A7N8X-X weird memory problems

[Tomaatje]

Hi,

Currently I'm putting together a PC based on a A7N8X-X, AMD 1800+,
Asus GeForce 3, 1x30 GB, CD-writer, Soundblaster 1024, good 300W Power
supply. First thing I did was upgrade to the latest BIOS, version
1007.

The problem is that most of the times when powering the PC on the
display stays in standby mode and I hear one long (1 sec.) beep, few
seconds pause, then the beep again.
I have to reset the BIOS to defaults (at least it seems to be
neccesary; removing battery etc., several times in a row sometimes) to
get it to boot again. Haven't even been able to install Windows XP yet
as it gave a blue screen at the point where you have to select
currency settings etc.

I suspect the RAM because of the following. Under Advanced Chipset
Features you can choose 'by SPD' or 'Auto' for 'Memory frequency'.
Regardless of wich one I choose, whenever I set it or just press
[Enter] after selecting one, the values below that field seem to do a
kind or roulette; the numbers flicker for a short time and then end up
at certain values. After pressing [Enter] again the numbers can be
quite different.
For example after several tries I've seen these combinations:

Resulting frequency: 100 100 200
SDRAM Active precharge delay: 4 8 8
SDRAM RAS to CAS delay: 2 3 3
SDRAM RAS Precharge delay: 2 2 3
SDRAM CAS latency: 3T 3T 2T

The memory is in fact 2 x Kingston 256 MB, PC3200 CL3, ValueRAM, type
KVR400X64C3/256 so the resulting frequency should be 333 MHz anyway,
right?

Is this memory unsuitable for this board or do I have to look at
something else for the cause of the problem??

Tomaatje
(Verwijder 'ZPAM' uit m'n e-mailadres voor reacties per e-mail)

 

[Ed]

Hi,

Currently I'm putting together a PC based on a A7N8X-X, AMD 1800+,
Asus GeForce 3, 1x30 GB, CD-writer, Soundblaster 1024, good 300W Power
supply. First thing I did was upgrade to the latest BIOS, version
1007.

The problem is that most of the times when powering the PC on the
display stays in standby mode and I hear one long (1 sec.) beep, few
seconds pause, then the beep again.
I have to reset the BIOS to defaults (at least it seems to be
neccesary; removing battery etc., several times in a row sometimes) to
get it to boot again. Haven't even been able to install Windows XP yet
as it gave a blue screen at the point where you have to select
currency settings etc.

I suspect the RAM because of the following. Under Advanced Chipset
Features you can choose 'by SPD' or 'Auto' for 'Memory frequency'.
Regardless of wich one I choose, whenever I set it or just press
[Enter] after selecting one, the values below that field seem to do a
kind or roulette; the numbers flicker for a short time and then end up
at certain values. After pressing [Enter] again the numbers can be
quite different.
For example after several tries I've seen these combinations:

Resulting frequency: 100 100 200
SDRAM Active precharge delay: 4 8 8
SDRAM RAS to CAS delay: 2 3 3
SDRAM RAS Precharge delay: 2 2 3
SDRAM CAS latency: 3T 3T 2T

The memory is in fact 2 x Kingston 256 MB, PC3200 CL3, ValueRAM, type
KVR400X64C3/256 so the resulting frequency should be 333 MHz anyway,
right?

Is this memory unsuitable for this board or do I have to look at
something else for the cause of the problem??

Tomaatje
(Verwijder 'ZPAM' uit m'n e-mailadres voor reacties per e-mail)

From what I could find (doing an ultra quick search), seems that ram
(KVR400x64C3/xxx) is rated "3.0-4-4-8" @ 2.6V.

I would try setting the Memory Timings to User Defined in the BIOS and
enter the timings manually as 8,4,4,3.

Ed

 

[Nero]

PC3200 ram is 200x2=400(DDR)
PC2700 is 166x2=333(DDR)
this board shows the frequency as 200 when you use pc3200
and 166 when you use pc2700.
at boot if you have ram in slot1 and 3(same amount,same speed)then it shows
on screen as 166 for pc2700(333)
and 200 for pc3200(400)
it never shows it as DDR.

 

[mrgreg]

Hi,

Currently I'm putting together a PC based on a A7N8X-X, AMD 1800+,
Asus GeForce 3, 1x30 GB, CD-writer, Soundblaster 1024, good 300W Power
supply. First thing I did was upgrade to the latest BIOS, version
1007.

The problem is that most of the times when powering the PC on the
display stays in standby mode and I hear one long (1 sec.) beep, few
seconds pause, then the beep again.
I have to reset the BIOS to defaults (at least it seems to be
neccesary; removing battery etc., several times in a row sometimes) to
get it to boot again. Haven't even been able to install Windows XP yet
as it gave a blue screen at the point where you have to select
currency settings etc.

I suspect the RAM because of the following. Under Advanced Chipset
Features you can choose 'by SPD' or 'Auto' for 'Memory frequency'.
Regardless of wich one I choose, whenever I set it or just press
[Enter] after selecting one, the values below that field seem to do a
kind or roulette; the numbers flicker for a short time and then end up
at certain values. After pressing [Enter] again the numbers can be
quite different.
For example after several tries I've seen these combinations:

Resulting frequency: 100 100 200
SDRAM Active precharge delay: 4 8 8
SDRAM RAS to CAS delay: 2 3 3
SDRAM RAS Precharge delay: 2 2 3
SDRAM CAS latency: 3T 3T 2T

The memory is in fact 2 x Kingston 256 MB, PC3200 CL3, ValueRAM, type
KVR400X64C3/256 so the resulting frequency should be 333 MHz anyway,
right?

Is this memory unsuitable for this board or do I have to look at
something else for the cause of the problem??

Tomaatje
(Verwijder 'ZPAM' uit m'n e-mailadres voor reacties per e-mail)

Under advanced features > System performance set to user defined
Then set memory frequency to 100% do not use Auto or SPD this will set your
memory to 200 and your processor runs at 133 so you will be running the ram
out of sync. which has no benefit.
Give that a try and you should be good to go.