problem with a7v333...pls help!

[SuperShick]

hey guys...i was wondering if anyone could lend me a piece of mind. i just recently upgraded a lot of my components..specs are:

athlon xp thoroughbred 1800+
asus a7v333 with old bios version 1012
geforce 2 gts
slk-800 hs and svc fan
creative sound card

the rest aren't really THAT important. but the thing is i am currently waiting for my samsung pc2700 256MB ram right now from NEWEGG. it should be coming tomorrow but the thing is i'm using my roommate's ram from FRY'S and it boot up fine at the beginning. everything was fine and dandy. i made a clean install on my HD for windows xp professional and stuff. i installed sandra sisoft and stuff like that and checked my system. it said i had installed 128MB of ram when the ram that my roommate had is supposed to be 256MB generic which really puzzles me. i mean, the ram is 256MB but it says 128MB on the specs on my computer? WHAT THE HECK??!? so then i tried his other stick of ram..same kind, 256MB of ram, now it won't show anything on the screen. so i got kinda afraid that maybe i fried something. i remember that i didn't quite turn off the PSU on the back or unplugged the computer from the wall while i stuck the SECOND stick of ram into the memory bank. do you guys think that could be the problem that maybe i shocked something? i mean, i swear, everytime i touched a piece of hardware, i grounded myself so that can't be an option for a problem. so i'm wondering why the system thinks there is 128 when there's 256 and why when i stick the second one in with the power switch on but the computer OFF, it won't show anything on the screen but boots up.

OH, and another thing, i think i reversed the floppy IDE because i have that old school ribbons that no one can differentiate whether it's top or bottom for plugging it into the pins. maybe that's another problem? but i do hope that when i receive my ram, my computer will boot up fine. OH, another thing...do u think i need more than 256MB of samsung ram to run my applications like WC3, word, IE, blah blah blah....just wondering what u guys think! please help me stop worrying cuz i'm so afraid i fried something. The mobo is from ebay supposedly brand new sooooooo....any comments will help. THANX GUYS!!!


SuperShick

 

[SuperShick]

basically, to make a long story short...i put a stick of ram in, it worked...it said 128 but it's really 256. then i tried another ram and it didn't work. now when i stick in the old ram that worked before, it doesn't work now...i'm puzzled whether i fried it or not....can someone help? sorry for that LONG LONG post!

SuperShick

 

[Lash444]

First off the A7v333 has Speech reporting diagnostic. So when you plug in speakers with that second stick it should say if it is faulty ram. What I would do first is make sure that you have the ram is pushed in completely...since that is often the first point to check. Second I would try a different memory slot. Then if the memory is still showing up as 128 put in the other stick and try it too. MAKE SURE IT IS PUSHED IN REALLY HARD SINCE THIS IS USUALLY THE BIGGEST CULPRIT. Also what type of generic ram are u using since the A7v333 is very testy to generic ram.

 

[SuperShick]

thanx lash for answering...i have tried putting it in other memory banks but still the monitor shows no screen. the ram i'm using is my roommate's and it is legacy 256MB pc2100 from Fry's Electronics. I know that a7v333 is usually very picky but the thing is it used to work but when i plugged in the second ram, then the whole screen is blank. it's weird...and i also pushed the ram in all the way and heard the white mechanism lock or click. i hope there are other helpful tips guys. thanx!!


SuperShick

 

[Jiangun]

I would try to upgrade your Bios first and see if that fixes it. IF not I heard asus boards have problems with generic brand memory. The ASUS site highly suggests you use kingston memory for there boards.

 

[SuperShick]

well i can't upgrade my bios because i can't even get to windows cuz the ram won't work with the mobo. i don't know what to do. the thing is that same stick of ram worked before i took it out and when i put it back in AGAIN, the video doesn't show and everything is plugged in perfectly. any help?

 

[mechBgon]

What brand and model of power supply do you have, and don't be vague At this point, let me suggest ordering some good memory, Crucial PC2700 perhaps, and a good power supply if yours isn't a name-brand, quality unit of at least 300W total and 200W+ on the 3.3V + 5V combined. Sparkle Power has a respectable 350W unit at newegg.com for $42 or consider an Antec TruePower 330 as well (3-year warranty and other special features).

