I posted this question originally in the Abit forums a few weeks ago. I got no reply. Perhaps ya'll might have some ideas...
I was gifted a once-robust-now-not-bad IS7-G (specs below). For a while I ignored it and just played games on it. Then one day about a month ago it started acting wacky. I got a few random freezes, the occasional over-heat alarm, and before ya know it I had a complete system crash. One thing led to another and I decided to try and fix it myself. And a modder-wannabe was born. I've spent weeks reading, re-installing, repairing (a broken CPU heat-sink bracket, for example) and even a little overclocking (which you can see in the specs below). I have learned a TON in the last few months.
But along the way I seem to have broken (or disabled) the dual channel capability of the IS7-G. I can boot either Geil 512MB DIMM in Slot 1 fine. But I cannot seem to get the system to boot with DIMMS in both Slots 1 and 3 (and I have the same problem with Slots 2 and 4). When I have slots 1 and 3 filled, I get a long-beep POST alarm. I have run memtest86+ for 10 passes (5 hours) on both DIMMS and not gotten a single error. Interestingly, I have 2 backup Kingston DIMMs and they exhibit the same problem.
Did I mess up a BIOS setting? Is my BIOS out of date? Are my BIOS settings not compatible with Dual Channel? Or maybe in all my testing and tweaking, I broke slot 3 (and 4)? Is it the overclocking? The extra voltage on the DIMMs? At this point I'll try ANYTHING. My ultimate goal is to move up to 2GB, either with 4 512 DIMMs or 2 1GB DIMMS. And this is kinda getting in the way. Thanks in advance for any tips or ideas!!!
Processor 1 (ID = 0)
Number of cores 1 (max 1)
Number of threads 2 (max 2)
Name Intel Pentium 4
Codename Northwood
Specification Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz
Package Socket 478 mPGA (platform ID = 2h)
Core Speed 2584.7 MHz (12.0 x 215.4 MHz)
Rated Bus speed 861.6 MHz
Stock frequency 2400 MHz
Northbridge Intel i865P/PE/G/i848P rev. A2
Southbridge Intel 82801EB (ICH5) rev. 02
Graphic Interface AGP
AGP Revision 3.0
AGP Transfer Rate 8x
AGP SBA supported, enabled
Memory Type DDR
Memory Size 1024 MBytes
Channels Single
Memory Frequency 172.3 MHz (5:4)
CAS# 2.5
RAS# to CAS# 4
RAS# Precharge 4
Cycle Time (tRAS) 8
Performance Mode enabled
Memory
------
DIMM #1
General
Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) GEIL (7F7F7F1300000000)
Size 512 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC4200 (263 MHz)
Part number CL3-4-4 DDR 533
Serial number 20020725
Manufacturing date Week 06/Year 02
Attributes
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no
Nominal Voltage 2.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 250 263
CAS# 2.5 3.0
RAS# to CAS# delay 5 6
RAS# Precharge 5 6
TRAS 10 11
DIMM #2
General
Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) GEIL (7F7F7F1300000000)
Size 512 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC4200 (263 MHz)
Part number CL3-4-4 DDR 533
Serial number 20020725
Manufacturing date Week 06/Year 02
Attributes
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no
Nominal Voltage 2.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 250 263
CAS# 2.5 3.0
RAS# to CAS# delay 5 6
RAS# Precharge 5 6
TRAS 10 11
Hardware monitor
----------------
Winbond W83627HF hardware monitor
Voltage sensor 0 1.50 Volts [0x5E] (CPU VCore)
Voltage sensor 1 2.75 Volts [0xAC] (AUX)
Voltage sensor 2 3.34 Volts [0xD1] (+3.3V)
Voltage sensor 3 5.00 Volts [0xBA] (+5V)
Voltage sensor 4 11.92 Volts [0xC4] (+12V)
Voltage sensor 5 -6.60 Volts [0x65] (-12V)
Voltage sensor 6 -3.44 Volts [0x55] (-5V)
Temperature sensor 0 32°C (89°F) [0x20] (TMPIN0)
Temperature sensor 1 44°C (110°F) [0x57] (TMPIN1)
Temperature sensor 2 38°C (99°F) [0x4B] (TMPIN2)
Fan sensor 0 2813 RPM [0x1E] (FANIN0)
Fan sensor 1 7031 RPM [0xC] (FANIN1)
