BX chipset memory problem -- BX experts please look at this

[birddog]

I have a question for all you BX board experts. I picked up a Abit BH6 a little while back to build a inexpensive celeron system on -- Celeron 366 @ 464. (I have built over a dozen systems with VIA chipsets - this is only my 2nd BX board). I just picked up 3 sticks of pc100 32 mb RAM. This BX board only reads each stick as 16 mb. When I put them in my abit VT6X4 (via 133a), they read perfectly fine as 32mb each. (NOTE: even when not overclocked, it still has this problem). I have tried all 3 at once, & one and two sticks at a time. I have mixed & matched with other memory of mine also.

Can anybody explain to me why this BX board only reads these sticks as half as what they actually are? Also, is there anyway to correct this? I have E-mailed Abit's technical support & asked them if there is a BIOS flash or something that will correct this problem & I am awaiting a response from them.

 

[birddog]

anyone?

 

[compuwiz1]

BH6 is notorious for being picky about the ram that is put in it. Try putting some same brand Micron or other high quality ram in. Also check one stick at a time to see which, if any work with the board.

 

[Supradude]

check your ram in the OS with sisoft sandra or a similar method, if your getting full potential while working... you can just leave if it doesn't bother you like crazy, if so, do as compuwiz1 said and try some oher DIMMS...

 

[birddog]

it has no problem with my micron pc133 & some generic pc100 I have. I have checked in SiSoft Sandra & it reads only half of the memory also. I have tried sticks individually & it still only reads half of it. I'm using win 98se & it also shows only half of the memory. I'm just curious if this is a limitation of BX boards (using memory with chips on both sides of the stick) since all my VIA boards have no problem with this memory. I have also seen threads in here in the past with people having BX boards having troubles with 256mb sticks showing up as 128mb. I can do some RAM swaping to get some other RAM in here that works, It's just bothering me why this board does not like this stuff. (I had it running CAS 2 @ 115 mhz with no problem on a VT6X4).

 

[compuwiz1]

It's a problem specific to that particular motherboard.

Apparently you don't believe I know what I'm talking about, so seek other opinions, but they are going to be the same.

 

[birddog]

I think I have to agree with you compuwiz1, If this was a design problem with BX boards or Abit BH6 boards, Others propably would have stated their experiences to this. It must be that I have a board that is pickey about what RAM it has in it.

Thanks for your input

'birddog'

 

[compuwiz1]

Yep, it's a quality issue with "some" BH6 boards. Good luck.

 

[TimeKeeper]

Just curious, would you happen to pick up those so-called Value RAM that only competible w/ VIA chip set?

Some members report they bought these generic PC100/PC133 RAM from pricewatch.com and when they try those on BX board, they only show half of the capacity.

 

[birddog]

I picked up the RAM used, so I have no idea about where it origionall was bought from. I have build many computers for friends & relatives using predominately VIA boards. I should be able to swap some memory with some of them.

 

[Peter]

BX is showing its age here. There are piles of SDRAM chips in the market now that are too highly integrated for the BX's SDRAM controller. Yes, it might even happen on 32-MByte DIMMs.

What's going on? BX cannot handle SDRAM chips larger than (2 internal banks 13 rows by 10 columns) or 4x12x10. Anything larger will only show half or quarter size, or be rejected at all by a thoroughly written BIOS that inspects SPD data for compatibility, not only timing.

VIA's 694X can handle much larger SDRAM chip densities.

There are 11-column chips in the market now, as well as 4x13 ones. Of course, the higher integration makes the DIMMs cheaper, so it's very often the "Value" RAM that won't run on BX boards.

Regards, Peter

 

[birddog]

Thanks Peter. I'm swapping the ram with a few VIA boards I've but together for some friends of mine. Two of them are happily running 115mhz CAS 2 on a Tyan Trinity 400.