Help request from Italy... my motherboard GA-8SQ800 is bro..

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

Hey.

I've gone into BIOS, into Advanced Chipset Features and I've seen this
message:

WARNING: WRONG DRAM.
Timing may make system can't boot.
Clear CMOS to overcome wrong timing issue.

Maybe this is the problem...

What do you think about it?


My settings now are:

Configure DRAM Timing : Auto
CAS Latency Settings : Auto
DRAM Ras Active Time : 6T
DRAM Ras Precharge Time : 3T
DRAM Ras to Cas Delay : 3T
Dual Channel mode : Enabled
AGP Aperture Size : 64 Mb
AGP Fast Write Support : Auto

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

"Francesco" <nonola2@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:a8632e32.0407082302.3e698aa4@posting.google.com...
> Hello.
>
> Sorry for my English.
>
> I'm italian and I live in Rome.
>
> I've bought a few months ago some Pc components (Motherboard, Ram, etc.)
> and
> now my Pc is:
>
> Processsor : Pentium IV 2.4 GHz
> Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-8SQ800
> Video Card : Hercules Ati Radeon 9700
>
> I tested these Ram modules (in single mode, not DUAL) with
> Memtest86 (http://news.swzone.it/swznews-11573.php)
>
> - DIMM TwinMos 512 Mb DDR 400 MHz (PC3200) 184 pin
>
> - DIMM Kingston 512 Mb DDR 400 Mhz (PC3200) 184 pin
>
> Kingston module seems to go ok, but TwinMos doesn't.
>
> I've seen in the TwinMos site (www.twinmos.com) but my TwinMos Ram Module
> seems to be compatible with my Motherboard.
>
> What do you think about it?
>
> Is my motherboard broken? Help me, please...
>
>
> Thanks a lot.
>
>
>
> Francesco
>
>
> P.S. - I updated all drivers in my Pc.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Do you know any compatibility

I don't think your board is broken. I have this board too. It is very
picky about the brand of RAM used. I have TwinMOS PC3200 installed and it
can sometimes (rarely) be a little unstable if running 4 256MB sticks all at
400MHz in single mode (it is a little confusing, but when the board reports
'Single Mode' I understand it is in Dual Channel configuration and giving
you the benefits of greater bandwidth) - occasional random resets. With a
different brand of RAM the board wouldn't boot at all with 4 sticks present.
I found the board would boot with only one stick of RAM in place. With this
configuration, I simply slowed the FSB for the RAM to 333MHz and then put
the other 3 sticks of RAM back in. I have experienced quite a few Gigabyte
boards like this that are very specific about the brand and model of RAM
module that should be used. (I have a GA-8KNXP v2.0 with Corsair Twin-X
CL2 DDR400 matched memory modules which were very expensive - however I had
assumed that this memory was going to be compatible. Apparently it isn't
without manual intervention. Happily that board is very stable after I
tweaked the memory settings as suggested by other users). Depending on the
particular brand and conditions of warranty, you might be able to achieve
stability by increasing the RAM voltage slightly and/or manually modifying
RAM timings.

In reality, you should use a brand and model of RAM that's been approved by
Gigabyte for use with this board. Your situation might be improved if there
is a newer BIOS (I haven't bothered checking recently as my machine is
stable and switched on 24/7) which addresses memory issues.

Nick