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If an ASUS A8V Deluxe will not POST with two memory modules, test the RAM before blaming BIOS 1009.007. In the original reported case, one OCZ module produced hundreds of MemTest errors and the owner sought an RMA—evidence for faulty or marginal RAM in that system, not proof that every dual-channel failure has the same cause. First install a matched pair in the board’s blue DIMM_A1 and DIMM_B1 sockets, reset settings to defaults, then test each module separately.
First, identify what “won’t post in dual channel” means
These symptoms point to different problems, so note exactly what happens before changing hardware or firmware:
- No POST or video with two DIMMs: The system fails before it reaches a usable startup screen. Memory training, DIMM compatibility, a slot or channel fault, CPU seating, or another hardware issue may be involved.
- The system starts but reports single-channel mode: Check socket placement and whether the modules are a supported matching pair. The A8V Deluxe BIOS 1008 release notes say that a dual/single-channel message was added to the POST screen; see the ASUS BIOS archive.
- Windows starts but later crashes: A successful boot does not establish that the memory is reliable. Test for errors before treating this as a BIOS problem.
- BIOS detects the full capacity but channel mode is unclear: Capacity detection and dual-channel operation are not the same thing. Check the POST message or BIOS memory information, and verify the socket labels.
- One DIMM works only in a particular socket: Compare the same module across the two blue sockets; a failure that follows a socket may indicate a board, contact, or CPU-related issue.
The A8V Deluxe is a Socket 939 board with a memory controller integrated into the Athlon 64 CPU. That architecture means a channel problem is not automatically a motherboard-only fault. Confirm the exact board model: the A8V Deluxe and A8V-E Deluxe are different products, and their manuals and firmware should not be mixed.
Put two DIMMs in the documented sockets
For two modules, use DIMM_A1 and DIMM_B1, the two blue sockets. Identify them by the labels printed on the board and the A8V Deluxe manual, not just by counting slots from the CPU.
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| Configuration | DIMM_A1 | DIMM_A2 | DIMM_B1 | DIMM_B2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single channel, one DIMM | Empty | Empty | Installed | Empty |
| Dual channel, two DIMMs | Installed | Empty | Installed | Empty |
| Dual channel, four DIMMs | Installed | Installed | Installed | Installed |
The manual calls for identical memory pairs: the same type and size, with the same CAS latency; modules from the same vendor are recommended for compatibility. A matched retail kit is a good starting point, but does not guarantee that both sticks work. The board supports 184-pin DDR memory, including PC3200/DDR400 and slower supported standards, with up to 4 GB of supported unbuffered ECC or non-ECC DIMMs. Follow the manual’s restrictions: stacked RAM and modules with more than 18 chips are listed as unsupported.
Do not assume two modules are compatible just because both are DDR400. Differences in capacity, rank or chip layout, SPD timings, CAS latency, ECC or buffered status, or memory density can matter. For diagnosis, record each module’s label and model number; avoid mixing unlike sticks.
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Reset to a stable baseline before testing
- Power down and unplug the PC before removing or reseating DIMMs. Ensure each module is fully seated and both retaining clips latch.
- Clear CMOS according to the board manual. If the system starts, load BIOS defaults.
- Disable overclocking or AI overclocking. Run the CPU and memory at stock settings.
- Leave memory timings at SPD/default and do not raise voltage as an opening fix.
- Change only one setting at a time and record what changed and whether the symptom changed.
CMOS settings retained after a failed configuration can complicate testing, but clearing CMOS cannot repair defective RAM. The original forum thread includes user suggestions to relax timings or try around 2.7 V; these are not ASUS guarantees or universal fixes. Consider a timing or voltage experiment only after testing at defaults, and use the DIMM maker’s specified voltage rather than guessing.
Test each DIMM in the same slot
Testing sticks one at a time in the same known-good socket helps determine whether the fault follows a module or a channel. Use the blue sockets for the pair test, and label the modules so results cannot be confused.
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- Matched Specifically to Your Machine: OFFTEK selects the correct memory configuration for the computer shown in this listing, removing the uncertainty from choosing a compatible upgrade.
- We Do the Technical Checking for You: There is no need to compare memory speeds, voltages, form factors or other technical details, as the upgrade has been matched to the machine’s supported requirements.
- Extend the Life of Your Computer: Increasing the available memory can help your existing machine remain productive for longer, offering a cost-effective alternative to replacing the complete system.
- Quick and Straightforward Upgrade: Memory is normally simple to install and requires no software installation; shut down and disconnect the machine before fitting and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
| Test | Module | Socket | What the result can indicate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIMM 1 | Known-good single-DIMM socket | Baseline for comparison |
| 2 | DIMM 2 | Same socket | If DIMM 1 passes and DIMM 2 fails, suspect DIMM 2 |
| 3 | DIMM 1 | Other blue socket | A failure here may point to a socket, channel, contact, or CPU-seating issue |
| 4 | DIMM 2 | Other blue socket | Compare with the previous tests to see whether the result follows the stick or socket |
| 5 | Both modules | DIMM_A1 + DIMM_B1 |
Tests the documented two-DIMM dual-channel layout |
| 6 | Both modules | Another manual-documented layout, if applicable | Try only after testing the recommended pair of sockets |
- One stick fails in every tested socket while the other passes: The failing DIMM is the leading suspect.
- Both sticks work in one blue socket but fail in the other: Inspect the socket and board, and consider channel traces, CPU seating, and Socket 939 contacts.
- Each stick works alone, but the pair fails: Investigate compatibility, default timing behavior, memory-controller margin, and the second channel; a marginal DIMM can also fail only under the paired configuration.
