So, should I chalk this up to an incompatibility with the memory I've got or is it something a faulty CPU could cause?

[wazza300]

Re: EP45-UD3L won't boot with dual channel memory - semi-urgent

could be the mb bios needs updating to support the older chip

[Conners]

Re: EP45-UD3L won't boot with dual channel memory - semi-urgent

Did you load the optimized defaults? ANd you could try resetting the CMOS

[Chike]

Re: EP45-UD3L won't boot with dual channel memory - semi-urgent

Try it the way I assume he did, minimal boot, video cardm keyboard, CPU and memory only, out of case, on a pice of cardboard.
E5200 and E440 are both 800MHz buss processors so the conditions were quite the same.

[jackal14]

Re: EP45-UD3L won't boot with dual channel memory - semi-urgent

I think I might've isolated the problem; the board is grounding out somewhere. I emptied the case, resembled everything on cardboard, and booted it all up without much in the way difficulty (it'll give up a series of warning beeps if anything's in slot 2). Once it was all reinstalled in the case, BAM! wouldn't boot with two sticks. I repeated the process three more times, encountering problems only when everything was in the tower. I haven't figured out where it's grounding out at (all the standoffs are properly installed), so I'll use my backup case. I'd like to thank you guys for time and help; I didn't expect much in the way of replies (people have lives outside of the internet) nor did I expect to get them as soon as I did.