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Help, my A64 System is Unstable!

yea, i think 2 of your sticks are either 1. dead or 2. on their way there. i would suggest getting some new ram, but make it only 2 sticks and not there.

some 754 boards only like 2 slots filled with ddr400 ram.
 
bored-sarcasm said:
yea, i think 2 of your sticks are either 1. dead or 2. on their way there. i would suggest getting some new ram, but make it only 2 sticks and not there.

some 754 boards only like 2 slots filled with ddr400 ram.
Click to expand...

how do you figure that? and that's really bad news for me, b/c my RAM sticks are 256MB each, so if i got NewEgg to replace 'em, and only used 2, that'd only be 512MB :(


REgarding: the poster who watned me to check voltages A)i already did (read 1st page of thread) B)i'll have to restart to do it (since i just re-installed the DigiDoc utility (since i just Reformatted)) and that will break my Prime95 test
 
4.5 hrs, still stable...

..wow, what are the chances of getting 2 bad sticks of RAM and only 1 good, eh?
 
Carni...

Are all the sticks identical?

I am thinking you might have 2x333 (PC2700) and 1x400 (PC3200).

That would explain the "issues" you are having. If you can run all your RAM back at 333, you might have a winner.

I have seen waaay too many of these issues when people upgrade. All RAM is not created equal, and even if it ran fine on your previous (obviously slower) system, it may not run reliably now.

As I said before, the A64 is a bitch with memory (especially unbranded, non-identical) soo... there ya go.

You could find someone you know that would trade ya RAM if it worked fine on their box.. I have done that too. Might cost ya a few bux or some beer... but whatever works.

-Skystalker
 
No. It's all identical. I chose one type of RAM in NewEgg, then edited the quantity in my Shopping Cart to 3.

The RAM does not run stable all @ 333MHz (i've tried :() Even w/ Volt ++ it doesn't work.

thx for the suggestion though :D
 
Well, if the machine is stable with that one stick of RAM, I think we have found our problem.

It is now up to you how you want to deal with it.

Good luck! :)

-Skystalker

PS: The BIOS update could deal with the issue... or not. That is your only option (in my opinion) that you can do that will not cost you money at this point. If it was me... but it isn't.
 
didnt read entire tread.....

Have you tried runnig 2 sticks of memory? I know my Nforce2 dose not liek to run the 2 dual channel slots filled and the singal... i can onyl run 2 stick on mine, i tried 3 sticks of corsair 3200 once just to see what happened, and how it effected my memory bandwith, and it was too stabel..

Try one stick, then add the secound... gamming in between...

and manuelly set you timings to like 2.5-3-3-9 @ 2.8v
 
I am assuming you are running the RAM through SPD specs ... have you tried setting the timings manually.
 
A64 systems, 754 pin (can't speak to 939), most don't like more than two sticks of RAM in the system to maintain stability. A64s seem to be a bit more finicky about which RAM they do like, or the timings have to be adjusted from SPD. I've got two different A64 systems and neither can run my Mushkin BH5 PC3500 at DDR 400 in Auto /SPD because it defaults the timings to 2-2-2-5. Neither system will even POST with timings that tight even though the RAM is capable of running at that speed.
 
1st off: what is "SPD"? :confused:
2nd off: read the thread :eek: i've tried it w/ 2 sticks of ram
3rd off: read the thread :eek: i can't manually change the timings like CAS latency, all i can change is the freq.
4th off: CIWS, do you know what kinds of RAM A64's like :( that'd be a great $$ saver as opposed to the "Trial & Error" method
 
SPD is hardware based ... it's basically the default setting of your RAM ... and sometimes, some off-brand (read: low quality) memory modules will not run on SPD settings ...

here's a quote from http://www.dewassoc.com/performance/memory/pc100_compliant_3.htm

The SPD EEPROM must contain precise information about the memory module, in order that the system can identify the memory correctly during the initialization and boot process. In essence, computers use the SPD to identify the characteristics of the memory modules. Computer manufacturers identify modules through SPD signatures written on the DIMM Module. Some computers cannot work with memory modules having a mis-match SPD.
Click to expand...
 