From the archives, here's my contribution to A7V333 knowledge: link You could flash the BIOS by pressing Alt+F2 at the POST screen if you could get there, but it would be foolhardy to do it when the board's not happy with the RAM (corruption likely). Check my info about RAM voltage there, as long as you're looking, but I think you should hold your horses until you get the better RAM and PSU.

 

[SuperShick]

i just got my samsung today and when i plugged it into the asus, it didn't work and the ASUS MESSAGE POST tells me that i have sytem failed memory test. i don't know what to do now. i'm really pissed off right now cuz i waited all winter break for this computer and now it's busted. i just called for a RMA so maybe i should send it out but if anyone has any suggestions as to how i am supposed to fix this gawd damn problem, please tell me quick. i really don't want to send this puppy out. thanx guys!!

 

[mechBgon]

Ok, did you check the memory voltage already? Check it here. Also, you have nothing to lose at this point by taking the board out of the case and trying it outside the case on a non-conductive surface such as cardboard. If something has been shorting out the underside of the motherboard, this may reveal what.

Edit: also, look at the top center of the board and you'll spot the Overvoltage jumper. That jumper should be capped on the pins to your right, if the board is in the normal installed position.

 

[SuperShick]

well when i started the comp up, i got the infamouse "system failure memory test" and that's it. it just keeps looping that annoying voice. i hope u can help because i know i plugged in the ram right and that there is ram. thanx



SuperShick

 

[mechBgon]

Sure, I recommend taking the board out of the case next and seeing if it runs any differently laying on cardboard. That board also has a plethora of jumpers, one of which is the JEN jumper that selects jumper-free mode. If you haven't already selected Jumper-Free on that jumper, that's always a good idea. In the manual, refer to page 19.

 

[porterl]

I'm about to purchase the same A7V333 board and have noted the memory requirement as well. I cannot seem to find a source for the Samsung memory. What was the source for your Samsung memory and what is the Samsung part number you used? Thanks.

 

[mechBgon]

I'd recommend Crucial simply because there's no such thing as a generic Crucial module (plus the prices are very attractive right now, try $82 for 512Mb of PC2100 here). If you want to use a CPU with a 333MHz bus speed either now or later, then pick PC2700 instead.

Frankly, I'm not very happy with my A7V333-R and wouldn't buy one again. I'd get another A7N266-VM or one of its big brothers, the A7N266-E or A7N266-C (link to more specs here). Or there are the nForce2 boards, of course.

 

[porterl]

I see on another post that you highly recommend the EPoX/8RDA+ over the ASUS A7V333. Does the EPoX/8RDA+ board have special memory requirements as well? Thanks.

 

[mechBgon]

The 8RDA and 8RDA+ use the nForce2 chipset, which performs best when the CPU and memory operate synchronously.

• For 200MHz-bus CPUs like Durons and some of the old Athlons, that would mean PC1600 unbuffered non-parity memory
• For 266MHz-bus CPUs (AthlonXP's, AthlonMP's, some of the Thunderbird Athlons) you would want PC2100 unbuffered non-parity
• For 333MHz-based CPUs (latest AthlonXP's and future ones) you'd want PC2700 unbuffered non-parity memory
• There's no harm in getting faster RAM and running it slower in order to maintain sync with the CPU (eg, get PC2700 and start off with it at PC2100 speeds because your CPU is, say, an AthlonXP 2100+ that uses a 266MHz bus speed). I like this idea if you don't mind the up-front investment in the faster RAM ($110 versus $82) because it leaves you ready for an upgrade as CPU prices drop.

Hope that helps I put my money where my mouth was and got an 8RDA+ for work... no disappointments so far.

 

[brianblair]

I know this is a bit late, as the last post was 2/7 but I will throw this in anyway.

I have been running one of the early A7V333's sing Spring 2002. I am using Corsair XMS2700. My 2-256MB sticks have worked perfectly for a year. Today I added a 512MB stick of the XMS2700 memory. No problems.


FYI, prices today at pcprogress.com are:

256MB XMS2700 CAS2 costs $58
256MB XMS2700 Low Latency costs $81

512MB XMS2700 CAS2 costs $105
512MB XMS2700 Low Latency costs $150


They also have XMS3000, XMS3200 and XMS3500 memory if you're wanting to overclock.

Just my $0.02 worth.