"Ken Zito" said:
Also I had DRAM CAS in Bios set to FAST. I just set to slow and same thing
happens.
KZ
When a board has no adjustments, the options are:
1) Try what adjustments that are offered. You've done that.
2) Wait for a BIOS version that works. That is a pretty slow
and ineffective solution to the problem, as you don't know
what the release schedule is, or if the problem is known.
3) Change out some component to change the problem. You didn't say
if you were using PC3200 or not. Try a slower stick of memory,
as that is the only way you have of getting a different program
content in the SPD (serial presence detect) EEPROM on the DIMM.
4) Return the motherboard under warranty.
The -VM or -MX boards are typically used by businesses, for mass
deployments where they are trying to cut costs. The person
installing the large number of identical motherboards, experiments
with components at first, to determine what combinations don't work.
They do this for the potential cost saving. For example, multiple
system builders have commented on how little trouble they've had
using P4P800-VM boards, so the -VM boards can be tamed if you are
lucky with your experiments.
For a person who is building just one computer, the temptation to
save money is also there. But the thing is, every subsystem on
the motherboard has some degree of incompatibility. You can either
spend your money on a motherboard with adjustments, or buy a
board without adjustments, and spend your money buying multiple
versions of peripherals or memory, and testing them until you find
some that work.
As a result, if a home builder asks for a recommendation, I'd say
"buy a P4P800 or P4C800 full size board", as there are adjustable
memory timings, and adjustable supply voltages for the components.
The motherboard costs more, but there is a much greater chance the
final product will work properly. If a system builder asks, I'd
say "buy the P4P800-VM", knowing the system builder can amortize
the cost of the component experiments over the large number of
units being deployed.
I put together a system before Christmas for somebody as a gift,
and the system would only run at CAS 2.5, even though I put CAS 2
memory in it. There was nothing I could do about it, as the BIOS
was the un-adjustable kind. You just have to play with them, until
you find something that works (good enough).
This is why, before you buy, it pays to Google the model number,
to see if people are experiencing problems. Also, download the
user manual, to see how many adjustments are in the BIOS. For
the most part, if you do those checks before purchase, there
will be fewer surprises during your build. (There can still
be nasty surprises, but fewer of them.)
It is too bad that all the microATX style boards seem to be
the "unadjustable BIOS" kind. It makes constructing a smaller
home computer that much more difficult.
Use the memtest+ program to test the memory, as my suggestion
is just a theory, and you need to prove that the memory is
the problem, before swapping memories. It could easily be
you have another kind of problem. The memtest+ program is
free.
HTH,
Paul
