Memory issue help needed

[dfrog]

Win XP Home SP2 - AMD 2400 - Asustek A7N8X-LA m/board - AMI 10000308 BIOS
dated 10/8/03


Issue :- when I boot, the process gets to the bit where the blue bars scroll
across and then halt for 20 seconds, then they continue and Windows runs
without problem.
This 20 second delay started after I fitted extra RAM.
Used the 'Memory Checker' on Crucial's website which told me I had 3 slots
for RAM, 2 @ 256mb & 1 free slot. So I bought the 512mb one they
recommended.
When I opened my case, there were only the 2 slots with 256mb in each, so I
took one out and fitted the 512mb DIMM.
Now Slot 0 shows 512mb (new one) & Slot 1 shows 256mb.
Everything working fine, apart from this extra 20 seconds of inactivity
during the start up proceedure.
I know that 20 seconds is not the end of the world, and I can live with it,
but I'd like to know if it is possible to get rid of it and at the same time
keep my 768mb RAM

dfrog

 

[MrGrumpy]

If the Crucial tool said you have 3 slots, then something went wrong
In which case you may have the wrong module.
The crucial site, US/UK/EU doesnt list a A7N8X LA

Having said that not all modules can be mixed, they may not sit happilly
together
It may be that you need to alter your memory timings, to something other
than auto in the bios.

Have you tested with only the 512mb module, in slot O?

What was the module #? and what cpu

 

[dfrog]

Mr G, thanks for your response,
Won't get a chance to run with only 512mb module in until weekend but will
try then.
The module no. I bought is CT6464Z40B my CPU is AMD Athlon XP 2400+

I've just run the Crucial System Scanner again and it tells me I have 512mb
RAM in slot 1, 256mb RAM in slot 2, and Slot 3 is empty (there isn't a slot
3 that I can see on this m/b), and it recommends as compatible the
CT6464Z40B amongst others.
The page is here

http://www.crucial.com/uk/systemscanner/viewscanbyid.asp?id=A5D926F331D926C3&tabid=AM&pagename=

but it does refer to my mobo as ASUS A7N8X (without the LA bit)

Your comment about altering memory timings in BIOS was the kind of thing
that I was looking for, not that I knew exactly what to ask for.

dfrog

 

[Cuzman]

dfrog wrote:

" ...but it does refer to my mobo as ASUS A7N8X (without the LA bit) "

Asus made the following A7N8X retail motherboards:

A7N8X
A7N8X Deluxe
A7N8X-E Deluxe
A7N8X-VM
A7N8X-VM/400
A7N8X-X
A7N8X-XE

http://www.asus.com/search.aspx?searchitem=1&searchkey=A7N8X

The *LA* version isn't listed, and I suspect that it's OEM-supplied.
I'm pretty sure that Asus have supplied HP/Compaq with *LA* postfixed
boards in the past, so they're probably the culprits. The Crucial
website is reading your motherboard chipset as an A7N8X, but your
motherboard isn't the retail A7N8X board which does have three DDR slots.

OEM agreements always have a number of clauses in them. I expect that
only HP are *allowed* to offer any kind of support for this motherboard.
There will be nothing on the Asus websites, and Asus won't have
released any compatibility information to companies that aren't in on
the OEM agreement for this particular motherboard.

I suspect you find your system at http://www.hp.com/ and see what they say.

 

[dfrog]

Cuzman,
Knockout bit of information there, thank you.
You are right, my PC is a Compaq Presario. I have just spent a long time
searching through the 'hp' site you gave and I've got a feeling that I'm not
going to find my answer there, but, there is so much information that I'm
going to find interesting / useful, that I've put everything else on hold
for the near future.
I suppose I was gullible enough to think that Crucial site would give me
'pukka info', and I suppose this is one time when things weren't absolutely
spot-on.
It's not the end of the world, really good bit is that you've pointed me
to somewhere that will get me further up my learning curve.
Thanks again

dfrog

 

[MrGrumpy]

If your PC is an HP/Compaq
You need to initially select Compaq on the crucial memory adviser, then the
PC line, in order to arrive at the correct module

 

[dfrog]

Mr G,
I did try that method initially, but it only listed S5100CL & S5100NX (mine
is an S5100UK), and so I then used 'Scan my System' method, and presumed
that Crucial are much smarter than me, and would get it spot-on.
As it happens both the CL & NX are shown to have just 2 slots (like mine
has, but didn't know at the time) and the recomendation is for a module with
a CL=2.5 not a CL=3 like the module I bought. Could this be creating the 20
sec delay?
I guess I just wasn't smart enough at time of 'search and purchase', all
this is 'more stuff under the belt' experience for me!
The module they recommended works ok, it's just the 20 seconds of inactivity
that is added to my boot time that I was trying to get rid of. As a result
of Cuzman's help, I've just downloaded and installed a BIOS update but that
made no difference (didn't really expect it to having read what the fixes
were)
Really appreciate you taking time out to help.

dfrog

 

[kony]

Win XP Home SP2 - AMD 2400 - Asustek A7N8X-LA m/board - AMI 10000308 BIOS
dated 10/8/03

Asus released later bios for their retail A7N8X boards that
address compatibility with some memory... you should check
with Compaq/HP to determine if they have any newer bios you
could upgrade.

