Need help with RAM

[Andy in NJ]

Ok, here's my situation. I have an M7VIG Pro motherboard. The book
specifically states "Supports 2 DDR 200/266 MHz (without ECC) devices,
maximum memory size up to 2GB. Both slots can obviously support 1GB modules
each.

I purchased (2) 1GB memory modules. They are labeled as "1GB DDR333 Module
16C". When I insert one of them, and turn on the computer, I get a long beep
(a few seconds), silence, then beep-silence, over and over again until I
turn off the computer. If I put the other one in, the computer seems to boot
up ok, but it's unstable. I can be using the computer when all of a sudden
it just reboots on it's own. If I put both modules in, I get a ton of
registry errors as it boots and the system loads, leading me to having to
shut it down. I've contacted the place I bought them from and they have
offered to replace the modules, but they insist that all memory is tested
prior to shipping so it is unlikely that they are defective.

The only possible cause to this whole thing is my system bus speed. It is
supposed to be capable of running at 133MHz, but when I remove the jumper
that the motherboard says I need to remove, the system won't even boot. With
the jumper on the pins, the system boots, but the bus speed is 100MHz.

Is it possible the bus speed is causing the problem with the DDR memory and
does anyone know what I can do to fix this?

 

[Bob Day]

Ok, here's my situation. I have an M7VIG Pro motherboard. The book
specifically states "Supports 2 DDR 200/266 MHz (without ECC) devices,
maximum memory size up to 2GB. Both slots can obviously support 1GB modules
each.

I purchased (2) 1GB memory modules. They are labeled as "1GB DDR333 Module
16C". When I insert one of them, and turn on the computer, I get a long beep
(a few seconds), silence, then beep-silence, over and over again until I
turn off the computer. If I put the other one in, the computer seems to boot
up ok, but it's unstable. I can be using the computer when all of a sudden
it just reboots on it's own. If I put both modules in, I get a ton of
registry errors as it boots and the system loads, leading me to having to
shut it down. I've contacted the place I bought them from and they have
offered to replace the modules, but they insist that all memory is tested
prior to shipping so it is unlikely that they are defective.

The only possible cause to this whole thing is my system bus speed. It is
supposed to be capable of running at 133MHz, but when I remove the jumper
that the motherboard says I need to remove, the system won't even boot. With
the jumper on the pins, the system boots, but the bus speed is 100MHz.

Is it possible the bus speed is causing the problem with the DDR memory and
does anyone know what I can do to fix this?

Test the modules yourself. Download Memtest86+ from
http://www.memtest.org and run it. My guess it you'll start
getting memory errors right away. If that turns out to be the
case, buy name brand memory such as Crucial, Kingston, or
Corsair. You might use Crucial's memory configurer at
http://www.crucial.com to see exactly what modules your
computer needs.

-- Bob Day
http://bobday.vze.com

 

[Andy in NJ]

Test the modules yourself. Download Memtest86+ from
http://www.memtest.org and run it. My guess it you'll start
getting memory errors right away. If that turns out to be the
case, buy name brand memory such as Crucial, Kingston, or
Corsair. You might use Crucial's memory configurer at
http://www.crucial.com to see exactly what modules your
computer needs.

-- Bob Day
http://bobday.vze.com

How can I test the apparently bad module if I can't get the computer to
start with that module in the slot?!

As far as seeing "exactly what modules" my computer needs, re-read my
original post. It clearly states what modules my motherboard supports.

 

[Bob Day]

How can I test the apparently bad module if I can't get the computer to
start with that module in the slot?!

By putting Memtest86+ on a bootable CDROM or floppy as explained
at http://www.memtest.org

As far as seeing "exactly what modules" my computer needs, re-read my
original post. It clearly states what modules my motherboard supports.

Your post didn't specify chip density, single or double sided, tRAS,
tRP, tRCD, or CL, all of which can make a difference.

-- Bob Day
http://bobday.vze.com

 

[Andy in NJ]

By putting Memtest86+ on a bootable CDROM or floppy as explained
at http://www.memtest.org

How is the CDROM or Floppy going to run if the system doesn't BOOT?

Your post didn't specify chip density, single or double sided, tRAS,
tRP, tRCD, or CL, all of which can make a difference.

It supports up to (2) DDR 1GB 2100 memory modules. How many variations are
there?!

 

[Chris Stolworthy]

How is the CDROM or Floppy going to run if the system doesn't BOOT?


It supports up to (2) DDR 1GB 2100 memory modules. How many variations are
there?!

