PC100 Conflict

[Guest]

I am experiencing a serious problem with upgrading the memory on this board--PC Chips M550 (which I have no instruction booklet). I have installed a 32 MB DImm (168 pinn) memory module made by Kingston that is 4m X64
and it is being picked up on the board as 8 MB at initial memory testing. The module itself is 32 Megabytes.
this is a 32 mb pc100 module 4m X64

Please be aware that I have also tried to upgrade the memory on this board 2 previous times with K-byte memory modules which are pc-100 compliant

the first time with a pc-100 kbyte 128 megabyte module which wasn't picked up at all

the second time with a pc-100 kbyte 64 megabyte module which was picked up as 16 megabytes

and now the kingston 32 megabyte stick which is being picked up as 8 megabytes. I have upgraded the cmos sucessfully but that didn't do anything.

I would like to know if there is a website where I can obtain the original user's manual-- I have searched endlessly and have not had no success with this board.
(Yes I have gone to PCCHips webssite and have found 1 german website that has information in german)
I would like a solution so that I may at least have 64 megabytes of memory on my system -- Currently there is
the 32 megabyte IBM dimm which is being read fine.

and the Kingston dimm (168 pinn) which is only being read as 8 megabytes.
Total memory right now: 40 Megabytes
Please advise on how to deal with this problem as soon as possible.
thanks

 

[Toejam31]

Here's an interesting link:

<A HREF="http://www.stud.fernuni-hagen.de/q3998142/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000323.html" target="_new">http://www.stud.fernuni-hagen.de/q3998142/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000323.html</A>

This is about all I can find on the subject, but I thought it might be helpful.

Toejam31

<font color=red>My Rig:</font color=red> <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=6847" target="_new">http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=6847</A>
____________________________________________________

<font color=purple>"Have you noticed how much they look like orchids? Lovely!"</font color=purple>

 

[CMRvet]

Go to EYO TECH FORUM http://www.eyo.com.au/tech-forum/ It’s an Australian forum, mainly for PCCHIPS. They have a lot of experience about those mobos.
I have a pcchips mobo and had lots of memory-related problems in the beginning, but after months asking at the forums and many headaches, it’s working rock solid.
May be you could try with the following:
1- Update the BIOS
2- Download the latest chipset drivers
3- Pray

Good luck

 

[Crashman]

You have an Intel VX chipset. These supported modules with NO MORE than 2MB per chip. That means a 32MB DIMM has exactly 16 chips on it.

Newer memory comes in 4 and 8MB per chip, but is read as having only 2MB per chip, which is why your modules showed up as smaller.

The largest SDRAM modules that will work with that chipset are 64MB and have 32 chips on them! Since these things were large and expensive, they are very hard to find.

Most of these boards have 4 SIMM and one DIMM slot. Unfortunately you will likely be limmited to using the SIMM slots with EDO. You can get a good price on 32MB EDO SIMMS at Coast to Coast memory <A HREF="http://www.coastmemory.com" target="_new">http://www.coastmemory.com</A>. Get four of those and be happy.

Back to you Tom...

 

[Crashman]

Oh, I found a little more info on your board. <A HREF="http://www.zida.com/download/manual/5svx0130.pdf" target="_new">http://www.zida.com/download/manual/5svx0130.pdf</A> shows the same board as yours as sold by another company, if I'm not mistaken.

Back to you Tom...

 

[Guest]

this is the PC Chips M550 Board--it has 2 DIMM slots and 4 EDO slots--
Currently there is one 32 Megabyte IBM Dimm and the new kingston dimm...

Is there perhaps a way to update the chipset on the board via software so it will recognize the full 32 megabytes of the Kingston memory...

 

[Guest]

Here is what PC CHips wrote:
Dear sir,

Please try 66mhz dimms instead of 100mhz dimms.. and don't go higher then
32mb per dimm.

Kind regards,

Musa
Technical Department
Pcchips Europe B.V

The problem at hand --is not a single store carries 66 mhz chips / and now they are phasing out the 100 mhz bus chips...

I have no clue what to do to save this board's memory
This Kingston memory is BRAND NEW 100 mhz PC 100 compliant memory!

 

[Crashman]

Your on the wrong track-not all PC66 will work, it has to be the oldest type. Trust me, I know these things. It has to have 2MB chips on it, 16 chips for a 32MB dimm. I have some of this memory from system pull which I keep around for just such and occasion. I can sell you two of them for $50. If you think that's high, try to find it elsewhere! The stuff is rare! I'll give you $15 trade in on your Kingston module if you like, and that's a VERY generous offer, considering the going rate for 32MB PC100 is around $6 at memory venders.

Back to you Tom...