ram problem with 82440LX

[=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Bj=F8rnar_Lib=E6k?=]

I have a dell optiplex gxa desktop pc with the Intel 82440LX chipset. I
recently purchased two 128MB PC133 CL3 non-ECC SDRAM chips from TwinMOS,
but after installing them, the computer will not start up at all. The
graphich card info is printed to the screen over and over.

The dealer informs that the memory chips cannot be used with BX/TX
chipsets. Is it possible this also includes the 82440LX ? If so,
for what reason does this combination fail?


Bjørnar Libæk

 

[=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Bj=F8rnar_Lib=E6k?=]

.

What are the DIMM part numbers? How many chips are on each DIMM, and on
each side the DIMMs? What are the part numbers on those chips? The 440LX
chipset supports chip densities up to 128Mbits. You will need 128MB DIMMs
with eight 16Mx8(128Mbit) or sixteen 8Mx8(64Mbit) chips--nine or eighteen
chips if ECC.

The DIMM part number:
P/N:MDGM K5E16 H04E2 44A4 FW/T
There are 4 chips on it:
M.Tec, 03184, TTS7616B8E-6

So, I guess this is the problem then, that the chips are too "dense". Does
this mean that the dealer should have informed that the DIMMs cannot be
used with the BX, TX *and LX* chipsets, and that I should claim my money
back

Which BIOS version is currently installed? You may need to update the BIOS.

BIOS-version: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10A09

What's the issue with an old BIOS? Could an update solve my problems?

 

[kony]

I went down to the dealer, and got a Crucial 128MB PC133 (64M x 64) DIMM
[1] as a replacement. However, this time, another problem occures.. The
BIOS recognises the RAM and reports the correct amount, but when booting
Windows 2000, I get a blue screen with error msg:

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA.

I did some searches at google, and seemingly, this message appears when
faulty RAM is inserted. Are there any other possibilities?

I tried increasing the size of the page file from 96 to 192, but this
didn't help..


[1] http://www.crucial.com/store/PartSpecs.asp?imodule=CT16M64S4D75

If you're using multiple modules, you might try switching the slots
they're using.

If you go to Crucial's website you should see a memory selector that
suggests the appropriate memory for your system. I would "guess" you
need something like this:
http://www.crucial.com/store/PartSpecs.asp?imodule=CT16M64S4D8E&cat=RAM

Seeing that page also reminds me that some LX boards were spec'd to
"need" CAS2 (CL=2) memory. If your motherboard bios provides settings
for memory timing you might try manually setting those timings to
slower values (larger numbers). However, assuming the BIOS is set to
use "auto" or "SPD", it is supposed to adjust properly, perhaps it's
just best to also return that memory module and hope for something
better.


Dave