The Biostar M7VIQ is on AMD's recommended list for the Athlon XP 1600+. This mobo uses the VIA KM266/VT8235 chipset, DDR266 RAM, USB 2.0 and onboard video, audio and nic. I have built several (over 10) computers using this motherboard and have experienced no problems until now. Every computer is running Windows XP Home Edition except for one that is running Windows 2000 Server. I have installed the latest VIA 4 in 1's on each computer. I have also downloaded and installed every possible Microsoft Update.
The problem is this:
When I install a 2nd stick of RAM in the computer (there are only two RAM slots), the computer spontaneously reboots when I try to access the internet using the network adapter. I have tested various configurations for two hours and I am now satisfied that my RAM sticks are all okay (various manufacturers including micron, elixir, kingston). Regardless of which RAM stick I use, if only the first RAM slot is filled, the computer works fine - I can access the internet without a problem. As soon as I insert a second RAM stick, the computer reboots whenever I try to access the internet. This happens regardless of whether the second stick of RAM is identical or not to the first stick. When I remove the second stick of RAM, the computer works fine again. If I then replace the first stick of RAM with the second stick, again the computer works fine. I have tested this on the three computers that I still have on hand with this motherboard and each has this problem.
Someone please tell me there is a bios tweak or an explanation for why this is happening!
Thanks.
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I think I may have found the solution to the problem...
Went into the bios under Advanced Chipset Features and then into something called DRAM Clock/Drive Control. There is a setting in here called DRAM Timing that by default is set to [SPD]. What does that stand for? Anyway, I changed this setting from [SPD] to [Manual] so that I could change some of the settings underneath it. One of those setting is DRAM CAS Latency. I changed this from the default value of [2.5] to [2]. Rebooted and the problem seems to have disappeared.
Could someone please explain why this seems to have fixed my problem? Why would this setting only have to be changed when two sticks of RAM are inserted instead of just one? And last of all, can making this change in the bios cause any damage to my machine or the RAM? Is there any reason for me not to make this change?
The problem is this:
When I install a 2nd stick of RAM in the computer (there are only two RAM slots), the computer spontaneously reboots when I try to access the internet using the network adapter. I have tested various configurations for two hours and I am now satisfied that my RAM sticks are all okay (various manufacturers including micron, elixir, kingston). Regardless of which RAM stick I use, if only the first RAM slot is filled, the computer works fine - I can access the internet without a problem. As soon as I insert a second RAM stick, the computer reboots whenever I try to access the internet. This happens regardless of whether the second stick of RAM is identical or not to the first stick. When I remove the second stick of RAM, the computer works fine again. If I then replace the first stick of RAM with the second stick, again the computer works fine. I have tested this on the three computers that I still have on hand with this motherboard and each has this problem.
Someone please tell me there is a bios tweak or an explanation for why this is happening!
Thanks.
======================================================================
edit
======================================================================
I think I may have found the solution to the problem...
Went into the bios under Advanced Chipset Features and then into something called DRAM Clock/Drive Control. There is a setting in here called DRAM Timing that by default is set to [SPD]. What does that stand for? Anyway, I changed this setting from [SPD] to [Manual] so that I could change some of the settings underneath it. One of those setting is DRAM CAS Latency. I changed this from the default value of [2.5] to [2]. Rebooted and the problem seems to have disappeared.
Could someone please explain why this seems to have fixed my problem? Why would this setting only have to be changed when two sticks of RAM are inserted instead of just one? And last of all, can making this change in the bios cause any damage to my machine or the RAM? Is there any reason for me not to make this change?
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