New A7N8X Deluxe: Memory test fails

[JM]

I just bought an Asus A7N8X Deluxe to replace my old K7S5A (big
improvement!). However, twice now I've gotten the "system failed memory
test" message when booting. Everything seems to work okay, so I don't know
what to think exactly. I'm about to run memtest86 on the RAM and see what
happens, but I was wondering if this might be due to a weak power supply.
The first time I got this message was just after connecting my other hard
drive and burner, and I had booted up many times before this, so I wonder if
maybe the extra load is enough to make things just on the edge of flaky.
Right now I'm running the original 300 watt PSU, and I've got a 2100+ with 2
256MB sticks of PC2100, two hard drives and two CD/DVD devices.

Any thoughts?

 

[dino]

I get that message once in awhile too...but ONLY after I have been in the
BIOS..the system boots normally and if you reboot the message is normal
maybe it is just a quirk.

 

[Fiddler]

Go to any Asus forum site and you will see posts about this.
It's something that just happens and if you do not use onboard sound like me
then you will not hear it.
I have in the past heard it but my pc did not have any problems.

 

[Paul]

I just bought an Asus A7N8X Deluxe to replace my old K7S5A (big
improvement!). However, twice now I've gotten the "system failed memory
test" message when booting. Everything seems to work okay, so I don't know
what to think exactly. I'm about to run memtest86 on the RAM and see what
happens, but I was wondering if this might be due to a weak power supply.
The first time I got this message was just after connecting my other hard
drive and burner, and I had booted up many times before this, so I wonder if
maybe the extra load is enough to make things just on the edge of flaky.
Right now I'm running the original 300 watt PSU, and I've got a 2100+ with 2
256MB sticks of PC2100, two hard drives and two CD/DVD devices.

Any thoughts?

The Voice POST chip uses a timer. The idea is, the Voice POST timer starts
to run when the processor attempts a quick memory test. If the timer expires
before the BIOS code has a chance to clear the timer (such as it is supposed
to do right after the memory test code has run), then you'll hear that
message. If the timer is cleared by the BIOS right after the quick memory
test code has run, then you won't hear anything. This method is inherently
unreliable and as a number of people have noted, making changes to the
hardware configuration can result in the timer not being cleared in time.
The timer method is used in case the processor crashes before finishing
the memory test.

Do your test with MEMTEST86 and draw your conclusions about the memory
and memory interface from that test. Then, relax and forget about the
Voice POST.

HTH,
Paul

 

[JM]

The Voice POST chip uses a timer. The idea is, the Voice POST timer starts
to run when the processor attempts a quick memory test. If the timer expires
before the BIOS code has a chance to clear the timer (such as it is supposed
to do right after the memory test code has run), then you'll hear that
message. If the timer is cleared by the BIOS right after the quick memory
test code has run, then you won't hear anything. This method is inherently
unreliable and as a number of people have noted, making changes to the
hardware configuration can result in the timer not being cleared in time.
The timer method is used in case the processor crashes before finishing
the memory test.
Do your test with MEMTEST86 and draw your conclusions about the memory
and memory interface from that test. Then, relax and forget about the
Voice POST.

Cool, thanks for the tips everyone, looks like it's nothing to be worried
about. Memtest86 didn't show any errors after about an hour of running so I
guess the RAM is ok. That brings me to another question though, is there a
way to disable some, but not all of those voice POST messages? And can they
be redirected to the pc speaker instead? That "booting operating system"
message is starting to get on my nerves

 

[dino]

disable the whole thing..that is what I have done.

 

[Fiddler]

You can disable them in the Bios and no, you cannot redirect to the pc
speaker as the "voices" are sent out thru the onboard audio jacks only.
I was using the SoundStorm audio and then left onboard audio enabled,
speakers plugged in to the onboard audio jack but my soundcard as default
for all sound.
The "voices" were still heard even tho the onboard audio was not set as
default.
There is a chip that connects to the onboard audio jack directly.

 

[Fiddler]

POST completed("booting operating system")message is from the POST reporter
and if you disable that then all messages will stop.
You cannot choose what you do or don't hear, it's all or nothing.

 

[drvnguy]

Hey JM ,i am also considering the asus board as well ,i currently have the
k7s5a board with xp 2000+ runnin and 2 pc 2100 ddr ram ....did u notice any
improovements when switching boards ,did u run into problems with your ram
?....thanks

 

[glenng]

The AnN8X has garnered a reputation for being 'memory sensitive'. Which
PC2100 memory are you using?
Asus has listed 'qualified memory' on their specifications page (link
below - see bottom of the pg.) and a significant number of prior posts have
indicated various problems related to some modules not endorsed by Asus...in
case you were not aware. May be a cause for concern.

http://usa.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=A7N8X Deluxe&langs=09

 

[Giovani]

That brings me to another question though, is there a
way to disable some, but not all of those voice POST messages? And can they
be redirected to the pc speaker instead? That "booting operating system"
message is starting to get on my nerves

</snip>

Haven't tried this but are supposed to be able to edit/create new wav files
for warnings with some Asus software (forget name of it atm). Perhaps you
could try creating a wav file with your microphone muted and put that in
place of the default sounds. I think this idea was suggested on this
newsgroup earlier by someone else.

Just a suggestion.

HTH

 

[Giovani]

Name of that program to edit warning wavs is "Winbond Voice Editor".

Knew I would remember it eventually

 

[Cybrow]

I just bought an Asus A7N8X Deluxe to replace my old K7S5A (big
improvement!). However, twice now I've gotten the "system failed memory
test" message when booting. Everything seems to work okay, so I don't know
what to think exactly. I'm about to run memtest86 on the RAM and see what
happens, but I was wondering if this might be due to a weak power supply.
The first time I got this message was just after connecting my other hard
drive and burner, and I had booted up many times before this, so I wonder if
maybe the extra load is enough to make things just on the edge of flaky.
Right now I'm running the original 300 watt PSU, and I've got a 2100+ with 2
256MB sticks of PC2100, two hard drives and two CD/DVD devices.

Any thoughts?

That's a common complaint with this MB but it's not a problem. It
occurs most often during a restart, usually after an install that
requires a reboot. Since your system is working OK I wouldn't worry
about it.

 

[David Keith]

Except on a A7V266 it shows up as text not a verbal message. Guess what? The
message was correct! I ignored it just like most will do. Then I started
getting some crashes to desktop,I tried to install a large program from CD
and it wouldn't make it through.

So...I used two different testers for the memory,a Windows based test first
then mem test which runs off a bootable floppy. One of my 256mb sticks
failed both tests--and this is Corsair not some cheap junk. That stick was
all of about 14 months old.

Before you poo-poo the message I'd do a memory test,you might be
surprised...I was.

David