Carnival Forces said:
1st off: what is "SPD"? :confused:
2nd off: read the thread :eek: i've tried it w/ 2 sticks of ram
3rd off: read the thread :eek: i can't manually change the timings like CAS latency, all i can change is the freq.
4th off: CIWS, do you know what kinds of RAM A64's like :( that'd be a great $$ saver as opposed to the "Trial & Error" method
Click to expand...

SPD=Serial Presence Detect, it's information stored in an EEPROM on the RAM stick that tells the MB's BIOS the memory's settings and info ( timings,voltage,etc). The BIOS uses this info to properly configure the memory.

I mentioned the two RAM sticks not to specifially address your current issue, I did see your previous posts, but simply to pass on the info about platform.

Again timings were metioned to explain why those specific RAM chips do not work at default SPD settings. Even though that is considered high quality memory. It can support those timing levels at 166mhz, but not default 200mhz. The RAM I have in this box is Kingston HyperX PC4000. It's SPD sets memory timings to 3-3-3-8 (fairly relaxed) at default and is stable as a rock running two 512meg sticks and I mean hard stable.

I would decide which model MB you are going to purchase then check their website and the board's webpage for information on which memory they have tested with the board. Also there is already a thread in the AMD forum asking about A64s and RAM.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=764765
 
thanks a bunch, CIWS. The "read the post"replies were directed more towards
|(illa Bee said:
didn't read entire thead...
Click to expand...

i already have a motherboard, so i think i'll just be sticking with the one i have (i really like the MOSFET cooling and what not :D)

it's hard to get information from Chaintech's servers; they're in Taiwan and slow as molassas. Downloads progress at an amazing 5kbps, on average :rolleyes:. I'll nose around for the RAM compatibility list though, thanks for the suggestion.

And thanks for the link to the thread in the AMD forum.


and yes, i have the RAM running @ SPD specs.
 
This might sound stupid so excuse me if it is, but couldn't you try the ram in another working pc to see if it is just some duff ram?
 
i could, Renegade, if i had another computer that could use DDR RAM. My next computer back is 1yr old, about 3yrs old in parts-wise (it was a budget comp.), and i accidentally (SOMEHOW) broke teh fan on the HSF unit; so it has like 1 blade left out of 7, and sounds like a vaccume cleaner on steroids.


My other computer, well, to give you an idea, its Video Card is 8MB. Yep, 8MB. It's 7 yrs old and it's Dell.

So, while that would be a good option, it's an option I don't have :(.
 
That's unfortunate then. Do you have any friends that would let you test it then? Or even lend you some other memory whilst they're at it?
 
ReNeGaDe* said:
That's unfortunate then. Do you have any friends that would let you test it then? Or even lend you some other memory whilst they're at it?
Click to expand...
none that live close enough...i'll be leaving, friday or saturday i think, for a month, at camp, w/o ANY computers *sniff* :(

so any going to friends' houses and whatnot is pretty much out of the question....but thx for the suggestion
 
this is odd... i come back home, expecting to see Prime95 up and running...as well as some FTP transfers, i poweron the monitor, and there's an AIM window asking me to sign in (something my computer does when i restart).

I notice the arrow and pop-up box on the taskbar alerting me that my inactive icons have been hidden, and think that perhaps, the Prime95 window got minimized and is hidden (and somehow FileZilla (ftp client) shutdown). So i expand the taskbar, and there's no Prime95.

I ask around, and there's been no power-outage and no one restarted my computer.

I ctrl+atl+del it, and there's no Prime95 anywhere...


:confused:

well, i'm still going to treat it as if it were stable..do you think I should.?

EDIT: even odder, i look at www.windowsupdate.com b/c there were 3 driver updates i needed to get, and you know what i found..? Only 2 where there! my SATA driver update must have been installed...freaky....

