RAM & CPU help please!

[sirius]

I just baught my new gear, but I think Ive been sent wrong RAM chips.

On the order its says 400FSB 1gb DDR paired memory (corsair).......yet on the boot up sequence it flashes on 'memory speed at 333' or something - its very fast to see, but its definately 333 - which I know is the cheaper version of the otherwise same spec RAM chips.

Also, on 'autodetect' and defaults on the Bios/Cmos and in the 'system' area of the control panel it reports :

Amd Athlon 2500+
1.83ghz
1.00gb ram

Now, I baught an XP Athlon 3200+ - but I know the clock speed is probably less becuase of the stupid way AMD fanny about with thier numbering system.


Does anyone know how I can find out if my memory chips are the wrong ones (333fsb and not 400fsb) and what I should be seeing for the CPU specification? Is it right its reporting a 2500+ in the System Info page, because thats on 'default/autodetect' and I DONT fancy overclocking to achieve the speeds I should have as standard....

Any help on this would be good, cos Im at the far end with this PC already and Ive only just got the bugger running .


Cheers

Sirius.

[Phil]

May be a dumb reply but do you have a jumper setting on your mobo to alter frequency speeds?... I know some ASROCK boards do this, and you don't get correct DDR timings/reports until the jumper has been shifted to correct FSB...


HTH...

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will assist soon!.

Phil

[sirius]

Cheers chaps, Im just dl'ing the Sandra.


Its an Abit NF7-S mobo. Ive left the yellow jumpers as it came cos I darent mess with them. Ill have a look in the manual later and see if there is anything mentioned in there that Ive missed - Ive already looked once, but now youve pin pointed what it may be I'll have another look.

Sirius.

[sirius]

SiSoftware Sandra

System

Host Name : eited

User : edited

Domain : edited

Processor

Model : AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2500+

Speed : 1.83GHz

Model Number : 2500 (estimated)

Performance Rating : PR2654 (estimated)

Type : Standard

L2 On-board Cache : 512kB ECC Synchronous Write-Back (16-way, 64 byte line size)

Mainboard

Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus

MP Support : No

MP APIC : No

System BIOS : Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG

Mainboard : http://www.abit.com.tw/ NF7-S/NF7 (nVidia-nForce2)

Total Memory : 1023MB DDR-SDRAM

Chipset 1

Model : Abit Computer Corp nForce2 AGP Controller

Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 166MHz (332MHz data rate)

Total Memory : 1024MB DDR-SDRAM

Memory Bus Speed : 2x 166MHz (332MHz data rate)

Video System

Monitor/Panel : Plug and Play Monitor

Adapter : ASUS RADEON A9600XT

Adapter : ASUS RADEON A9600XT Secondary

Physical Storage Devices

Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive

Hard Disk : SAMSUNG SP1213C SCSI Disk Device

CD-ROM/DVD : CD-ROM Drive/F5D

CD-ROM/DVD : PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107D

Logical Storage Devices

1.44MB 3.5" (A : N/A

Hard Disk (C : 19.5GB (14.7GB, 75% Free) (NTFS)

CD-ROM/DVD (D : N/A

Bt_broadband (E : 67MB (0MB, 0% Free) (CDFS)

Hard Disk (F : N/A

Hard Disk (G : N/A

Hard Disk (H : N/A

Hard Disk (I : N/A

Hard Disk (J : N/A

Peripherals

Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 2 COM / 1 LPT

USB Controller/Hub : Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller

USB Controller/Hub : Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller

USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub

USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub

FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller

FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller

Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard

Mouse : PS/2 Compatible Mouse

MultiMedia Device(s)

Device : NVIDIA(R) nForce(TM) Audio Codec Interface

Device : NVIDIA(R) nForce(TM) MCP Audio Processing Unit (Dolby(R) Digital)

Device : Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS (WDM)

Device : Creative Game Port

Power Management

AC Line Status : On-Line

Operating System(s)

Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP

Network Services

Adapter : NVIDIA nForce MCP Networking Adapter





Sirius.

[Myk]

As formentioned just go into the bios and set you FSB to 400 (and memory if seperated in bios), your multiplier is correct so once FSB set to 400 all should be fine fella

[sirius]

Heres the Motherboard info off the Sandra:


SiSoftware Sandra
Mainboard

Manufacturer : http://www.abit.com.tw/

MP Support : No

Model : NF7-S/NF7 (nVidia-nForce2)

Version : 2.X

System Memory Controller

Location : Mainboard

Error Correction Capability : None

Number of Memory Slots : 3

Maximum Installable Memory : 1GB

Bank0/1 - A0 : Empty

Bank2/3 - A1 : DIMM 512MB

Bank4/5 - A2 : DIMM 512MB

Chipset 1

Model : Abit Computer Corp nForce2 AGP Controller

Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus

Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 166MHz (332MHz data rate)