Ummm thousands, you can have different chip densities. (i.E. how many chips
per stick) Cas latency ratings which can be aywhere from 2, 2.5, to 3. Just
with those two variables in place I would say there are atleast 1000
different variations to a stick of RAM. Not to mention when you factor in
tRP,tRCD values. Also this may seem simple, but problems usually are the
simple stuff did you get ECC ram by accident when your Mobo doesn't support
it?

-Chris

 

[Paul Murphy]

Ok, here's my situation. I have an M7VIG Pro motherboard. The book
specifically states "Supports 2 DDR 200/266 MHz (without ECC) devices,
maximum memory size up to 2GB. Both slots can obviously support 1GB modules
each.

I purchased (2) 1GB memory modules. They are labeled as "1GB DDR333 Module
16C". When I insert one of them, and turn on the computer, I get a long beep
(a few seconds), silence, then beep-silence, over and over again until I
turn off the computer. If I put the other one in, the computer seems to boot
up ok, but it's unstable. I can be using the computer when all of a sudden
it just reboots on it's own. If I put both modules in, I get a ton of
registry errors as it boots and the system loads, leading me to having to
shut it down. I've contacted the place I bought them from and they have
offered to replace the modules, but they insist that all memory is tested
prior to shipping so it is unlikely that they are defective.

The only possible cause to this whole thing is my system bus speed. It is
supposed to be capable of running at 133MHz, but when I remove the jumper
that the motherboard says I need to remove, the system won't even boot. With
the jumper on the pins, the system boots, but the bus speed is 100MHz.

Is it possible the bus speed is causing the problem with the DDR memory and
does anyone know what I can do to fix this?

Possibly the DDR 333 memory may be having troubles with the 100 MHz system
bus (memory isn't always completely backwards compatible, especially when at
more than one "step" back). As you quite rightly point out to the other
poster trying to assist, you won't be able to run any memory diagnostics on
this machine until you can at least get it to POST and boot first. Some CPUs
don't like a 133 MHz bus speed - is the CPU designed to run at this bus
speed - if not, thats why it wont boot at this speed. The 16C on the label
would indicate the memory is indeed non-ECC (ecc memory has a couple of
extra bits for parity), so the other thing which may have something to do
with it is whether the memory is registered - perhaps the mobo doesn't like
whatever type you have in that regard. For example the Tyan Motherboard I
use on one of my machines will only accept registered memory, in terms of
whether its ECC or non-ECC, that doesn't matter as it will accept both types
in this regard. Does the memory supplier have any DDR 266 (PC2100) non
registered, non-ECC modules you could use instead - I doubt the supplied
modules are defective (although it does happen), more likely just
incompatible with this setup.

Paul

 

[kony]

Ok, here's my situation. I have an M7VIG Pro motherboard. The book
specifically states "Supports 2 DDR 200/266 MHz (without ECC) devices,
maximum memory size up to 2GB. Both slots can obviously support 1GB modules
each.

I purchased (2) 1GB memory modules. They are labeled as "1GB DDR333 Module
16C". When I insert one of them, and turn on the computer, I get a long beep
(a few seconds), silence, then beep-silence, over and over again until I
turn off the computer. If I put the other one in, the computer seems to boot
up ok, but it's unstable. I can be using the computer when all of a sudden
it just reboots on it's own. If I put both modules in, I get a ton of
registry errors as it boots and the system loads, leading me to having to
shut it down. I've contacted the place I bought them from and they have
offered to replace the modules, but they insist that all memory is tested
prior to shipping so it is unlikely that they are defective.

The only possible cause to this whole thing is my system bus speed. It is
supposed to be capable of running at 133MHz, but when I remove the jumper
that the motherboard says I need to remove, the system won't even boot. With
the jumper on the pins, the system boots, but the bus speed is 100MHz.

Is it possible the bus speed is causing the problem with the DDR memory and
does anyone know what I can do to fix this?

Your board is a low-end make using Via KM266 chipset, integrated
video.

That the slots "could" in theory support 2 x 1GB modules may not
matter, it is fairly common for that era of cheap board to not be
able to run a pair of 1GB modules. frankly I'm at a loss as to
why you'd want to anyway, it is a mismatch to spend so much on
memory with a board having slower memory bus to begin with, let
alone considering the integrated video.

As for those memory modules, who knows? Lots of slimeball
dealers will claim "we always test, you have to pay restocking
fee"... I"ve even received PC1600 modules that a disreputable
dealer SWEARS are PC2100 due to a fake inkjet printed label they
stuck on, even when the chips themselves aren't spec'd for
correct speed.

Return the memory and buy from someplace guaranteeing
compatibility, like Crucial.com. You might still find your board
to be a poor candidate and might consider replacing it.