Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt,alt.comp.hardware (
More info?)
kony wrote:
> On Fri, 03 Sep 2004 03:17:26 GMT, anybody
> <anybody@aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Noozer wrote:
>>
>>>"anybody" <anybody@aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.com> wrote in message
>>>news:iKPZc.4855$i37.3675@news02.roc.ny...
>>>
>>>
>>>>I have a Biostar M7NCD Pro (nforce2) motherboard as the basis of my
>>>>homebuilt. It has been running without a hardware problem for about 11
>>>>months.
>>>
>>>
>>>>The Biostar has three DDR slots, named B1, B2, and A1. To get dual
>>>>channel, you have to fill A1 and at least one of the B slots. I find
>>>>that there are Memtest-86 errors if and only if I configure the RAM as
>>>>dual channel.
>>>
>>>
>>>What are the memory settings in the BIOS set at?
>>>
>>
>>I guess you could say it's all stock. I don't understand much about
>>memory settings, so I didn't mess with it.
>>
>>FSB: 166
>>Memory Frequency: By SPD
>>Resulting Frequency: 133
>>Memory Timings: Optimal
>>RAS-RCD-RP-CAS: 6-3-3-2.5
>>
>>I have the choice Auto/By SPD for the Memory Frequency. I don't know
>>what is best for that.
>>
>>
>>>Any overclocking involved?
>>
>>I've had the CPU multiplier bumped up to 12.5 from the default (11, I
>>believe), and it ran fine and gave a nice little speedup all the while.
>> I put it back to default when the problem appeared.
>>
>>
>>>If everything is set stock, I would suspect that the mainboard was bad.
>>>
>>>BTW, is PC2100 the correct speed for the XP2500+ on this mainboard?
>>
>>Well I can't say, but it's the only RAM I have, so ...
>
>
> nForce2 should run with memory set synchronous to the CPU's FSB
> rate for optimal performance (and sometimes stability too). I
> have a Biostar M7NCG-400 (the IGP, integrated video mATX version
> of your board) and in it's bios the setting for that is called
> "Memory Frequency" (100%). If you're not running the most recent
> bios update you might update the bios.
>
> Your PC2100 memory is only spec'd (guaranteed) to work up to
> 133Mhz... it really isn't appropriate for your CPU. If all else
> fails, you should get at least PC2700 (Might as well get PC3200
> these days) since, even if the motherboard is unworkable, the CPU
> still will dictate PC2700 memory or better to run the synchronous
> FSB (or higher) that is meant for any motherboard.
>
> Oddly my board (even when CAS3 memory is in it) is more stable at
> CAS2.5 than CAS3... I believe it to be a bios bug so bear in mind
> that some memory settings may need randomly changed and tested to
> find a combination that works for your modules (IF they'll work
> at all).
>
> The following is a config I have for the board at the moment
> (adjusted to be appropriate for your Barton), it has a couple of
> junk memory modules in it prior to shipping them to someone.
>
> System Performance [Expert]
> CPU Ratio [Default]
>
> FSB [166] (if all other attempts fail, a last resort is
> lowering this FSB speed (or buying faster memory)).
>
> CPU Interface [Aggressive] (try optimal later)
> Memory Frequency [100%]
> Memory Timings [Expert]
> TRAS [11]
> TRCD [4]
> TRP [4]
> CAS Latency [2.5] (try 3 later)
> FSB Spread Spectrum [Disabled] (might be greyed out already)
> AGP Spread Spectrum [Disabled] (Might be greyed out)
> .....
> .....
> AGP 8X Support [Disabled]
>
>
> - Then on another bios menu page: "Frequency/Voltage Control" -
>
> DRAM Voltage Regulator [2.6] (try 2.7 later)
>
>
>
> Now, before ever booting to windows you NEED to test after
> any/every change with memtest86 v3.1a. Memtest86"+" is not
> needed and IMHO, still has a few bugs so it should only be used
> on systems that simply won't run Memtest86 non-+ version. Your
> board will run the non-+ version fine, AFAIK.
>
> It would also be good to make backups of anything that might be
> corrupted by memory errors, but if system has been persistently
> having errors then there might already be a lot of file
> corruption and applications or whole OS needing reinstalled, but
> regardless, making a backup of any valuable files/data is a very
> good idea if possible.
>
> Keep in mind that the short answer to your problem should've been
> "don't use PC2100 memory, replace it".
Thanks for your reply.
1) What if I change the FSB Frequency to 133? I could live with the
slow-down if that would put the system back in spec.
2) Since the BIOS reports "Resulting Frequency" as 133, is the FSB
already running at 133 even though I have it set at 166?
3) Should I change that jumper JCLK3 mentioned mysteriously in the
"User's Manual"?