RAM Issues with ABIT AT7 board

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

I have that Abit AT7 board. I am using 2 sticks of Crucial PC2100, 256MB RAM. Here is the setup.

I know sounds stupid, but, after 1.5 months of using my computer, I realize I only have 256MB of RAM registered. I look under the hood. It was on DIMM1 and DIMM2, the manual says to go from DIMM4 to DIMM1. So I reseat them into DIMM4 and DIMM3. I hear long continuous beeps (that signals memory problems). So I pull them both out. I put one stick into DIMM4, and boot, it works. Then I put the other stick in DIMM3, that works. Both times registering as 256MB. I put both back in, now in DIMM4 and DIMM3 (as the manual said to do, opposite of abits website actually). No more beeping now, but still registering at 256MB. Has anybody had this issue? Please help if you can.

 

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

Ok I figured this one part out. I had the setting to control the RAM to manual in the bios, this wasn't the default setting, but I guess I changed it from SPD. When I had it set to manual, it disables bank 2 and 4, correlating to DIMM2 and DIMM3. When I changed it back to SPD mode, which allows the bios to detect the CAS latency of the chips, all the banks are enabled again.

But now that that is fixed, I have another problem, during bootup the bios doesn't recognize my CPU as an Athlon 1700+XP...all it says is unknown CPU 1700+. In the Bios I have the CPU set up as 1700+, no overclocking nothing, everything is set automatic. Does anybody have any idea what this might be?

 

[ViRGE]

I'd try a BIOS upgrade before anything else.

 

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

Only problem is this. I am running onboard RAID, and I think flashing the bios will erase the RAID array. Does anybody know if this is true?

 

[RyanM]

Hrm. That's funny - I'm having the EXACT same issue - It's recognizing my RAM, but ever since I installed my new heatsink, it won't recognize the CPU as anything but an "Unknown". It's really pissing me off, and every attempt I've made at overclocking has failed - Including simple tries such as going to the 166 MHz FSB but knocking the multiplier down to keep the CPU at the same frequency.

I'm starting to wonder if the board is bad. I'm running the most current bios version, and check every day hoping they release a new one. If it's still like that this summer, I'm RMA'ing it.

 

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

Imagine my frustration...I'm not even overclocking it, I'm running it stock. Well I sent an email to Abit, I'll see what their response is.

 

[RyanM]

Well, that's just an attempt to. Even running at stock speeds, I still get a "Unknown CPU type" at boot up, and under device manager. Why the hell this is happening is beyond me.

Lemme know what Abit ends up saying, if you hear from them.