Award Bios beep code?

[RakeKiller]

I posted this at alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt and got this response...
"Looks pretty convincing evidence that it doesnt like those two sticks at
once for some reason."
hopefully someone here has a bit more input...

Just installed an ECS nforce3-a board. 2x512 micron pc3200 ram i get
beeeeeep, pause, beeeeeep pause, etc.
Took out one stick...boots fine
switched sticks, boots fine
both sticks in but switch slot positions, same error.
It seems the award bios is proprietary ...
http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml#phoenix

Can anyone tell me what the issue may be that beep structure?

Award BIOS Type Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Award BIOS Message Nforce3-A Ver 1.0F 09/16/2005

CPU Type AMD Athlon 64, 1800 MHz (9 x 200) 2800+
CPU Alias Newcastle S754
CPU Stepping DH-CG
Instruction Set x86, x86-64, MMX, 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2
Min / Max CPU Multiplier 4x / 9x
L1 Code Cache 64 KB (Parity)
L1 Data Cache 64 KB (ECC)
L2 Cache 512 KB (On-Die, ECC, Full-Speed)

Memory Module Properties
Serial Number None
Module Size 512 MB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 133 MHz 2.0-2-2-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Memory Module Features
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

600 watt PS
9800 Pro 128MB

 

[Vanguard]

I posted this at alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt and got this response...
"Looks pretty convincing evidence that it doesnt like those two sticks
at once for some reason."
hopefully someone here has a bit more input...

Just installed an ECS nforce3-a board. 2x512 micron pc3200 ram i get
beeeeeep, pause, beeeeeep pause, etc.
Took out one stick...boots fine
switched sticks, boots fine
both sticks in but switch slot positions, same error.
It seems the award bios is proprietary ...
http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml#phoenix

Can anyone tell me what the issue may be that beep structure?

Award BIOS Type Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Award BIOS Message Nforce3-A Ver 1.0F 09/16/2005
http://bioscentral.com/

Memory Timings
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 133 MHz 2.0-2-2-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

If you are setting the memory timings in BIOS, try switching to SPD
(serial presence detect) mode. The memory will tell the BIOS what
timings to use. Some older mobos also use the stick in the first slot
to set the timing under the assumption the other slots have similar
sticks (or speedier ones). If the sticks are mismatched, put the
slowest one in slot 1 so its timings get used (so the faster sticks can
handle those timings). If you put the fastest stick in slot 1, could be
its SPD timings are too fast for the slow stick(s).

Also, I doubt the BIOS reports all those timings. The SPD would report
one set of timings. In the BIOS, and if reported, check voltages.
Could be you are set at, say, 2.6V but the sticks that you bought (which
you didn't identify) require 2.7V.

 

[GT]

I posted this at alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt and got this response...
"Looks pretty convincing evidence that it doesnt like those two sticks at
once for some reason."
hopefully someone here has a bit more input...

Just installed an ECS nforce3-a board. 2x512 micron pc3200 ram i get
beeeeeep, pause, beeeeeep pause, etc.
Took out one stick...boots fine
switched sticks, boots fine
both sticks in but switch slot positions, same error.
It seems the award bios is proprietary ...
http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml#phoenix

Can anyone tell me what the issue may be that beep structure?

I have a similar problem and its my motherboard that;s at fault - I have 3
memory sticks and 3 slots on the motherboard. I can install any 2 of the
sticks in any of the 6 possible orders in the first 2 slots and all is OK,
so the memory is all fine, but I can't install all 3 memory sticks into my
all 3 memory slots at the same time - doesn't work. So perhaps you have a
similar problem? I have no solution to my problem, so only run with 1.5GB
instead of 2GB, which has not been a problem yet, I just have to close and
re-open my Canon software from time to time and edit less than 25 pictures
at a time!

 

[Paul]

I posted this at alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt and got this response...
"Looks pretty convincing evidence that it doesnt like those two sticks at
once for some reason."
hopefully someone here has a bit more input...

Just installed an ECS nforce3-a board. 2x512 micron pc3200 ram i get
beeeeeep, pause, beeeeeep pause, etc.
Took out one stick...boots fine
switched sticks, boots fine
both sticks in but switch slot positions, same error.
It seems the award bios is proprietary ...
http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml#phoenix

Can anyone tell me what the issue may be that beep structure?

Award BIOS Type Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Award BIOS Message Nforce3-A Ver 1.0F 09/16/2005

CPU Type AMD Athlon 64, 1800 MHz (9 x 200) 2800+
CPU Alias Newcastle S754
CPU Stepping DH-CG
Instruction Set x86, x86-64, MMX, 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2
Min / Max CPU Multiplier 4x / 9x
L1 Code Cache 64 KB (Parity)
L1 Data Cache 64 KB (ECC)
L2 Cache 512 KB (On-Die, ECC, Full-Speed)

Memory Module Properties
Serial Number None
Module Size 512 MB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 133 MHz 2.0-2-2-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Memory Module Features
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

600 watt PS
9800 Pro 128MB

Have you tested both slots separately ?
Place one stick in slot 1 and test.
Then move stick to slot 2 and test.
Just to verify that each slot works individuall.

