Abit KT7a Bios Upgrade -- now I can't raise memory speed?!

[dietrologia]

Hi all,

I could use your expertise. I flashed my Abit KT7a BIOS to version 3C in an effort to address the 686b/SB Live bug, but now I'm unable to set my memory settings to HCLK+PCI_CLK -- the system stops after memory check and won't post. My prior BIOS version allowed me do this fine, but of course I had the SB LIve problem, so I flashed to 3C.

I have a Duron 750 set at stock settings (100/33) and have newly purchased 256meg Crucial PC-133 cas-2 ram. All other settings are very conservative, but I can only set memory at HCLK which is a meager 100mghz. I can set for cas-2, 4 way interleave and turbo settings, but like I said, even if everything is set at default, I just can't get 133mhz. Tried bumping up the vcore--no go. I/O voltage bump--no go.

What gives? Is this a common type of problem when trying a new BIOS--little things like these problems happen? Is the solution flashing back to an older BIOS?

Any advice is very much appreciated. Running Windows 98se if that matters and I haven't installed my SB Live card yet.

Thanks!

 

[DieHardware]

Did you clear the cmos jumper after you flashed the new bios?

 

[dietrologia]

Yes, I cleared the CMOS.

What's really strange is that I can set BIOS for a 130/32 mhz setting with a 7 multiplier and can have the memory at it's most aggressive settings. It's just that the memory doesn't like to approach the 133mhz mark after I've done this BIOS flash. I'm just wondering if it's some setting that I've missed, or if other people have had this problem.

I'll be fine with a 130 fsb, as I have my 750 Duron overclocked to 910 (1.7v) with it. It's just bizarre that at a 100fsb/33pci setting, I can't get my system to post with memory set to HCLCK+PCI_CLK.

 

[DieHardware]

Is the board stable at 133/33? I've got my D650 runnin' at 840MHz(140x6) at 1.6v using the ww bios and Infineon ram.

 

[dietrologia]

No, I can't run the memory higher than 130mhz for some reason. It's definately a memory issue. I'm going to try an earlier BIOS, I guess. I just don't want to run into the damn SB Live problem again, which was why I wanted to upgrade the BIOS in the first place. Maybe I'll just stick with my 130/33 settings for now unless someone knows what I'm doing wrong.