Troubles updating memory

[imported_fishy]

On this older computer:

_ OS is Win2K Pro SP4

_motherboard is an Asus A7A266
(this one:http://usa.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=A7A266&langs=09)

_it has 2 DDR memory slots

_up until now, I had 2 X 256 Mb sticks of PC2100

_I bought 2 sticks of Corsair Value Select memory, PC3200, 1 Gb each
(this memory:http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...etails.asp?EdpNo=1170139&sku=c13-2920)


Now here comes the problem:

I cannot install both of them...I know they are both fine
as I can run them individually, or either one of them along with one
of the older 256 Mb sticks, that works too.

But when I install both 1 Gb sticks and reboot, I get "stuck" on a DOS page and
I don't know what to do at this point:
This DOS page lists components installed on my computer ( ports,
drives, etc), I see on the top right of the page "Memory installed: 1 M"
and the last line I read is "Update ESCD Successfully"

I press "enter", nothing happens.
What am I supposed to do?
What am I missing?

Sorry, I'm pretty dumb with the DOS "stuff"...

Thank's for help or clues

 

[whiterider]

The maximum the board can handle is 2Gb, but remeber that was long time ago when that board came out and usualy they didnt even think that anyone will try and install that much of ram on it, my advice to you is to try and flash ur bios with a newer one and see if that helps
luck!!

 

[Peter]

Try a BIOS update - and if that doesn't help, then you've hit a software bug that never got fixed. The chipset would have no problem handling the DIMMs.

 

[imported_fishy]

Thank's a lot, whiterider and Peter.
I'll try a more recent Bios and hopefully, that'll do the "trick".

 

[imported_itch]

Hi, please post your findings as i too am considering 2x1GB modules for the A7A266 rev1.4 mobo. It has been running solidly on BIOS Revision 1013 Beta 001 for 2 yrs, with all the settings to max. I have be looking at the PC2700 non-ECC modules to be on the safe side of compatiblity, not least when I check CRUCIAL, their auto-selector came up wit the PC2700 when I request for ram to fit the A7A266. BUT if it works with PC3200 ... that would be a treat. Cheers and good luck.

 

[PaidLess]

umm.. your motherboard doesnt seem to support 3200 ddram .... it seems like the max is 2100
from the webpage :
Memory 2 x DDR DIMM Sockets
Max. 2GB PC2100/PC1600 DDR SDRAM
3 x SDRAM DIMM Sockets
Max. 3GB PC133 SDRAM

 

[imported_fishy]

Originally posted by: itch
Hi, please post your findings as i too am considering 2x1GB modules for the A7A266 rev1.4 mobo. It has been running solidly on BIOS Revision 1013 Beta 001 for 2 yrs, with all the settings to max. I have be looking at the PC2700 non-ECC modules to be on the safe side of compatiblity, not least when I check CRUCIAL, their auto-selector came up wit the PC2700 when I request for ram to fit the A7A266. BUT if it works with PC3200 ... that would be a treat. Cheers and good luck.

Hi, itch

I haven't sorted out my problems yet (haven't flashed the bios, I want
to sort out other set-up issues first...) but, about memory:

Crucial does recommend these 512 Mb PC2700, true, but if you look
at "all compatible upgrades" you'll also find 1 Gb sticks of PC3200.
My logic is, I'd rather get this PC3200 now as they'll go on a newer
motherboard later on, prices being basically the same ( I've got
my Corsair Value select ones at $80 a pop, on sale).
(Edit: another link to this memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145505
I bought them at a local store...)
And they do run...well, one at a time for now but...
At the moment, I have one of these 1 Gb sticks + the older 256 Mb PC2100
running together no trouble.

(and everybody else must be wondering why we're even talking about
this board.. ...but, hey, it's been dead-solid for a few years now and
I still use this machine for rendering, so...)

Another edit: itch, my board is a Rev 1.03
Out of curiousity, what CPU are you running on yours?
And video-card?
Thank's.

