Epox 8RDA+ Bios hanging

[Rocketmech]

The Bios screen hangs at the POST screen after a soft restart. Usually after an app or Windows request to restart your system for changes to take effect. I have to hard reset . Afterwards its fine. The problem seems random. This morning I got a hang in the Bios while veiwing the PC Health Status screen. Before I flash the bios, from 1/17 to 1/29 , I'm wondering if I'm missing something . The system appears stable otherwise. XPpro clean install. I've never had a bios hang before like this, so I don't know if its software or hardware. I'm guessing it needs flashing. If anyone can put me on track , I'd be greatful.

Enermax 431 ps
XP2100+ , 37c idle , no OC'g .
Crucial PC2700 2x256 (1+2)
ATI 9500
Nv sound /LAN/1394 (enabled ,no devices)
USB (enabled, no devices)
USB KB and Mouse Support =disabled
ACPI and APCI enabled [S1 (POS) ]
Soft-Off by Power Button = Instant Off
Power On Function = Button only
Windows PM settings :
Home /Desktop
System Standby = Never
Hibernation =off

[BipolarBill]

Have you tried clearing CMOS?

[strshptpr9]

If you have random system shutdowns and/or the BIOS PC Health section freezes the system be sure your cpu fan is set to Full speed. Variable rpm fan speed has been known to cause these problems

[Rocketmech]

Bill

No I haven't , Bill. After the hang this mornin its been fine all day, after many restarts from the Start Menu. But, I'll give it a go, though.

strshptpr9

Variable speed fans cause this issue? 1st I heard about it. The fan powers off the PS but with a sensor to the cpufan header. Hmmm, the sob is way too loud to run at full rotation. Hence , I have it at about 3500. I checked, and its not steady in SpeedFan(3450-3600). If someone else can confirm this cause I would appreciate it . Meantime I'll try Bill's suggestion and also look for a better none adjustable fan.

[Tick]

Might want to move the second Memory stick to the third slot if your trying to take advantage of the duel chanel memory abilities! Just a thought since there web site makes that very clear!

Tick

[Rocketmech]

Depends on what your refering to as the 3rd slot . I have mine in the two outside slots , 1 + 2 or Dimm 1 slot and Dimm 2 slot as is marked on the mobo . The manual and Epox's website faq's specify that dual channel works as long as there is a dimm in Dimm 1 slot along with either 2 or 3 , or along with both 2 and 3 , but Dimm 3 will be slower. I haven't benched the mem yet so can't tell if dual is working . I'm still trying to resolve the other issue first.

[strshptpr9]

Rocketmech, I got that advice directly from the Epox website itself, but i have never had any one have this trouble, so can't confirm. the website was very explicit on this though

[Rocketmech]

Yep, your right . I missed it somehow. Thanks for tip. So far things are stable after some bios tweaks.

[Tick]

That would be slot 1 and 3 or 2 and 3 not 1 and 2.
I stand corrected after reading a different article

Here it is

Dual channel DDR
This is another big question most people have at first - what is dual channel ddr, and how do I use it? Dual channel ddr is exactly what it sounds like. To put it simply, the chipset accesses two sticks (or channels) of ddr at the same time instead of just one. This gives a decent performance boost, but the drawback is that it requires two physical sticks of ram. For those installing ram and wondering which slots to use: place one stick in either of the left two slots, and one in the far right slot. You can also use 3 sticks of ram for dual channel ddr, but the 3rd stick will operate slower.

Thanks to 8rdafaq.com (http://www.8rdafaq.com)

And of course this article off a forum

3 sticks work as well
however there is one drawback:
you have 3 slots for 2 channels.
slot 1&2 = channel 1
slot 3 = channel 2

if the amount of memory in one channel is bigger then in the other channel, only the amount of memory in teh smaller channel times two is run in twinbank mode (128bit). the remaining ram is run in 64bit mode.

example:
slot 1&2 have a 512MB module in each slot:
channel 1 = 1024 MB
slot 3 has a 512MB module as well:
channel 2 = 512MB

channel 2 has only 512mb of ram *2 = 1024 in 128bit mode, the remaing 512mb of channel 1 are run in 64 bit.

example 2
slot 1&2 have a 128MB module in each slot:
channel 1 = 256 MB
slot 3 has a 512MB module :
channel 2 = 512MB

channel 1 has only 256mb of ram *2 = 512 in 128bit mode, the remaing 256mb of channel 2 are run in 64 bit.

example 3:
slot 1&2 have a 256MB module in each slot:
channel 1 = 512 MB
slot 3 has a 512MB module:
channel 2 = 512MB

channel 2 and channel 1 have the same amount of memory so the whole ram is in 128bit mode.

example 4
slot 1 has a 512MB module, slot 2 is empty
channel 1 = 512MB
slot 3 has a 512MB module:
channel 2 = 512MB

channel 2 and channel 1 have the same amount of memory (1GB) so the whole ram is in 128bit mode.


Thanks to [FuK]poudaman for clarifying this.

I read to much!

Tick




:D :D :D :D :rolleyes:

[Rocketmech]

| slot 1&2 = channel 1
slot 3 = channel 2 |


To me its confusing and contradicts the manual and the 8RDA+.com example.

manual:
"Dimm#2 & #3 shared same memory bus and Dimm #1 is dedicated for 2nd channel memory bus.
In two Dimms memory config... Dimm#2 / #3 and Dimm #1 in 128-bit mode."

8RDA+.com :
"...For those installing ram and wondering which slots to use: place one stick in either of the left two slots, and one in the far right slot...." (see the pic)

I gather that his example applies to a 3 Dimms configuration.

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Arent two Dimms colored dif? My asus nforce2 board has two blue slots -one black. The blue is for dual. Black single. By the way asus manual says the same so it must be how the chipset is defined to have it layed out bank wise. Which makes sense seeing how they are the same NB chip. Heres how mine is.
Dual-
Dimm -1 and 3 is dual mem config.
Dimm -2 and 3 is dual mem (blue ones and recomended config)

Not dual.
THe only combo I see that cant be dual mem is 1 and 2. That will run in 64bit not 128bit mode.(dual). So the mem isnt slower in black slot-its still running full ddr spec. Just not independant channel like in dual. Thats how a combo of 3 is possible.:)