The motherboard has less to do with it, than in other
architectures. Athlon64 has the memory controller on the processor.
The socket 754 has two address busses, but is single channel on the
data bus. Since your motherboard has two slots, ECS could wire it
so one address bus goes to slot 1 and one address bus goes to slot 2.
When means, for control and address, one slot can fail without
upsetting the other.

But the motherboard contribution is just the wires and sockets.
The memory talks to the processor directly, meaning digitally,
the motherboard plays less of a role.

The motherboard will have a regulator to power the DIMM slots. And
it is possible that the two DIMMs are too much load from a power
perspective. (Mentioned for completeness, but highly unlikely to
be the problem.)

The SPD on each DIMM, sits on a common bus. The SMBUS is a serial
bus, and each DIMM slot should be wired to the same bus. If the
motherboard was having trouble reading the SPD, it would take a
dirty pin in the socket, as with SMBUS totally dead, neither slot
would work.

So right now, I don't have a good theory as to what is
wrong. If a single stick in either slot works, then electrically
everything is in good shape. Could be a motherboard Vdimm regulator
problem, but unlikely. Could be a short to the bottom of the motherboard,
only happening when you press on it. You could remove the motherboard
from the case and test everything again, but the odds are slim that
the test results will differ.

The data bus is shared by the two slots, and the processor. But
double the loading on the data bus, is not quite the same kind of
loading as occurs on address/control. So would not be a suspect.
Again, a dirty pin in one socket, would make one socket fail. But
if both sockets test good, then that isn't it.

Is the BIOS up to date ? Maybe it is a BIOS issue ?

Can you dump the SPD for both sticks ? CPUZ has an option to
do that. The info looks like this. Basically CPUZ is getting
this from the SPD chip, via the SMBUS.

Dump Module #1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
00 80 08 07 0D 0A 02 40 00 04 50 65 00 82 08 00 01
10 0E 04 1C 01 02 20 00 60 70 75 75 38 28 38 28 40
20 60 60 40 40 00 00 00 00 00 37 46 20 28 50 00 00
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 8C
40 7F 98 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 4B 00 00 00 00 00 00
50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 63 09 06
60 FF FF 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

On older motherboards, where one address/control bus drove
all slots, you could attribute the problem to bus loading,
and select a lower clock for the RAM. But this board has
the potential to use separate addresses, and changing the
settings really shouldn't be necessary. Only if ECS was
really slimy, and only wired up one address bus, and wired
it to both slots, would you have a loading issue, and a reason
to adjust down the clock. And ECS wouldn't do a thing
like that would they ?

Paul

 

[paulmd]

I posted this at alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt and got this response...
"Looks pretty convincing evidence that it doesnt like those two sticks at
once for some reason."
hopefully someone here has a bit more input...

Just installed an ECS nforce3-a board. 2x512 micron pc3200 ram i get
beeeeeep, pause, beeeeeep pause, etc.
Took out one stick...boots fine
switched sticks, boots fine
both sticks in but switch slot positions, same error.

You also tried the sticks individually in each slot, i presume?


If that's the case, and you don't have a dead slot, you can try a bios
upgrade. Other than that, you're pretty much stuck.

For manuals, drivers, bios, etc.

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Downloads/Category_Download.aspx?
MenuID=6&LanID=9

 

[RakeKiller]

Sorry for the top post...update:
1 stick in DIMM 2 only creates the same error as the initial error( why i
didnt check that initially i dont know).
Slot dead?

 

[paulmd]

Sorry for the top post...update:
1 stick in DIMM 2 only creates the same error as the initial error( why i
didnt check that initially i dont know).
Slot dead?

Maybe, check for dust or lint jammed in it.

I don't suppose you have 3 dimm slots? Then you could use 1 and 3.

 

[Paul]

Sorry for the top post...update:
1 stick in DIMM 2 only creates the same error as the initial error( why i
didnt check that initially i dont know).
Slot dead?

Insert and remove the DIMM several times, in the defective slot.
Sometimes the wiping action may be enough to clean any crud off
it. You might also get a strong light and a magnifying glass and
have a look at the slot.

It could be a defective processor interface (the second address
bus), or a dirty motherboard socket. Or a shorted motherboard
track. Placing the motherboard on an insulated surface (telephone
book with cardboard cover) and testing there, might reveal
whether something was shorting to the back of the motherboard.
My bet is you have a bit of residue from the manufacturing
process, on the contacts in the DIMM slot.

Paul