Need some help with A7N8X Issues

[Dracas]

And I think I've tracked the problem down to the Processor or RAM. Here's my specs atm:

AMD Athlon Thunderbird 1.01 ghz ASHHA

1x V-Data(A-Data Corporation) PC2100 Double-Sided low Density 256MB Memory Module (crappy. very crappy.)
1x V-Data(A-Data Corporation) PC2100 Single-Sided High Density 256MB Memory Module (Slightly less crappy. still crappy.)

Asus A7N8X Deluxe (New)

Chaintech Excel GT20 GeForce 4 Ti4200 64MB @ 4x AGP 2.6v AGP control voltage

Pioneer DVD-106S Slot-Load DVD player

OptoRite CD/CDRW 40x12x40 C4002 (?) Burner

Maxtor 7200 RPM 40GB HDD ATA-133

Thats all she wrote, for now anyhow

Problem is, most everything was swapped from my old system, excluding the new Mainboard and the High-Density Ram stick, my system has been randomly "Resetting" whenever it feels, at one point when the system reset and I came back from the other room and it was stuck in the POST screen and the word "Press EL to ent BIO" was displayed...that led me to believe something was screwed with the processor or ram, because the board boots up normally with another process/type of ram installed.

My guess is that the one low-density (el crappo) stick of ram is causing a majority of the problems, I ordered it from some company called 1stchoicememory.com and when I got it (this was some time ago) I got a letter with it that said "This item is NOT refundable. Not-Compatible with WinXP. Not Compatible with AMD Athlon Processors)

Now, that stick worked fine in a lower quality system (EP-8KHA KT266 non-A rev) but seems to be what I would think is causing the problems in this new system, the point of posting was to get second opinions. The entire idea of buying a second stick of ram though from A-Data corporation was that I had hoped (hoped.) they would play nice together so I could boost my ram a bit for handling large image files in Photoshop (normally, 130~240MB range for multi-layer digital coloring schemes).

So am I on the right track or has someone had an issue like this with the A7N8X Deluxe and know better where to look?

[Rocketmech]

Generic ram is always hit and miss. There's an old saying," Never let the accountant be the engineer." (I should use that as my sig to remind me of my own mistakes :) )
You can check your memory with Memtest86 (http://www.memtest86.com) , it should pass all 11 tests without errors.
If you need to replace the ram , opt for Crucial, Samsung, or Kingston PC2700. It wont break the bank and its ready for when you upgrade the cpu capable of higher fsb's.
Be sure you have the current cpu/ram clock in sync. , example : 133/133 , and the memory timings set to optimum.
You should also check your temps/voltages are ok.

[causticVapor]

Indeed, sounds more like a PSU problem than anything to me....

Some sticks just need more power...

Also, the motherboard draws more power than your older one...

[Dracas]

Wow, my PSU really? 300W isn't reasonably anymore?

Gee, and to think I'm not even using any add-in cards I was using on the EP-8KHA, genius - so either my power supply randomly sucks or Asus developed a crappy power grid for this mainboard :p

Looks like the stick of ram was the problem, pulled it - no issues yet, aside that my systems slower without the spare ram. Bummer, why they even let them label this stuff PC2100 DDR SDRAM is beyond me, it probably wouldn't even run right at DDR200....

Someone needs to write up a better standard for Memory retail and developement, if the basic timings and noise qualities will not support commonly used processors, they need to not be selling it. or even manufacturing it, why would you manufacture something that doesn't work right????

[lptech]

Dracas-

I recommend that you use memory modules that are certified to work with your mobo listed in the manual. Never mix and match memory if you're not sure of how they'll work on the mobo in question. Read what the manual recommends first! Otherwise, "Buyer Beware!" It is less aggravating and less costlier to buy the correct memory the first time around!

As far as whether your PSU(Power Supply Unit) is concerned, I figure out my power needs using the following link!

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/maxpc/index_cases.htm

They list out what the range of power draw each component takes from the power supply. It is a very good guide to follow when determining how much maximum wattage rating one needs for their system! Hope that it is helpful. Good luck.:)

LPTECH

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Well dont be running it in Dual mem config. Thats the problem. I mean one stick is low-density the other high. And you expect them to play nice in dual mode. Even as single channel it might not like it. But its worth a try I guess. LOL both mem stick have to be the same speed much less the same density for dual mode. Make sure only one stick is in the blue slot for now and the other is the black so its all running on one mem channel till ya get some real mem. I got 256mb Kingston pc2700 cas 2.5 from newegg for $35 plus $5 shipping and lifetime warrenty, fudge that no return crappolla. Great deal really. I bought two and dual mode has been rock solid. Running it at cas 2 pc2700 right now!;)

[Dracas]

$1500-P4 gamer:

Hey thanks for the info, wasn't sure quite yet how dual-channel worked but I'm finding the ups and downs quickly, I'll try again in single channel mode. If that works, then it will still be helpful to have the extra ram for Photoshop.