- The pair boots but reports single-channel: Recheck that the modules occupy A1 and B1 and confirm the BIOS’s channel-mode indication.
The original AnandTech report is a useful example of why individual testing matters: both OCZ modules apparently worked individually in one slot, but one produced hundreds of memory-test errors. The owner subsequently sought an RMA. A brief boot can miss a marginal fault; dual-channel operation may expose timing or signal-integrity problems that are not apparent in a lighter single-DIMM configuration, though that explanation is a technical inference rather than an ASUS diagnosis.
Run a memory test that can boot on this legacy BIOS
The A8V Deluxe uses a legacy BIOS. PassMark says its current MemTest86 images are UEFI-only and directs legacy-BIOS systems to the older V4 release. See the MemTest86 download page for the legacy-compatible option.
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- On another working computer, download the legacy BIOS-compatible MemTest86 V4 image and prepare a bootable USB, CD, or floppy.
- Boot the A8V Deluxe from that medium. If it will not boot, check the selected boot device and the medium’s compatibility before drawing conclusions about the RAM.
- Test DIMM 1 alone in the known-good socket, then DIMM 2 alone in that same socket.
- If needed, repeat the individual tests in the other blue socket, then test both modules in A1 and B1.
- Allow multiple passes and record the module, socket, test conditions, and any reported errors.
A single clean pass is reassuring but not conclusive. Any repeatable error at stock settings is grounds to stop treating that DIMM or configuration as trustworthy until the cause is isolated. If errors follow one stick across sockets, suspect the stick; if they stay with one socket, investigate the board, contacts, and CPU path.
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If both modules pass alone but fail as a pair
Work through the likely causes in this order, changing one variable at a time:
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- Boost Your System’s Performance: Increase available memory for smoother multitasking, improved responsiveness and better performance when running memory-intensive applications.
- Matched Specifically to Your Machine: OFFTEK selects the correct memory configuration for the computer shown in this listing, removing the uncertainty from choosing a compatible upgrade.
- We Do the Technical Checking for You: There is no need to compare memory speeds, voltages, form factors or other technical details, as the upgrade has been matched to the machine’s supported requirements.
- Extend the Life of Your Computer: Increasing the available memory can help your existing machine remain productive for longer, offering a cost-effective alternative to replacing the complete system.
- Quick and Straightforward Upgrade: Memory is normally simple to install and requires no software installation; shut down and disconnect the machine before fitting and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Recheck placement and pairing: Confirm A1+B1, equal capacity, matching type and CAS latency, and supported module density.
- Restore SPD/default timings: Undo manual timing or command-rate changes and retry at stock settings.
- Try a conservative memory speed only if needed: This can help distinguish a speed or compatibility margin from a failed channel, but record the original setting and change no other variable at the same time.
- Use only the DIMM manufacturer’s specified voltage: Do not treat a voltage increase as a generic cure.
- Inspect CPU and socket seating: With power disconnected, check that the CPU is correctly seated and look for bent or contaminated Socket 939 pins. Also consider heatsink installation and pressure.
- Inspect the board and connections: Check DIMM contacts, board flex, and visible damage. If there is no meaningful POST at all, also check graphics-card seating and power connections.
- Consider firmware only for a specific reason: Check the exact model and release notes before flashing. A BIOS change should not substitute for isolating the modules and sockets.
A weak or unstable power supply, CMOS corruption, motherboard damage, or a failing CPU-integrated memory controller can also prevent reliable startup. If the board produces no POST behavior even with a known-good single DIMM, broaden the diagnosis beyond dual-channel memory. The red power-fan RPM reading mentioned in the historical report—about 1,260 RPM—is not by itself evidence of a failed PSU; it may reflect a monitored fan header or warning threshold and is separate from the memory diagnosis.
What BIOS 1009.007 tells you—and what it does not
The forum discussion calls 1009.007 a beta BIOS. ASUS’s official archive lists BIOS 1009 as a final release dated December 29, 2004, with notes covering new CPU support, a boot-sequence fix, and a Matrox VGA aperture-size fix. The archive also lists later A8V Deluxe releases, including 1017 and beta 1018 builds. Therefore, “newest BIOS 1009.007” describes the historical context of that discussion, not the latest firmware listed by ASUS today. Consult the official A8V Deluxe BIOS archive.
The available case evidence does not establish that 1009.007 causes dual-channel failure. In the reported system, a DIMM produced extensive memory-test errors, making defective or marginal RAM the stronger explanation. For another PC, verify the exact motherboard, record its current BIOS, clear CMOS, and test memory at defaults before considering a flash. Flash only when a specific compatibility or stability reason supports it and you have a safe recovery plan; later firmware is not automatically the right choice for every working legacy system.
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| Observed result | Next step |
|---|---|
| Errors follow one DIMM across sockets | Stop relying on that module; replace or seek service for the DIMM or kit. |
| Errors or failure stay with one socket/channel | Inspect the motherboard socket and CPU seating; the board or CPU memory path may be at fault. |
| Both DIMMs pass alone, but the pair fails | Recheck A1+B1, matching characteristics, defaults, and supported voltage; then investigate the channel and CPU path. |
| Pair boots, but reports single-channel | Verify the printed A1/B1 labels and the POST/BIOS channel indication. |
| No POST remains with one known-good DIMM | Investigate broader startup causes such as CPU seating, graphics, power, CMOS, or motherboard condition. |
If testing confirms bad RAM and replacement is necessary, look for supported 184-pin DDR/PC3200 unbuffered modules with matching specifications and a return policy. Check the manual’s density and chip-count restrictions rather than relying on the PC3200 label alone. No current compatible kit price is established here, so compare the cost and condition of used parts before investing in a scarce Socket 939 system.
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