ECS K7S5A v3.1 having problem with DDR, not SDR

[Creig]

My daughter's computer is an ECS K7S5A v3.1 with the latest BIOS, a 1.0GHz Duron Morgan core, 192mb SDR PC133, a GeForce 256, a 2x DVD-Rom, floppy and a Fortron Source 300w PS. I recently picked up a few sticks of 256MB PC2100 to replace the PC133 with and, nada. Nothing. Zilch. Machine won't POST. Tried one stick at a time in both slots, tried both sticks, swapped them. Nothing. So then I tried two sticks from another machine with the same result. Tried memory from a THIRD machine with, again, the same results. Machine refuses to POST. But with the DDR out and the SDR back in it boots instantly. Out of desperation I tried leaving one stick of DDR in and one stick of SDR just to see if the system was even SEEING the DDR. It didn't POST, but at least this told me that the system was aware that there was memory in the DDR slot.

I tried Kingston ValueRam, Samsung TCB0 and a stick of Elixir, all to no avail. I have a pair of Crucial PC2100 I can try in a week or so, but if none of the other sticks would even allow the system to post, I don't hold much hope of them working either.

Am I missing something?

 

[PCHPlayer]

Yes, those boards are notoriously flakey. RMA if you can, or just live with SDRAM.

 

[Peter]

"notoriously flaky" ... BS.

Firstly, you need to clear CMOS when changing RAM types (to make it detect DDR mode as well as return to default timings). Then, it happens surprisingly often that users don't get the DIMMs seated properly.

 

[BigMoe]

I'd second Peters post I have that mobo and a 512 stick of 2100 Kingston Value Ram

 

[DieHardware]

Some boards need the PSU unplugged/powered off when clearing CMOS.
Which BIOS version?
Have you tried flashing to a different one?
What are the memory timings in BIOS set to?(normal, fast, ultra, etc)
What kind of PSU?(could it be at its limits?)

 

[Creig]

Well, all the system specs are in my initial post. I cleared the CMOS multiple times, tried each memory module in each slot multiple times and unplugged the system between each RAM change.

 

[BigMoe]

what fsb/clock speed do you have? examp. 100/100 or 133/133? what bios are you using

 

[Creig]

FSB is 100/100 on SDR. Unable to POST with DDR. BIOS is latest listed on the USA ECS website version 02/10/10 dated 10/28/02. I see that the Taiwan site has version 02/10/29 dated 11/19/2002.

1. Fixed CMOS can't be saved issue and support high speed CPU
2. By TSD requested

Any hope that this BIOS will help?

 

[BigMoe]

well id guess if it does not post with ddr in ram slot closest to cpu, and settigs at 100/100 in the bios it the boardand if you can rma it or if you little girl can live with the sdram. when you bought the ddr did you have store test it. you could try and reflash bios but thats a shot in the dark sorry

 

[anglo]

I'll ask a stupid question or two!

You did take out the SD RAM first, yes?

It's an autosensing MB so the VOLTAGE will change based on the RAM you have in it.

I think that after you've unplugged the power supply, removed the battery, discharged any electricity by pressing the power button, then you can say you've cleared the CMOS.

If you've done that, then I'd flash the BIOS.

After that, I'd check the RAM and then you'll know if your MB has bad DDR slots.

I have two of these MBs and hav eonly used DDR RAM (Crucial and K-byte).

Good luck

 

[Creig]

I've tested the DDR ram by itself in all tests but one. The one time I tried DDR and SDR was just to see if the system was even recognizing the fact that there was DDR memory in the slot. Since it refused to POST I can only assume that the system does see that there is RAM in the DDR slot, but completely refuses to POST. I've tried removing the battery, pressing the power switch, clearing the BIOS and swearing repeatedly. Nothing made a bit of difference.

I'm going to try my Crucial PC2100 next week when I get it back from a different computer and see what happens. I doubt it will make any difference.

 

[BigMoe]

I hope I'm wrong and the ram works but to me it sounds like the mainboard. good luck

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: Peter
"notoriously flaky" ... BS.

Firstly, you need to clear CMOS when changing RAM types (to make it detect DDR mode as well as return to default timings). Then, it happens surprisingly often that users don't get the DIMMs seated properly.

"Notoriously flaky" is damn straight. I've heard NOTHING but trouble with these boards since they came out. If the bad BIOS flashes didn't kill half the boards something else did. They had trouble with nearly every major PSU brand. They even had FAQs which became "official problem threads."

I'm now convinced that I've seen the same problem, only with must worse results.