Issues with DDR3 memory on ASUS motherboard

So, here's the situation. I've been running this setup with some old 800 MHz DDR2 sticks, but I finally decided to pull the trigger on an upgrade. I picked up a SanDisk 4GB DDR3 1333MHz module. According to the motherboard specs, this thing is supposed to support both DDR2 and DDR3. Naturally, I yanked out the DDR2 and popped in the DDR3, but now when I try to boot, all I get is this endless, repetitive beeping. Just beep, beep, beep, over and over.

I'm looking for some guidance here because I can't figure out if I need to tweak something in the BIOS or if this specific type of RAM just isn't compatible with this board. One detail that might be the culprit—at least in my estimation—is that this new stick is single-sided, 4x512.

The specs are as follows:
Motherboard: ASUS
Processor: Intel Core i3 @ 3.00GHz
Memory: SanDisk 4gb ddr3 1333mhz
Graphics Card: SAPPHIRE Ati Radeon HD 4670 1GB DDR3
Power Supply: Cooler Master

- Data pulled from the official motherboard page:

DDR3:

2 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 8 GB of system memory (Note 1)
Dual channel memory architecture
Support for DDR3 1333(O.C.)/1066/800 MHz memory modules

DDR2:

2 x 1.8V DDR2 DIMM sockets supporting up to 8 GB of system memory (Note 1)
Dual channel memory architecture
Support for DDR2 1066(O.C.)/800/667 MHz memory modules

- It's specifically that "DDR3 1333(O.C.)" part in the specs that has me confused. From what I understand, without messing with advanced settings like overclocking, simply plugging the RAM in should downclock the speed to 1066 MHz, and everything should theoretically run fine. If I actually wanted to hit 1333, then I'd have to manually overclock.

I've been wrestling with this board for quite a while now, so I would truly appreciate any help you can offer. Thanks in advance.

http://download.asus.us/FileList...g41m-combo.pdf

Here's the list of compatible RAM for your board. I'm not entirely sure if it supports 512kb chips; from what I can see, all the SanDisk options listed use 256kb chips...

To be honest, I'm not 100% certain about this specific board. I've worked on a few similar ones, and those combo boards sometimes have a memory selector—basically a jumper you have to flip to tell the board which memory type to look for. Check the manual; if there's any mention of a memory selector, that's likely your issue.

I took a look at that compatibility list, but honestly, those lists aren't gospel. They don't list every single stick of RAM out there, so I was already crossing my fingers hoping this one would work even if it wasn't mentioned.
From what I can see on the board, there isn't a dedicated memory selector switch. Based on what I've read on various tech forums, people claim it should auto-detect everything without needing manual tweaks. If it fails to boot, you just hit the Reset Button and hope it picks it up then.

I'm starting to worry that the issue really boils down to this being single-sided memory (using those 8x512kb chips). I actually considered flashing the BIOS, but I checked their official site and I'm already running the latest version available.

darkowl72, thanks for the help. I think we finally pinpointed why this ancient board is acting up. The fix is pretty straightforward: either find some double-sided RAM or just buy a new motherboard altogether. Honestly, a new board is probably the smarter move since this thing has been giving me headaches for a year straight—problems I’ve never encountered in all my time building PCs. So, if you happen to know anything else, darkowl72, or if anyone else has an idea, let me know. To make matters worse, the board itself seems fine when using DDR2. My HW Monitor shows the +12V rail is sitting at +1.25V, and the BIOS reports a solid 12.43V. Even weirder? The board temperatures are reading -14, -1, and 26 degrees Celsius. Does anyone know why I shouldn't just start a new thread about this specific board's quirks? WTF?? Just to be clear, the system runs perfectly fine and stays stable; those weird sensor readings don't bother me, I just want to understand what the hell is going on.

It could be an issue with whether the SD card is single-sided or double-sided.

However, if I were you, I'd start by testing just one new stick of DDR3 memory.
You won't have dual-channel mode active, but that doesn't matter for troubleshooting. If it works, then you can go into the BIOS and load the setup defaults.
If that fails, perform a proper Reset Button procedure. Don't just pull the battery for two minutes and call it a day; use the jumper.

@ Willis:

Willis, what's the deal with you just copy-pasting what alentros wrote in his last post, shortening it, and adding a few typos on top of it? You looking for attention? All you're gonna get is a ban...

@ alentros:

You can never actually trust temperature readings unless the manufacturer designed both the board and the software used to measure them—which is especially sketchy with those old Gigabyte boards. I spent years building rigs with those older Gigabyte boards for both AMD and Intel builds, and I always had about 4 or 5 different monitoring apps running at once, praying that at least one of them was actually accurate 😬 CPUs and GPUs are fine since they have their own sensors, but those Gigabyte sensors they slapped onto the boards back then? Good grief...