Issue :- when I boot, the process gets to the bit where the blue bars scroll
across and then halt for 20 seconds, then they continue and Windows runs
without problem.
This 20 second delay started after I fitted extra RAM.
Used the 'Memory Checker' on Crucial's website which told me I had 3 slots
for RAM, 2 @ 256mb & 1 free slot. So I bought the 512mb one they
recommended.
When I opened my case, there were only the 2 slots with 256mb in each, so I
took one out and fitted the 512mb DIMM.
Now Slot 0 shows 512mb (new one) & Slot 1 shows 256mb.
Everything working fine, apart from this extra 20 seconds of inactivity
during the start up proceedure.
I know that 20 seconds is not the end of the world, and I can live with it,
but I'd like to know if it is possible to get rid of it and at the same time
keep my 768mb RAM

dfrog

First and foremost, run memtest86+ for several hours to
check for memory errors. Are you certain it isn't just
coincidence that this 20 second delay seems tocoincide? One
common reason is a disconnected network (expecting DHCP
info, it waits a few seconds before giving up).

You might also try swapping the modules' locations, put the
512MB stick in the slot now holding the 256MB, and
vice-versa.

Enter the bios and see if you have setting for memory bus
speed. If so, set it to "100%"... at least that's how the
setting is worded in the retail A7N8X board's bios.

 

[dfrog]

Asus released later bios for their retail A7N8X boards that
address compatibility with some memory... you should check
with Compaq/HP to determine if they have any newer bios you
could upgrade.



First and foremost, run memtest86+ for several hours to
check for memory errors. Are you certain it isn't just
coincidence that this 20 second delay seems tocoincide? One
common reason is a disconnected network (expecting DHCP
info, it waits a few seconds before giving up).

You might also try swapping the modules' locations, put the
512MB stick in the slot now holding the 256MB, and
vice-versa.

Enter the bios and see if you have setting for memory bus
speed. If so, set it to "100%"... at least that's how the
setting is worded in the retail A7N8X board's bios.

Thanks Kony,

Tried all that now & still no joy, got latest BIOS update from HP, checked
for memory errors, swapped modules around and there's no opportunity in BIOS
to alter any memory settings.
Thank you for your comments but it looks as though I may have to live with
it, and as I said, it's not the end of the world.
Regards

dfrog

 

[MrGrumpy]

I also checked Crucial sites, and I see none list your model
Your model is listed on Corsair site, but not on Kingston

You could try their tech support, if you point out you purchased memory
after using their configerator tool reccommendation, you may find they will
swap it out.

 

[Captin]

Win XP Home SP2 - AMD 2400 - Asustek A7N8X-LA m/board - AMI
10000308 BIOS
dated 10/8/03


Issue :- when I boot, the process gets to the bit where the
blue bars scroll
across and then halt for 20 seconds, then they continue and
Windows runs
without problem.
This 20 second delay started after I fitted extra RAM.
Used the 'Memory Checker' on Crucial's website which told me I
had 3 slots
for RAM, 2 @ 256mb & 1 free slot. So I bought the 512mb one
they
recommended.
When I opened my case, there were only the 2 slots with 256mb
in each, so I
took one out and fitted the 512mb DIMM.
Now Slot 0 shows 512mb (new one) & Slot 1 shows 256mb.
Everything working fine, apart from this extra 20 seconds of
inactivity
during the start up proceedure.
I know that 20 seconds is not the end of the world, and I can
live with it,
but I'd like to know if it is possible to get rid of it and at
the same time
keep my 768mb RAM

dfrog

1: Clear the BIOS..use the jumpers or remove the battery but whenever
things are quirky after changing the configuration of a system try

"Clearing The BIOS"

2: Remove any shareware diagnostic utilities installed on the system

and get back to basics..If the Asus utilities are installed
leave them.

Yarn:
The first one of these boards I owned worked fine for a year until it
had ram problems.Ignorant that Asus did not recommend the Kingston ram
I had installed , I wondered what was the difference with it if it had
been working. Voltage was one difference.
From memory Kingston recommend .1 or .2 of a volt more than the
majority of manufacturers. I think when the ram was new it ran on the
lower voltage the Asus BIOS supplied through it’s Auto voltage
setting,
however the time came that the ram needed the extra juice the BIOS
simply wasn’t calibrated to supply.
I have owned many systems since then , but basicly I updated the BIOS
and changed the voltage setting to manual and opened up the juice. I
think to 2.75v or 2.8V Problem fixed.
I would check the manufacturers specs of your ram and then boot into
the BIOS and adjust the voltage accordingly.
May I suggest that it may not work well installing ram in these boards
that has different voltage requirements.