Asus A7m266 and two sticks of ram

[mgculver]

Has anyone else encountered a video problem when installing two sticks of PC 2100 DDR Ram into the A7m266 MB?

Current configuration of my computer is:

1.2 AMD
256 MB RAM
Raid 0 (Abit Hot rod 100)
Creative GEForce GTS
Creative SB LIve 5.1
D-Link Network card
Windows XP

Whenever I try to add an additional 256 MB stick, the video either hangs (Hard locks), or the program simply drops out. This occurs under both Windows 2K and XP. I have jacked up the voltage to VIO as suggested by Asus; disabled AGP 4X, fast writes, and Side band addressing; swapped video cards; Thought it may be grungy RAM. Installed new set of sticks. Same thing still occurs.

One step short of throwing the MB in the trash.

Thanks,

MC

 

[Buz2b]

Sounds like possible a bad slot. Have you tried putting your one known good (original) stick of RAM in the second slot and trying to boot? That should narrow it down a bit. If it boots, then put the new stick in the first/original slot and try it. You might also want to go into the BIOS and make sure all your memory settings are at normal/conservative levels. You can always inch them back up gradually once the system is working. Also, set the vio back to normal levels.
If moving the good/known ram to the other slot causes the lock ups then you'll know it is the slot on the board that is defective. The problem with the video may just be a symptom of the trouble.
Of course you could always try just using one 512 mb stick in the good slot.

 

[mgculver]

 

[mgculver]

Yes. It boots fine from the second slot. I wound up jumpering VIO across 2-3 and finally got it to work (more or less). There still seems to be a video conflict, and an apparent conflict with the SB live 5.1de card. Still, the problem seems more associated with not getting enough juice through the board.

May just get a different MB.

A single 512 would work (I think), but the point was that it should be OK with 2 x 256.

Thanks,

mc

 

[Buz2b]

<< jumpering VIO across 2-3 >>


Ahhh, it all comes back! When I set my system up originally, there was a known error in the manual about this. It seems that the manual had things backwards. I seem to remember that I had to do the opposite from what the book said.
As far as the SB Live goes, just move it to a different slot and you should be fine. There should be no conflict. ASUS, and others that used the 761 chipset originally had a problem with the SB Live causing problems but that was worked out long ago and you shouldn't have to worry. Did you check the RAM settings in the BIOS?
The board is indeed a fine one and I hope you get it worked out. I run mine for days and days on end with no problems, instability, etc.