Maximum FSB Speed / Max Memory Speed : 2x 200MHz / 2x 200MHz

Width : 64-bit

IO Queue Depth : 8 request(s)

Chipset 1 Hub Interface

Type : HyperTransport

Version : 1.00

In/Out Width : 8-bit / 8-bit

Speed : 2x 200MHz (400MHz data rate)

Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks

Bank 0 : 512MB DDR-SDRAM 2.5-3-3-0CL 2CMD

Bank 1 : 512MB DDR-SDRAM 2.5-3-3-0CL 2CMD

Channels : 2

Speed : 2x 166MHz (332MHz data rate)

Multiplier : 5/5x

Width : 64-bit

Power Save Mode : No

Fixed Hole Present : No

Memory Module(s)

Memory Module 2 : Corsair VS512MB400 512MB 16x(32Mx8) DDR-SDRAM PC3200U-2533-600 (CL2.5 up to 200MHz)

Memory Module 3 : Corsair VS512MB400 512MB 16x(32Mx8) DDR-SDRAM PC3200U-2533-600 (CL2.5 up to 200MHz)

Environment Monitor 1

Model : Winbond W83627HF ISA

Version : 2.01

Mainboard Specific Support : No

Temperature Sensor(s)

Board Temperature : 30.0°C / 86.0°F

CPU Temperature : 45.0°C / 113.0°F

Cooling Device(s)

Auto Fan Speed Control : No

Chassis Fan Speed : 2538rpm

CPU Fan Speed : 3835rpm

Voltage Sensor(s)

CPU Voltage : 1.62V

Aux Voltage : 2.64V

+3.3V Voltage : 3.34V

+5V Voltage : 5.03V

+12V Voltage : 11.86V

-12V Voltage : -12.36V

-5V Voltage : -5.20V

Standby Voltage : 4.92V

Battery Voltage : 3.58V

AGP Bus(es) on Hub 1

Version : 3.00

Speed : 8x

Fast-Writes Enabled : Yes

Isochronous Mode Enabled : No

Addressing Enabled : 32-bit

Aperture Size : 64MB

PCI Bus(es) on Hub 1

Version : 2.20

Number of Bridges : 2

PCI Bus 0 : PCI (1x PCIClk)

PCI Bus 1 : PCI (1x PCIClk)

LPC Hub Controller 1

Model : Abit Computer Corp nForce2 ISA Bridge

USB Controller 1

Model : Abit Computer Corp nForce2 OHCI USB Controller

Version : 1.00

Interface : OHCI

Channels : 3

Supported Speed(s) : Low (1.5Mbps) Full (12Mbps)

Legacy Emulation Enabled : No

USB Controller 2

Model : Abit Computer Corp nForce2 OHCI USB Controller

Version : 1.00

Interface : OHCI

Channels : 3

Supported Speed(s) : Low (1.5Mbps) Full (12Mbps)

Legacy Emulation Enabled : No

USB Controller 3

Model : Abit Computer Corp nForce2 EHCI USB 2.0 Controller

Version : 2.00

Specification : 1.00

Interface : EHCI

Channels : 6

Companion Controllers : 2

Supported Speed(s) : Low (1.5Mbps) Full (12Mbps) High (480Mbps)

Addressing Support : 32-bit

Legacy Emulation Enabled : No

FireWire/1394 Controller 1

Model : Abit Computer Corp nForce2 FireWire Controller

Version : 1.10

Interface : OHCI

Enhanced Support : Yes

Channels : 64

Speed : 400MHz

FireWire/1394 Controller 2

Model : Creative Labs Audigy 2 Firewire Controller

Version : 1.10

Interface : OHCI

Enhanced Support : No

Channels : 64

Speed : 400MHz

System SMBus Controller 1

Model : nVidia MCP2/3 B0 SMBus

Version : 0A.02

Slave Device Enabled : No

System SMBus Controller 2

Model : nVidia MCP2/3 B1 SMBus

Version : 0A.02

Slave Device Enabled : No

Expansion Slot(s)

PCI0 (1h) : PCI 32-bit +5V +3.3V PME Full-Length Used (Abit Computer Corp nForce2 ISA Bridge)

PCI1 (2h) : PCI 32-bit +5V +3.3V PME Full-Length Available (Abit Computer Corp nForce2 OHCI USB Controller)

PCI2 (3h) : PCI 32-bit +5V +3.3V PME Full-Length Used

PCI3 (4h) : PCI 32-bit +5V +3.3V PME Full-Length Used (Abit Computer Corp nForce MCP-T Networking Adapter)

PCI4 (5h) : PCI 32-bit +5V +3.3V PME Full-Length Available (Abit Computer Corp nForce MCP-T Audio Processing Unit (Dolby Digital))

AGP (F0h) : AGP 32-bit +5V +3.3V Full-Length Available

Port Connector

PRIMARY IDE : None - ATA / None

SECONDARY IDE : None - ATA / None

FDD : 8251 FIFO - Floppy Disk / None

COM1 : Serial Port 16450 - 9 Pin Dual Inline / DB-9 pin male

COM2 : Serial Port 16450 - 9 Pin Dual Inline / DB-9 pin male

LPT1 : Parallel Port ECP/EPP - DB-25 pin female / DB-25 pin female

Keyboard : Keyboard - PS/2 / PS/2

PS/2 Mouse : Mouse - PS/2 / PS/2

USB : USB - None / None


It says its 2.x version then? I was panicing for a minute there ....yet the FSB values are not tallying up right - depending where you look. . The corsiars seem right - but are they?