EDIT#2: How do i check the auto-update thingy? Where it downloads updates for Windows and installs them? I don't remember what i set it to, and it's icon isn't in the taskbar! Damn new OS ;)
 
well, upon inspection of the results.txt file, it turns out my system got this far:

" [Thu Jun 24 20:02:00 2004]
Self-test 256K passed! "

and then there's no more :eek: lol, so i guess that means it went until 8:00pm and then that auto-update must have kicked in and restarted it.
 
well, another update everyone!

I must be rock-stable on this stick, (esp. since the results.txt file showed no errors! :D), I've been running Prime95 with the "largest amount of heat" option, and i have

49/47 CPU/System.


good ?
 
well, i feel it's stable / accurate enough to start folding, so start i shall! :D

thx everyone for the help.
 
RMA those RAM sticks and get some new ones. Also I am assumnig that you have the latest nForce drivers from Nvidia.
 
Major_A said:
RMA those RAM sticks and get some new ones. Also I am assumnig that you have the latest nForce drivers from Nvidia.
Click to expand...

well, i installed the ones from the CD that came w/ the mobo. and i've done windowsupdate, and it hasn't found any driver updates for the MOBO, and although there is a new BIOS available, i don't feel comfortable flashing it...so, idk if i do or not, and idc :D

and i haven't checked nVidia's website..so oh well...
 
I am very glad to hear that Carni... :)

I think you have found your problem.

You might consider Brand-Name RAM in the future (I have found Kingston Value-RAM to be good for dual channel P4 and XP systems). No need to go with overclocking memory if you are going to run it stock... a waste of money.

Good luck!

-Skystalker
 
See if Chaintech has a tool to update the BIOS. I have an ASUS board and it has a program that updates the BIOS in Windows, no more creating a start up disk and doing it through DOS.
 
@Sky: Brand name RAM as opposed to...? GEIL is brand-name, believe me, I did my homework (i thought) on this RAM, it got really nice reviews all around, esp. from www.anandtech.com a site i trust a lot..and i am going to be OCing...

@Major A: do you really think i should update the BIOS, why?
 
Of course you would want to update the BIOS. They updated it for a reason, if you don't feel comfortable about it read what the updated fixed and decide if you need it or not.
 
Personally, I feel BIOS updates are in the "if it ain't fixed, don't update it" column in my book... ;)
 
wtburnette said:
Personally, I feel BIOS updates are in the "if it ain't fixed, don't update it" column in my book... ;)
Click to expand...


the motto here at [H] is ... if it's not broken yet .... you'te not trying hard enough ... :D
 
I just updated the bios on my borad, and I now have mem timings.

It was real easy, but I had to reset the CMOS for it to work (or else it would just keep beeping like there was no video)

So it might be worth a shot.
 
TekieB said:
I just updated the bios on my borad, and I now have mem timings.

It was real easy, but I had to reset the CMOS for it to work (or else it would just keep beeping like there was no video)

So it might be worth a shot.
Click to expand...

k

you have the Chaintech ZNF3-150, right?
 
sorry, Carni... after 4 pages, I forgot the fact that ya had brand-name RAM...

BIOS fix should do it for ya.

I have a theory... if you get an early version of a board, you will go through 2-4 BIOS's until you find one you like. :) Well.. maybe that is just me... I am a bit picky, and seem to like flashin'. :)


-Skystalker
 
Skystalker said:
sorry, Carni... after 4 pages, I forgot the fact that ya had brand-name RAM...

BIOS fix should do it for ya.

I have a theory... if you get an early version of a board, you will go through 2-4 BIOS's until you find one you like. :) Well.. maybe that is just me... I am a bit picky, and seem to like flashin'. :)


-Skystalker
Click to expand...

heh, seriously though, thx. especially for putting up w/ me for 4 pages :D

heh, i might have to give flashing a serious thought..or two ;)
 
it won't work.

first it says non-system disk replace and hit any key to continue (when I try to boot from it)

so then I decide to use the AWDFlash utiltiy , by pressing ALT+F2 on the BIOS load screen, so it says "File not found!" and flashes, then asks for me to type in the path; i try to type, but nothing shows up on the screen.

it says press F1 to continue, I do, and it just reboots

i try typing stuff in and pressing enter the next time 'round, and i get the same result.

someone help me please.
 
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