 

[imported_fishy]

Originally posted by: PaidLess
umm.. your motherboard doesnt seem to support 3200 ddram .... it seems like the max is 2100
from the webpage :
Memory 2 x DDR DIMM Sockets
Max. 2GB PC2100/PC1600 DDR SDRAM
3 x SDRAM DIMM Sockets
Max. 3GB PC133 SDRAM

It runs alright, it's running now. It runs slower than it could
but as I explained above, it'll go on another motherboard
later on, one that'll support it. Prices are basically the same,
2100 or 3200, that's why I buy this.

 

[imported_itch]

Thanx for the feedback fishy.

My thoughts exactly. No sense buying "older" modules when they are almost the same price, and will not be transportable to newer mobo.

Interesting re: run on 2 different (PC2100 + PC3200) together. Nice!

My system is:
A7A266 Rev1.04 (id as 08/13/2003-M1647)
AMD Athlon XP 1.5+ (EVEREST shows 1666MHZ (12.5x133) 2000+)
CPU alias Thoroughbred-B
512 (2x256mb) Samsung memory modules (PC2100) timing 2.5-3-3-6-3
64mb Leadtek Winfast GF3 running on nv4 (5.01.2001.1240) drivers

AND absolutely, still rendering nicely on this rig. There's life in this old horse yet - ha!

The conflicting and highly over-priced machines have lead me to wait (like you) till the dust settles before diving into a total overhaul.

Have my eyes on the Quadro FX vid to go into this rig too. Finally, looking back, there had been a time when "lesser" machines have done amazing renderings so why do we have to be sheeps to the slaughter?

 

[imported_itch]

Originally posted by: fishy
On this older computer:

_ OS is Win2K Pro SP4

_motherboard is an Asus A7A266
(this one:http://usa.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=A7A266&langs=09)

_it has 2 DDR memory slots

_up until now, I had 2 X 256 Mb sticks of PC2100

_I bought 2 sticks of Corsair Value Select memory, PC3200, 1 Gb each
(this memory:http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...etails.asp?EdpNo=1170139&sku=c13-2920)


Now here comes the problem:

I cannot install both of them...I know they are both fine
as I can run them individually, or either one of them along with one
of the older 256 Mb sticks, that works too.

But when I install both 1 Gb sticks and reboot, I get "stuck" on a DOS page and
I don't know what to do at this point:
This DOS page lists components installed on my computer ( ports,
drives, etc), I see on the top right of the page "Memory installed: 1 M"
and the last line I read is "Update ESCD Successfully"

I press "enter", nothing happens.
What am I supposed to do?
What am I missing?

Sorry, I'm pretty dumb with the DOS "stuff"...

Thank's for help or clues

fishy, on the above note ... do you think it might be the OS fault? XP Pro might be a bit more "clever" in allowing access to customising or tweaks to limited rigs. Read somewhere that limitations can be due to OS not recognising too much ram modules? Say, the XP-64 OS has a much wider scope for pushing to the max .... we're probably talking SERVER territory. Just a shot?

PS. Sorry ... isn't Win2K essentially XP Pro, then my theorisng is helpless? Who knows what they put in our OS diet these days!?

 

[Peter]

"doesn't support PC3200" doesn't mean it can't _use_ PC3200 DIMMs. The mainboard just won't run them at their maximum allowed speed - which is all the PCxxxx moniker says, maximum speed. The minimum speed for _any_ DDR1 chip out there is 83 MHz, which is below any publicly available speed grade (PC1600 is 100 MHz).

 

[imported_itch]

Originally posted by: Peter
"doesn't support PC3200" doesn't mean it can't _use_ PC3200 DIMMs. The mainboard just won't run them at their maximum allowed speed - which is all the PCxxxx moniker says, maximum speed. The minimum speed for _any_ DDR1 chip out there is 83 MHz, which is below any publicly available speed grade (PC1600 is 100 MHz).

Hello Peter, for the use of newer faster modules; the voltage is, amongst others (less speed crucial as pointed out) A7A266 chipset limitations, yes?

Oops, also noted that my PROCESSOR is B Revision thus 200MHz bred http://www.crucial.com/uk/systemscanner...nbyid.asp?id=06C8145731D926C3&tabid=AM

... perhaps the joy of PC3200 is not for my tasting? Wishing I've got a science cap or a mathmatics one, to work out what these all mean (wot fun, NOT). I am tiptoeing to not scorch the board, apart from brave mr. fishy - Kudos dude.