Is the CPU OK at Athlon 2500+? Cos it should be reporting a 3200+ version -

I especially got matching 400fsb components (on everything that has FSB of somesort, lol) so I know it should all be running at 400 fsb no matter what I looked at - plus, it was recommended that I pay the extra for it so It lasts me longer and runs my intensive apps better. If its wrong, I'll need to be either replacing them with another asap or demanding a refund of somekind for whatever the difference is I suppose.


Most of these numbers listed above mean nothing to me


Sirius.

[sirius]

Thanks again skippy, and Ive just seen yours Myk! lol.


Im being a bit dumb here I know, but I wanna be starting off on the right foot with this PC this time!

Ta

Sirius.

[sirius]

Thanks peeps, I adjusted the Bios/Cmos to the higher settings - it seems fine so far

Ta

Sirius.

[JAZ]

Ok fella I got that exact board & what you need to do is this-
Goto bios (tap delete on startup)
1 choice is "Softmenu III setup"
Go into that
Move down to "CPU/FSB Dram ratio"
Use page up/down keys to change this to 5/6 (400mhz)
Escape back to main menu & choose save settings, on re-boot your ram will be running at 400mhz.


Thing is doing that gains you nothing really due to your cpu running at 333 (166ddr) if your feeling adventurous you could run your cpu at 400 (200ddr) to match your memory this will turn it into a XP3200+.
If you want to try this & see if your cpu is good go into the "Softmenu III setup" and change the first setting to "user define" then the "FSB" setting underneath to "200" and the "multiplier" setting to "11".

[sirius]

Jaz, Im not sure what I did - Id like to try your route and double check tomorrow . I dont thing I saw a "CPU/FSB Dram Ratio" Thanks for that, its appreciated, Ill have a do when I get in from work tomorrow


Ta m8

Sirius.

[JAZ]

Ok cool, oh btw if for whatever reason you change something & it wont boot up theres a little yellow pull off jumper thing in the bottom left corner of the board on 2 pins, take it off and put it so its on the 2 pins next to it (theres 3 pins if u see what I mean) leave it there for 30 secs and then put it back where it was, that will reset the bios to defaults..

[sirius]

Errm, one more question if I may....lol



I got a XP Pro SP1 disc sorted out, however when I try to boot from the CD (which took some doing), it starts the setup process (where eventually I want to reformat the c:partition and reinstall) it says it cannot find a hard disk and aborts!!!!!. Its a SATA hard disk, so Im not used to this kind of error. Im assuming its checking the IDE slots, but my disk is on a SATA port.

Ta

Sirius

[JAZ]

You need to instal a sata driver, as soon as the xp instal screen starts it will say summat like "press F5 if you need to instal a 3rd party sata/raid driver" so put the sata driver on a floppy disk before you start the xp instal disk & press F5 when it asks...

[Myk]

As Jaz says youll need a floppy with the SATA XP drivers on it for that board (may well be on the board's CD), then just press F6 when prompted.

[doolz]

Originally Posted by sirius

I just baught my new gear, but I think Ive been sent wrong RAM chips.

On the order its says 400FSB 1gb DDR paired memory (corsair).......yet on the boot up sequence it flashes on 'memory speed at 333' or something - its very fast to see, but its definately 333 - which I know is the cheaper version of the otherwise same spec RAM chips.

Also, on 'autodetect' and defaults on the Bios/Cmos and in the 'system' area of the control panel it reports :

Amd Athlon 2500+
1.83ghz
1.00gb ram

Now, I baught an XP Athlon 3200+ - but I know the clock speed is probably less becuase of the stupid way AMD fanny about with thier numbering system.


Does anyone know how I can find out if my memory chips are the wrong ones (333fsb and not 400fsb) and what I should be seeing for the CPU specification? Is it right its reporting a 2500+ in the System Info page, because thats on 'default/autodetect' and I DONT fancy overclocking to achieve the speeds I should have as standard....

Any help on this would be good, cos Im at the far end with this PC already and Ive only just got the bugger running .


Cheers

Sirius.

i got ddr 400 dual channel ram
does ypour mobo have diff collour ram slots ?
mine does
and for me to get teh full speed from teh ram they must be placed inteh matching colour slots
otherwise u dont get teh full 400


have u got one ram chip or 2 ?
with one u wont get full speed