K7S5A and DDR Antics

goob2k

Senior member
Aug 12, 2001
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Currently I have an ECS K7S5A (latest revision) with a Duron 1.2GHz and 512MB of PC133 (2 sticks of 256). I just got 2 256MB Crucial PC2100 DDR. When I installed the DDR, the computer refuses to boot. The fans spin, but there are no beeps. I put the PC133 back in and it works perfectly. I tried reinstalling the DDR RAM multiple times, but with no success. I have tested the DDR RAM in another system and it works as well. Has anyone seen a problem like this before?
 

Buz2b

Diamond Member
Jun 2, 2001
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Have you tried reseting the CMOS? You must unplug the ATX power cord when doing this and it is a good idea to leave the jumper in the clear position for a few minutes before putting it back in the "normal" position. Also, after clearing the CMOS, boot first with one stick of DDR (make sure and remove the SDRAM too). Then, if it boots OK, add the other stick. If it fails then put the second stick in where the first one was and try with just that stick.
 

Buz2b

Diamond Member
Jun 2, 2001
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lsman;
Thanks for the reminder; I must be slipping. Yes, by all means, remove the RAM and reseat it a few times to be sure that it is getting seated properly. That is one of the "problem areas" of this board; that and the video card seating. Even if you are sure that the RAM is seated properly, do it AGAIN!. You might be surprised.
 

Chapter11

Member
Feb 15, 2002
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The ram doesn't always get seated perfectly, and if it doesn't the computer won't work right.
Once I thought my memory or my motherboard was bad, but I kept on re-seating the mem just to be sure.
After about 30 tries it worked, lol. So keep trying goob2k, and it's ok to add some pressure.
If you do it right you'll usually hear a snap. Which is hopefully your memory snapping into place, not breaking. ;)
 

kreno

Senior member
Feb 6, 2001
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Yeah, it took 2 tries of reseating memory on my Dad's business comp with Crucial.... :p do it one stick at a time, once one is seated well and is working, then go to the second one.
 

Copperpipe

Member
Jul 19, 2000
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I can vouch for the necessity for reseating the RAM: one day I removed the motherboard from the case, and reinstalled it a few minutes later (after doing some cleaning) only to find that the system wouldn't post when I powered on. After a little experimenting, it turned out that I had to reseat both PC133 chips before it would work again. So it's apparent that just the miniscule flexing of the motherboard was enough to unseat the RAM chips to the point that the board would not boot up.

I just wonder if all newer mobos are like this or if this is just a characteristic of the K7S5A.
 

Chapter11

Member
Feb 15, 2002
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Originally posted by: Copperpipe

I just wonder if all newer mobos are like this or if this is just a characteristic of the K7S5A.
I'm not sure about all, but most of them at least. I haven't bought a board yet where it was easy to install the memory.
My Iwill XP333-R board for example, is a real pain to get the ram into. I had to push so hard to seat it correctly I thought for sure I'd break it. Because it's in so tight, a simple flexing of the board can definitely unseat the ram as well.