Load times differ with FSB speed??

[RobUK]

Well my gf's pc is giving more little supprises. After installing the new memory module, after the first was found faulty, the system seems stable and running ok, but the loading times are about 2mins!! But when the FSB is dropped from 133 (266ddr) to 100 (200ddr) the boot time is only 40 seconds.
This is a real pain! In windows it seems faster at the 133 bus, but loading takes ages and the little WinXP loading bit stops and stutters when loading. The hard disc is accessed much more when at 100 than at 133, i can't understand it.

Is there anything i can do??

System:
AthlonXP 1700+
MSI K7T266 Pro2 Raid
256MB Crucial PC2100 memory
Voodoo3 3000 AGP tvout
Hauppage tv capture card PCI
Zoltrix 56k PCI winmodem
Onboard sound
6.4gb Seagate meadlist
40gb Seagate Barracuda IV ATA100 7,200 rpm
Hitachi DVD-ROM
TEAC CD-RW

the system is set up with the CD-RW on primary master, DVD on secondary Master and the 40gb seagate/6.4gb seagate on the Raid controller (ide3)

I have tried the loading times using the above Seagate hard discs to see if it was a HD prob but the same happens when either drive is running when the fsb is changed. I put WinXP on both drives to test this.

Any suggestions?????
At the min i have left it at 1700+ (1.47Ghz 133x11) but its faster at starting at 1.1ghz (100 x11). what to do? is it a mobo problem????

RobUK

[deadkenny]

I'm really just guessing but it sounds like it's gotta be the memory or the mobo's problem. Maybe the memory just barely rates as PC2100 and gives lots of memory errors resulting in retransmissions or something at '266' but operates fine under '200'. Another theory might have to do with the latency. Some memory only operates at the higher bus speed if it's also set to a higher latency. In this case maybe the latency is more important that the bus speed. The theory could be verified by setting the latency manually to more conservative settings when running at both '200' or '266'. Otherwise, might be a chipset issue.

[RobUK]

well i was thinking mobo as i have changed the ram for new and tested it in my sytem and that was fine. Onlything is that the pc is very stable!!! I can't understand whats happending. System is running fine, but slow at first. Might try a bios update or just reflash it to see if its a bios prob.

Any other suggestions ppl??

RobUK

[AllGamer]

actually it does makes sense
higher FSB = faster I/O

[RobUK]

so is the mobo dead????

RobUK

[RobUK]

Could the CPU have a problem aswell or is it just a mobo thing. Also i'm using the raid controler to interface the hard disc, could the promise raid be damaged???

Anyone!

RobUK

[ukulele]

I'd bet my money on the ram being the problem. Sounds like it doesn't like the higher FSB when running the boot tests. It is probably trying to run the test over and over again untill it is happy. Maybe there is a bios setting you can change for the ram that can resolve this.

[RobUK]

i have tested the memory in my machine ukulele, its fine. The thing i can't work out is why it is slower when it gets to the black screen with the Winxp logo and the little bar that has the blue moving bit, wow what a mouth full When at 100fsb its fast at loading at 133 its slow at loading, by about a miniute or so. Once windows loads (at 133) everything is running faster than at the 100fsb setting. Whats going on??? Shuting down is also speedy, a few seconds if that.

Come on guys u must have some suggestions, i don't wanna send this mobo back if they can't really pinpoint a problem, i mean it does sound strange that its going back because it loads slow and thats it!!!!

Any ideas???

RobUK

[deadkenny]

I still not clear, are you setting the memory in the BIOS based on "MEMORY SPD' (i.e. automatically reads the memory rating)? If so, it is possible that it runs the memory at a higher latency to run at the higher bus speed. For example, I know that some PC133 would only run at CAS3 at 133MHz, but could run CAS2 only at 100HMz. So then you've got a trade off situation. For some apps the lower latency might be better, even at the lower bus speed. Exactly what are the memory settings when you run at '200' vs. '266'?

[ukulele]

Robuk, It's Gremlins, I tell ya'. Your infested and that's just the way it goes. You are going to have to live with a slow boot or leave it on for the rest of your life. If you try to RMA the board, I doubt they will take it back anyway. Nobody wants to handle a board that is infested with them nasty critters.

[RobUK]

Memory is set to SPD in the bios and should be running at 133Mhz all the time, no matter what CPU bus speed i choose. I had one of the K7T 266 pro2 motherboard, before i sold it, and it was never slow at loading! Well i though the same about the RMA they are gonna laugh! But it is annoying.

Ho well, i'll keeps trying.

RobUK

[RobUK]

forgot to mention that when the Windows XP logo is displayed and the blue moving thingy stops for a bit then starts again, then stops, for 90% of this stopping and starting there is NO hard disc activity. The Winxp logo bit is displayed for about 40 seconds of the boot time, with nothing happening.

RobUK