The plan right now is to Save up and get a Barton 3000+ and two sticks of (1gig total) PC3500 since I don't have any other purchases planned for a bit. haha, $600 for ram and a processor, my girls buying a computer for that much lol.

lptech:

Sweet, thanx for the link, it'll come in handy :t

[Dracas]

Looks like the old Stick of ram suffered some sort of ESD damage despite grounding myself when I did some work on the system, that would be the only reason I could guess it would be doing what it is.

GMG (GiF Movie Gear) provided some helpful error messages reporting several memory addresses that can't be written to or read from.

Dead Segments:

1st Try:
0xc6ffc7c4 could not be written
0x3340aa45 could not be read

Second Try:
0x001a7000 could not be written
0x3340aa45 could not be written

Third Try:
0xb8feb7b8 could not be written
0x0effd407 could not be read

Seems like a pretty wide band of memory it can't access, so I'm pulling the second stick back out. Crappy cheap memory.

The System Application warning log in administrative tools also showed (a great multitude) of similar information. So much for that then I guess, the spare sticks getting tossed.

I love flushing money down a hole in the ground.

[Izdaari]

Looks like it was bad RAM then. Glad you got it solved, my sympathies on having to chuck the RAM. :)

Cheaping out on RAM or PS is almost always a bad idea. So far as the PS rating 300W would probably be ok, depending on the brand. For example, a 300W Enermax will kick **** all over a generic 450W so far as actual usable power. But most cheap 300W units really are pretty anemic.

[Dracas]

Seems the A7N8X Deluxe really just plain hates V-Data(A-Data Corporation) RAM DIMMs. Neither work, both report similar errors in GFG and I'm beginning to suspect it might be something simple like a memory assignment conflict with some hardware, what baffles me though is that I'm running a 'naked' system, no extra's, just a couple cdroms, a hard disk and a videocard...so what on earth would be conflicting?

This problems far from over but its become an amusing ride through the ides of computer demonology lol, I think I'll glue some horns to it and call him satan. In the mean time, I dumpster dived earlier and came up with two decent ATX cases and a Jetway 911AF Mainboard complete with a 850 mhz PentiumIII Science-expirement-waiting-to-happen so I should have computing available while I tweak the asus down and figure out whats wrong with it. Not to mention my GF just ordered a rather nice 3.06ghz Intel Hyper-threading enabled system from Dell...*sproink* I don't think I'll be out of the loop with all the computers now stacked up in our little studio apartment lol

Anyone wanna donate a cheap 10 dollar keyboard and 5 dollar mouse? I'm still out of work, and getting these systems working and selling them might be the only thing keeping me alive until I get all my college FAFSA/AFSA and work figured out

Yikes, job markets viscious here in CA

Back on topic though - Going to play with safe ram settings and whatnot, someone mind explaining the terms "2-2-2-3" mean as far as Ram timings? I think I get the idea, but I want to check what each dash limited number means to be sure I'm not goofing something, a second opinion is always helpful.

Thanks a bunch:t

[Dracas]

:eek: :confused: :(

The asus rebooted earlier and died entirely, upon running memtest x86 from a bootdisk, it reported 4972 or so errors from any configuration (first stick second stick, both sticks single channel, both sticks dual channel) all reported the same issues.

System won't POST, crashes in BIOS, crashes in Windows, Crashes in MemTest, crashes while its crashing. It worked for four weeks and will no longer even boot, upon moving the memory between that mainboard and my old mainboard, the old one works fine. The asus is dead, likely faulty from the factory, as it was consistently changing available values in the bios (at some points, even while I was making changes and editting values) and eventually gave me the option to set my FSB as "1" and nothing else, some sort of funky electrical failure with the mainboard.

Now, if I had some newer/better ram to test it with, I would, but chances are I am going to RMA it back to newegg for a new one. At this point, theres nothing else I can do. Everything was running at (or below) specification and simply refused to work anymore.

