Old PC and RAM issue?

ponder

ponder

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MB - http://us.msi.com/product/mb/661FM2-V-LSR---ILSR.html#/?div=Detail

Chipset
• SiS® 661FX Chipset
- Supports Intel Pentium 4 processors with data transfer rate up to 800MHz.
- Supports Hyper-Threading technlology.
- Supports 64-bit high performance DDR400/DDR333/DDR266 memory controller.

Main Memory

• Supports two memory banks using two 184-pin unbuffered DDR DIMM.
• Supports up to 2GB memory size without ECC.
• Supports DDR266/333/400.
Click to expand...


This MB has 256 RAM plugged in, when I try and add a extra stick of ram or remove the existing one and replace it with a bigger one I just get a bunch of fast beeps from the BIOS?

I tried 3 different stick of RAM that I know are good.

Any ideas?
 
ponder said:
MB - http://us.msi.com/product/mb/661FM2-V-LSR---ILSR.html#/?div=Detail




This MB has 256 RAM plugged in, when I try and add a extra stick of ram or remove the existing one and replace it with a bigger one I just get a bunch of fast beeps from the BIOS?

I tried 3 different stick of RAM that I know are good.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

The beeps have meaning. There is a list of various BIOS beep codes at http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=86906.0

You can also try switching on with no RAM installed. If the beep code you get with no RAM is the same as sequence you get with the new RAM then your new RAM might be incompatible in some way (ECC or parity maybe?)

Hope this helps
 
What's the memory density of the new chips compared to old ones,there are problems with double sided double high density ram modules on older boards
 
Also reset BIOS to defaults before swapping RAMs. It could be forced timing in place.
 
PsyWulf said:
What's the memory density of the new chips compared to old ones,there are problems with double sided double high density ram modules on older boards
Click to expand...

Old one is single sided with 8 chips.

Two new ones are double sided with 16 chips and one is single sided with 4 chips.


Manual has this,
ram.png
 
sajunky said:
Also reset BIOS to defaults before swapping RAMs. It could be forced timing in place.
Click to expand...

I checked the BIOS and it was set to auto but I will reset it to defaults next time I reboot.
 
Ok, I'm having some luck but I need some more help please.

I've downgraded the bios to v1.0 and then played around with the dram settings and on my first try I got one of the sticks to work (I doubt it's bios related but more the manual settings).

Ok, here are the options in the bios,

Performance Mode: Disbaled
DRAM Frequency: 200Mhz (I set this manually)
DRAM Timing Control: Manual (I set this to manual)
DRAM CAS Latency: 2.5T (Set this as per what's written on the DIMM)

RAS Active Time: 6T (Not set by me)
RAS Precharge Time (tRP): 3T (Not set by me)
RAS to CAS Delay (tRCD): 3T (Not set by me)
MA 1T/2T Select: AUTO (Not set by me)

How am I suppose to set the last four items in the above list?

As ab example lets say the wrinting on the DIMM is as follows,
512MB DDR400 DIMM 2.5-3-3

I realise that the 2.5=CAS Latency but what is the 3-3 for and how do I apply it to the above settings? Or are the above settings correct simply by fluke?

I also noticed the MB does not like it one bit if I mix 2.5 & 3 CAS latency modules which makes sense though.
 
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