Motherboard BIOS is not retaining current settings

[HonkeyDonk]

Hi ATer's

Help me out here.

I have a new system:

P4 1.6'a' ghz --> 2.133ghz
512 DDR Crucial (2 x 256mb)
Soyo P41 Fire Dragon
Windows XP
Maxtor 60.0gb 7200
PNY Geforce 3 Ti200

I go to my BIOS settings to set the FSB to 133Mhz and stuff, everything works out, and I boot up at 2.133ghz. I do stuff in windows, all is good. However, when I shut down and turn the PC back on, i get a CMOS checksum error and the defaults of the BIOS are loaded and I go back to 1.6ghz.

If I restart rather than do a shut down/power back up my mobo will retain the settings, but any hard shut down and then powering up again will cause the settings to have the "checksum error" and go back to default.

I'm thinking my RAM has something to do w/ it b/c I have been getting some problems in XP like random reboots, or my system would seem like it went to sleep and i couldn't wake it up (even tho sleep is off), and even had a BSOD.

Right now, I'm taking out 1 stick and trying it in different slots to see how stable my system is.

Any ideas why my Mobo will not retain the settings after a hard shut down?

Thanks,
HonkeyDonk

 

[rkoenn]

Don't know if this could be it, but have you checked the onboard CMOS battery. Typically a watch battery wafer cell. Put it on a voltmeter and see if it is putting out 3+ volts. If not, replace it. They actually seem to work down to about 2 volts but I think once they drop below 3 they degrade rather rapidly.

 

[Zim Hosein]

HonkeyDonk a "CMOS checksum error" gives me the sign that you need to replace your CMOS battery w/ a new one. I had a few issues w/ my current MB that replacing the CMOS battery w/ a brand new one cured all of the issues. Go to your local office supply stores and buy a brand new CR2032 battery and replace the CMOS batter on your MB w/ the new one and post your results. It won't cost more than 2 dollars. Hope this helps

 

[HonkeyDonk]

Thanks for the help guys,

This board is fairly brand new...it needs a new battery already? Well I will try it and post what happens. I hope you guys are right

 

[Mem]

This board is fairly brand new...it needs a new battery already?

Could be faulty,even new parts can go bad .

 

[Rainguy]

Your battery is fine. You are just overclocked too high. Back it down a bit and shutdown, and you should have your setting remain the same. I've seen this a bunch of times when overclocking.

BTW, I have built several systems with the Fire Dragon and that is one of the boards I saw that problem with. Best FSB I could do is 130 and have the board boot back up with the BIOS settings saved.

 

[HonkeyDonk]

Hmm...OCing too high, ok, i will give that a shot.

But how come 133mhz FSB is too high? Isn't 133mhz a good "round" number to use when OCing?

Thanks for the help/advice everyone.

HD