For the record: No overclocking was attempted on the A7N8X deluxe, not even a raise in voltage was attempted, the powersupply has checked and rechecked that it is working correctly and because the RAM works in the old mainboard, I have to assume that the ASUS was faulty.

That....sucks.

I may reconsider ordering a new one when this one RMA's, anyone else using PC2100 or a Thunderbird processor on an Asus A7N8X deluxe, please let me know and also let me know if you've had any of these problems, thanks a bunch.

[$1500-P4 gamer]

I have this mobo. ) problems no reboots yet. That mem is incompat with this mobo. Check www.asus.com for recomended mem and you'll see what I mean. Next time run the right mem with it as it could have actually hurt the mobo's mem controler. Im useing the Kingston pc2700 cas 2.5 VT ram series 256mb x2. That mem is 100% compat.;)

[Dracas]

Thats helpful but where does it say this mem is incompatible, I can't find it, and for that matter, I couldn't find the DDR PC2100 Mem compatability table

Mind helping me out Gamer?

[Terminator]

Just so you know someone has PC2100 sticks on this board. I have 2 Crucial(micron) PC2100 Cas 2.5 2x 256MB=512MB dual channelled. CAS won't drop to 2.0 but didn't expect it to. Runs asynchrynous with my Barton 2500+ so FSB 333 and mem 266MHz. Golden rule for me is never skimp on memory QUALITY.
Will be buying either Corsair PC3200's low latency or OCZ PC3200/3500 soon because I know they come pretested on the A7N8X board.
Rig as follows:-

ASUS A7N8X Deluxe (obviously)
Barton 2500+ (unclocked but know it clocks higher than 3000+ speeds cuz I tried it just to see :) )
2 x 256 Crucial PC2100 ram
QTec gold 450W PSU dual fan
Leadtek A250 Ti4400 vid card (unclocked but know it goes beyond Ti4600 speeds)
Leadtek 2000XP TV card
Netgear 10/100 NIC
40GB ATA133 Maxtor HD (will add second drive sometime)
TDK Cyclone 48/24/48 CDRW
LG 16/42 DVD
Copper Evercool with 3000RPM fan (very quiet)
and usual bits Microsoft internet keyboard/logitech optical mouse/FD/scanner/printer/etc

Not had any probs except sometimes it has trouble booting up from cold...almost as if the computer prefers to run warm?????Once its up it's rock solid. I know cold booting put's huge strains on the power supply as the drives etc boot up but it might be this motherboard with it's automatic overheat shutdown system! Maybe on booting it's sensors are screwy?

At least you know at least someone has PC2100 dual banked on this system.

T

:t

[Dracas]

Why I had so many problems, I'm using OCZ brand memory sticks at the moment, both in their DDR 2100 class, but both were made by V-Data apparently at different timelines (different purchases) both are having problems, and aside the fact that they're only PC2100, why would it give me the shiz and not you?

Hmm...maybe my powersupply is the thing having issues. Here:

3.3v = 7.9 PSU = 20A Buffer of 12.1 Amps
5.0v = 18.3 PSU = 30A Buffer of 11.7 Amps
12v = 12.2 PSU = 15A Buffer of 2.8 Amps

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Originally posted by Dracas
Thats helpful but where does it say this mem is incompatible, I can't find it, and for that matter, I couldn't find the DDR PC2100 Mem compatability table

Mind helping me out Gamer?

http://secure.newegg.com/app/specification.asp?item=13-131-436

Sorry newegg had the list but it was made by asus.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=22&manufactory=1315&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1

Thing is they CLAIM all pc2100 is compat. EXCEPT generic. Go to the nforce2 forums and you'll see not all pc2100 is compat. Fact is mine (Kingston pc2700) wasnt on the list! BUT I read reviews before I bought and everyone with this same mem I have had 0 issues. And I have had 0 issues. Im just fiugring what else could it have been? Do you have any other name brand mem to try. The nforce2 is a new chipset. And if you look at bios revisions and such lots of mem was incompat at first. And I think alot still is. Its got something to do with their dual mem controlers. I prolly would rma the board too. THen start off clean with a mem stick thats on that list at newegg garunteed to work right. 1 stick of 333mhz pc700 is cheap. Just get 256mb for like under $40 to see how it works. Then youll know if it was that or not. But they dont recomend running high and low density at the same time in regular mobo's. Doing this in dual mode could have been very hard on the mem controler is all Im saying. Peter M would really know better than I about that but that is what I've found form past experiences.;)