k7s5a not working now with DDR

[ride525]

Son has k7s5a motherboard (AMD Athlon XP 2000+) with 256meg PC133 SDRAM (or PC100, not sure). Been working fine.

Bought 512 meg DDR module at Circuit City. Computer will not POST with new DDR module. (Yes, old PC133 removed). Still works with old module only. (and using correct slots for new memory).

Any suggestions ?

Thanks in advance......

Oh, and one more question....I see DDR 1600 and DDR 2000, etc. Can some one explain these and the speeds such as DDR 200 and DDR 266 ?

 

[Viper96720]

Try clearing the cmos with the ddr module installed. I checked manual if there was a jumper to change but there isn't any.
DDR 2100=DDR266=133Mhz x 2
2700=DDR333=166Mhz x 2
3200=DDR400=200Mhz x 2

The 2100,2700, etc..... are the theoretical transfer rates. PC3200 is 64bits x 2 x 200Mhz/8=3200

 

[ride525]

I think the board is supposed to take DDR200 and DDR266

 

[BlueWeasel]

I just bought a used K7S5A, XP 2000+, and 256mb PC2100 of Crucial RAM off the FS/FT forum. From what I have seen so far, this board appears to be picky about the RAM installed. I have a stick of generic PNY 256mb PC2100 RAM that did not appear to work in combination with the Crucial stick (256mb x 2 = 512mb Total).

I played around with it and putting the PNY RAM in Bank 0 and the Crucial in Bank 1 has apparently solved the problem. So PC2100 does work fine in this motherboard.

 

[BG4533]

The K7S5A has some odd quirks. Try removing everything that isnt necessary and booting and try moving things around a bit. My board will not boot with certain IDE drives on the onboard controllers. You could also just have a bad stick of memory.

Brian

 

[Spock]

Hey Ride 525,
That's what you get for buying a cheap motherboard. Well actually, I have the same motherboard and had the same problem. I hope you did not take your system apart because all I did was change the ram setting in the CMOS. The computer was running too slow for the new ram to work. Look for the Ram settings and change or increase the speed. I am not in front of my computer so I cannot tell you the exact settings but it is as simple installing a stick of memory. If you need the exact place to go and the settings let me know and I will email the info to you after "24" goes off tonight on Fox.

I just purchased an AMD XP 1700 thoroughbred chip for this motherboard but it is not registering after post as a 1700. It is showing 1100. hmmm. Everything is working though. I wonder if the board needs to be flashed and if any jumpers need to be changed. Anyone knows?

 

[BG4533]

You need to change the FSB from 100 to 133. It is in performance options or something like that.

Brian

 

[selfbuilt]

Spock: Many mobos default to 100 FSB in "optimal" mode, which is why the 1700+ is detected an unknown AMD 1100 (or some such). Set to 133/100 or 133/133 depending on what kind of memory you are running (i.e. PC-100 in the first case, or PC-133/DDR-266 in the second). Should solve your problem.

 

[BG4533]

Spock, only 4 posts in over 3 years? That is kind of weird. Do you read this board often or just come around occasionally?

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: BG4533
Spock, only 4 posts in over 3 years? That is kind of weird. Do you read this board often or just come around occasionally?

Yeah, considering all the lurking you have done over the past few years, don't you think it's time to "give back" to the AT community?

 

[Iron Woode]

I have a K7S5A and use generic PC2700 DDR and it works just fine.

 

[Spock]

Thanks BG4533 and selfbuilt, it worked like a charm. I had already changed the FSB from 100 to 133 but did not save it (F10). You guys made me look at it again and do it correctly. I guess I should feel fortunate that I have a working ECS mb too.

 

[CHHASmatroxuser]

Try moving the DDR module to the other slot. If possible try testing the DDR module in another PC to rule out it being faulty.

 

[ride525]

Did try the module in another slot, still didn't work.....but we took the module back before trying to change the speed settings. Did not have another system to try DDR in, others in our house use older memory.

Will a DDR PC 2700 work ok in this motherboard? Or does it have to be PC1600 or PC2100?
Edit, based on comment above, sounds like DDR PC2700 works.....Different setting needed though?
Edit2, actually reading the motherboard specs (there are SOOO many versions, 1.x, 3.x, +, pro.) it seems that the motherboard supports speeds of 200 and 266 (which are PC1600 and PC2100).

Thanks for your help