AX6BC doesn't recognize 256MB RAM

[faehntim]

Just received 256 MB of Kingston PC133 DIMM CL3 SDRAM (Infineon, I think) in one module. It is installed into DIMM 1. The Aopen AX6BC thinks that I still have 128MB. I have done the BIOS update to 2.55 (which is the latest), but no luck. I tried disbling the quick POST, but it still thought I had 128. The package and the sticker on the RAM say 256MB. What do I do next?

Thanks for your help!
-Tim

 

[Kingofcomputer]

early stepping BX chipset only supports up to 64Mbit unbuffer sdram chip,
your 256MB DIMM is made up of 16 128Mbit chips.
check if your mb has the early stepping BX chipset.

 

[faehntim]

From the manual:

The driving capability of new generation chipset
is limited due to the lack of a memory buffer (to
improve performance). This makes DRAM chip count
an important factor to take into consideration when
you install DIMMs. Unfortunately, there is no way that
the BIOS can identify the correct chip count, you
need to calculate the chip count by yourself. The
simple rule is: by visual inspection, use only DIMMS
which are less than 16 chips..

Visually inspecting the module, I see eight chips on one side of the module. Is this out-of-date information? Are memory modules now condensed? How did you know that this memory had 16 chips?

Thanks for your help.
-Tim

 

[Kingofcomputer]

so your 256MB DIMM has 8 chips on one side only, it's single side 256MB DIMM, each chip is 256Mbit - very high density (don't mix this high density with those cheapy 32x4/64x4 so-called high density memory - they're not high density), this is the most up-to-date stuff, and not so common, more expensive than 16 chips 128Mbit 256MB DIMM.
BX chipset supports 16/64/128Mbit ram only,
815 adds 256Mbit support.
http://developer.intel.com/design/chipsets/linecard_pdf.htm
http://developer.intel.com/design/chipsets/linecard/mainstream.htm

 

[faehntim]

The thing is, though, that the 128 MB Ram module I had in there before has 16 chips and it worked fine. I don't know what that's about.

So basically, if I want this 256MB module to work for its full amount, I have to get a different motherboard? I wish they would post the specs of the RAM when I'm shopping for it...thtbhbthbt. I guess I'll have to send it back, unless it works in my roommates computer, but he has a BX chipset as well, so it probably won't.

thanks for your help,
Tim

 

[Kingofcomputer]

>>>The thing is, though, that the 128 MB Ram module I had in there before has 16 chips and it worked fine. I don't know what that's about.

for 128MB using 16 chips, each chip is 64Mbit, any stepping BX chipset supports it.

>>>So basically, if I want this 256MB module to work for its full amount, I have to get a different motherboard?

yes, you need 815 or via 694, KT133 chipset mb.

>>>I wish they would post the specs of the RAM when I'm shopping for it...thtbhbthbt.

yes, they do.
for example,
http://www.infineon.com/cgi/ecrm.dll/ecrm/scripts/prod_cat.jsp?oid=-8004