Floppy disk error 40:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000426.htm
It is hard to say exactly what a CMOS Checksum error is. On
the face of it, the 256 bytes of RAM in the Southbridge, that
hold the so-called "CMOS" contents, could have one byte allocated
for a simple checksum, but maybe this error is actually indicating
some other problem ? If the CMOS checksum is calculated at
every shutdown and written out to the CMOS ram block, you would
think that the CMOS checksum would be corrected after one
reboot - if it is not, then maybe this error is actually
caused by something else.
You could try "clearing the CMOS" using the CLRTC jumper,
but somehow I doubt that will help. (Unplug the computer,
before using the CLRTC jumper, as damage can result to the
diode that connects the coin cell battery to the motherboard,
if you don't remove +5VSB. Every motherboard manual has a
procedure listed for how to use CLRTC.)
This post, for example, correlates "CMOS error" with bad or
improperly spec'ed memory and/or overclocking. I doubt the
CMOS is being checksummed, but perhaps the BIOS code is
being checksummed instead. In other words, this could be
a general computing error, caused by bad ram, a bad processor,
a bad Northbridge, anything that can screw up a checksum
calculation.
http://groups.google.ca/groups?threadm=S%fF9.141631$WL3.63478@rwcrnsc54
If you run out of other things to try, get a copy of memtest86
from memtest.org, and test the memory. You can also get a copy
of Prime95 and run the mixed size "Torture Test", as that will
give the processor and memory a good workout. Prime95 does a
consistency calculation, and if the calculated result is not
correct, it will report an error. Of course, no error is
tolerable, and if errors happen, you then have to figure out
what is at fault. For example, I had 512MB of cheap DDR that I
had been using for a year, perfectly stable, but when faced with
those two tests, the RAM was bad. If you haven't tested your
computer for integrity, a problem with the base hardware
could be the cause of the CMOS error. Even the floppy error
can be caused by a hardware problem, if, for example a clock
signal is out of spec, that could be enough to throw off some
hardware.
The root cause may not be as obvious as you think.
As for P5AD2 and P5GD2, have you used the mbindex page, and
clicked on the two links ? On the home page for each board,
is a link labelled "spec", and that will give a concise list
of the features of the two boards. The "spec" page tends to
be more accurate than the "features" page (you would think
they would be careful about that).
This is not an exhaustive list, just what caught my eye.
LGA775 processor, 925X Northbridge, 4xDDR2, PCI-E video.
SIL3114 quad sata, ITE8212 IDE chip
FSB1066, 1394B Firewire, 2 ethernet
http://www.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=P5AD2-E Premium&langs=01
FSB800, 1394B Firewire, 2 ethernet
http://www.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=P5AD2 Premium&langs=01
FSB800, 1394A Firewire, 1 ethernet
http://www.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=P5AD2 Deluxe&langs=01
In case you think 1394B (800mb/sec firewire) is a favorable
asset, check out the driver issues before buying. Microsoft
doesn't handle 1394B properly, and transfer rate can be less
than satisfying as a result. Google on 1394B issues before
buying.
LGA775 processor, 915 Northbridge, 4xDDR2, PCI-E video
FSB800, No Firewire, 1 ethernet (memory bandwidth a few percent
less than 925X boards). No SIL3114, but has ITE8212 IDE chip
http://www.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=P5GD2&langs=01
FSB800, Firewire, 1 ethernet, (memory bandwidth a few percent
less than 925X boards). Has SIL3114 and ITE8212 IDE chip
http://www.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=P5GD2 Deluxe&langs=01
The main message with both those boards, is expect to buy all
new components for your new computer, as component reuse will
be minimal. The cost of the motherboard hardly matters, if
$1000 of extras are needed.
HTH,
Paul
