Asus CUBX Detects Only 64MB Of 256MB Installed Syst Memory On Cold Boots

[JohnnyGHz]

I just finished putting together a system for a friend using the CuBX
motherboard.

I have a PIII 650 FCPGA with 2 PC 133 Mushkin 128MB Dimms overclocked to
866 MHz (Running the PIII 6.5 Multipier at 133 FSB speed/33 PCI Bus speed)
with a Geforce-2 GTS 64MB DDR video card.

I have latest BIOS installed downloaded from the ASUS (1006)

As long as I change the RAM voltage jumper on the motherboard to the
higher RAM voltage position, I can run the system overclocked at CAS-2 no
problem.

Problem 1:
System only detects 64MB of RAM when booting cold. If I then perform a
warm boot (Choose Restart from the shutdown menu). The system detects all
256M of system memory and runs rock solid. Note - During Post, the system
memory test stops at 64MB when there is 256MB of system memory installed.
This only occurs when the CPU is overclocked.

Related Problem:
If I disable the "Self Test On Boot Up' option in the BIOS. The system
continuously cycles through the memory test over and over during post and
does not move to the next step in the boot process. This occurs even when
the system is not overclocked.

This Related Problem Could Help To Point ASUS to a BIOS update which fixes the problem

Problem 2:
BIOS CPU Temperature monitor incorrectly overstates CPU temperature. This
hardware monitor has to be disabled because the over-heat alarm sounds.
When I run the latest ASUS Prob hardware monitor software utility, It
shows a much lower CPU Temperature which is well within spec.

I have also found forum reports of this board not being able run properly with all 4 dim slots filled up.

I think I'm going to go for the Soyo 6BA+100. I can't return this board so I'm out the money I paid for it.
I certainly can't give a computer to my friend that you have to restart after every cold boot.

Does anyone have a solution ?

Thanks guys

John M. Annis II
Boeing
Reusable Space Systems
Cost Modeling & Simulation
(562) 797-1433
TextRelated Problem:

 

[Gunner]

How big is your power supply. With what you're running should be at least 300 watts. Check to be sure the dimm modules are fully seated.
Had a similar problem with the ASUS P2B-F, in that the memory check came up with only 64 megs occasionally. When I reseated the dimms the problem cleared up. And remember, somme CPU modules just plain won't over-clock. Good luck though!!

 

[Yoshi]

Man, you just don't setup systems (or promise) like that for other people. I have nothing aginst overclocking you own system, but not one for someone else. I don't care how well you know the person!

You should have built the system and set everything up at stock bus speeds and voltages then sold it to your friend. Let him/her do the overclocking at their own risk. This keeps them from constantly calling you with issues that may or may not be caused by the overclocking and it allows that person to better understand the issues that are related to overclocking. If they do it they see what issues crop up after increasing the speed.

Finally, why CUBX. Should have gotten a CUSL2 to avoid potential problems with AGP bus speed at 133Mhz FSB. The CUSL2 costs more but if you can afford a 64Mb GTS the extra cost of the CUSL2 should not be an issue.

 

[AndyHui]

Disabling Quick Power On Self Test cycles through the memory 5 times.....it is not endless.

 

[JohnnyGHz]

Yoshi:

My friend understands the risks. The worse thing that can happen is we buy a new mother board for $150.

I later fault isolated the problem to be a defective Dimm Slot. I have replaced the board and It's working fine now. I'm running it at 910 Mhz(140 Mhz/135MHz PCI) with a GlobalWIN FKP32 CPU Cooler.

This means that the AGP Bus is running at 2/3 x 140 = 933&1/3 MHz Which is well withing the capability of the AGP GeForce 2 Video Card.

This system runs cool, and is rock solid. The object was to get the fastest all-around system for the money, but at the same time, install an ATA-100 hard drive and PC133 memory that can all be used when upgrading to the next generation boards.

 

[Painman]

I don't have a fix for you but I can tell you that I had the same problem; I ran a CUBX for a while. I tried moving the memory around, using 1 stick instead of 2, but ran into the same problem. If you can live with the issue, the board does seem to be 100% stable and detect all the RAM after a warm boot. I knew I was running the BX chip way over spec, so I wasn't actually surprised to see strange behavior crop up, even though there are many BX boards that take the punishment better.

-Pain