ECS P6BAT-A+ and SDRAM

[MSM0603]

Greetings to you master computer sleuths.

I obtained an ECS P6BAT-A+ motherboard. I intended to make an internet email/word processor machine largely out of spare parts that I have lying around the basement.

I have a SDRAM problem. Downloaded and read the manual. I can have up to 384M of SDRAM. It came with one stick of 64M PC-100 SDRAM. I have plenty of SDRAM and thought...no problemo. However, no combination (alone or together) of SDRAM works. The only way the motherboard POSTs is with the original 64M stick installed. I suspect it is a type of compatiability of SDRAM problem that I am too dense to understand.

The specs:
motherboard: ECS P6BAT-A+ Rev: 1.3B
CPU: PIII @ 450Mhz.
Memory: Siemens HYS64V8200GU-8 8Mx64 SDRAM PC100

The other SDRAM:
Generic 64M PC100 (sticker long gone)
Kingston ValueRAM: KVR-PC133/128-R 740617047042 128M PC133 SDRAM
KByte: P32M6416YA7-75A 256M PC133 SDRAM

Folks, I am out of ideas. Would appreciate any help, thoughts, or suggestions.

[rockinup1231]

What combinations of the ram sticks have you tried?

[MSM0603]

Like I said in my original post, "no combination (alone or together) of SDRAM works. The only way the motherboard POSTs is with the original 64M stick installed. "

Every possible combination, both alone and in groups, have been tried. Every combination, except the original Siemens SDRAM, caused the motherboard NOT to post.

Hopefully, this clarifies the information. I am interested in learning what I am overlooking here!

Thanks for your interest.

Cheers!

[rockinup1231]

Well, my suggestion to you is to buy some more of SDRAM that you need, I googled the RAM you need, and got two links for you.

If you have an eBay account, try here, and scroll toward the bottom:
http://computers.listings.ebay.com/SDRAM_64MB_W0QQfclZ3QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ3QQsacatZ14915Q QsocmdZListingItemList

If not, try here:
http://www.computer-memory-store.com/pc100-pc133-sdram.html?gclid=CMGB4oDQh4UCFQJJFQodpyDJFA

This is a weird situation, I had the same problem with system I am using. I was trying to add more ram with better ram sticks, and the same thing happend.

[MSM0603]

Thanks for your information. I think that I will wait until I understand the problem before blindly throwing money at it with the hope of solving it.

Cheers!

[BipolarBill]

You can't really just toss modern high density RAM into old motherboards. They can't handle it. The two best places to buy your RAM are Crucial and Kingston. You specify your motherboard and they tell you exactly what to buy. Nothing else is safe - especially not Ebay.

[lptech]

MSM0603-

BPB is correct to point out that your systemboard might not be compatible to run using newer type memory modules. Your particular Super Socket 7 systemboard will only run on PC-66 or PC-100 (depending on bus clock speed for CPU) SDRAM modules. You might also need to do BIOS update in order for the newer memory modules to be recognized. Good luck!

LPTECH

[MSM0603]

Good point. Will consider BIOS upgrade. Only did one of those before and did not have success. Went to crucial and kingston sites, interestingly enough, they recommend PC133 modules that appear to be pretty straight forward.

256M SDRAM, PC133 • CL=3 • Registered • ECC • 133MHz • 3.3V • 32Meg x 72
128M SDRAM, PC133 • CL=3 • Unbuffered • Non-parity • 133MHz • 3.3V • 16Meg x 64
128M SDRAM, PC133 • CL=2 • Unbuffered • Non-parity • 133MHz • 3.3V • 16Meg x 64

I need to think a little more about this.

Thanks.

[MSM0603]

Gents,

From the manual...seems like a BIOS update may be the next logical step. Will now go and google for the latest BIOS and see if its update listing discusses adding PC133 memory modules. Also, will need to research BIOS updating for my first and only experience was not a good one! Cheers!

Choice of Memory Options

The board has three DIMM slots for the installation of 168-pin, 3.3V
standard or registered SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access
Memory) memory modules. The system supports memory that has builtin
error correction (EC), error correction code (ECC), or has no error
correction.

If you are using a Pentium-III/PentiumII processor cartridge that operates
over a 100 MHz system bus, you must install PC-100 compliant memory
modules (memory that operates at 100 MHz). If you install the PPGA
Celeron processor, you can install memory that operates at 66 MHz (you
can install PC-100 memory if you wish, but the system will run the
memory at 66 MHz).

You can install one, two or three modules. Each memory module can
hold a maximum capacity of 128 MB of standard SDRAM chips, or 256
MB of registered SDRAM chips so maximum memory capacity is 384
MB of standard SDRAM memory or 768 MB registered SDRAM memory.

[MSM0603]

From the ECS website. No specific mention of adding PC133 support. Sad face.

Version/Release Date/Note
1.0 03/19/99 Award® BIOS. First release
1.0c 03/25/99 Award® BIOS.
1. Change "Gate A20 Option" item default to normal from fast
2. Add "I/O Recovery Time" item to "Chipset Feature", and set default to disabled
3. Support ACPI feature
4. Support 533MHz Pentium III CPU (133MHz x 4) 178KB Flash Award

1.0h Award® BIOS. Updating new CPU microcode for new PIII CPU

2.0 11/16/99 Award® BIOS.
1. IRQ 5 reserved for Legcy ISA
2. Support ACPI CPU fan off

3.0 06/22/99 Award® BIOS. Function update for VT693p VT596A

3.1 07/15/99 Award® BIOS.
1. Support On Board audio enable/disable
2. Support 2 Colors LED
3. Support CPU FAN controled by GL520SM & GPIO

5.6 06/30/00 Award® BIOS. Support new CPU signon 199KB