Memory Not Recognized

[maury]

My Intel 586 PCI motherboard (TE430VX) seems not to recognize the PC100
32MB SDRAM DIMM modules that I purchased for upgrade. At powerup, I
hear 3 long beeps, the same as when no memory is installed. When the
original 16MB DIMM is re-installed, everything works normally.

The computer manufacturer, Gateway, specifies 66Mhz speed, but I thought
PC100 memory would work. Could that be the problem?

What else should be checked?

[mjc]

How many slots do you have?

Have you tried 1 32MB DIMM in, by itself, in each slot?

How much memory did you have to start and how much are you trying to get to?

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[BigBlue66]

The 430 series chipset will only cache 64mb of memory. Any more than that, and the system will crawl.

Be that as it may, the computer should still recognize it. Have you checked your motherboard manual to determine what size memory modules it will support? Are the new memory modules the same as the old one, i.e., non-parity or parity?

Good luck.

Big Blue 66


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Life = Karma, or is it, Karma = Life?

[maury]

There are two 168-pin DIMM slots. Each socket supports 8 MB, 16 MB, and
32 MB 2-clock SDRAM DIMM modules (according to the specs from Gateway
support). Maximum memory size is 64 MB of SDRAM. The system board is
supposed to recognize the installed memory at boot-up.

I wanted to upgrade from the original 16 MB to the maximum 64 MB. I
purchased the 32 MB modules on eBay -- the seller indicated the DIMM's
exceeded Gateway's specification ( 60ns, 2-clock, 3.3volt, 66Mhz,
unbuffered ), but I have no way of checking if that's the case....

BTW, how can one tell if the module is parity or non-parity?

[This message has been edited by maury (edited 10-15-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

Hey,

Even if you received 4-clock SDRAM, the computer should still recognize it, but it won't display the correct amount.

As for the parity vs. non-parity issue, the computer should still boot up, but then it would display a parity error. There are usually numbers on the eproms. Find those numbers and then either check on the net, or call your local computer repair shop to see if they can pinpoint what exactly they are.

However, the issue here does not seem to involve whether or not the memory is 2-clock or 4-clock, or whether the memory is parity or non-parity. The computer should still recognize it at boot up, albeit, with errors.

It sounds to me like you have been unfortunate and received fautly RAM modules. I can't think of any other reason that the system would not recognize it.

OR, since it's a Gateway system, it may very well require Gateway specific memory.

There's one other thing you could try if you can get into the BIOS setup. Does the computer beep, then display a message to enter setup to continue? If you can get into the BIOS setup, usually by pushing the Del key, try this: Install the new memory, boot up and enter the BIOS setup. Don't change anything, just save and exit. This will rewrite the CMOS to the new amount of memory.

Post back with your progress.

Big Blue 66

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Life = Karma, or is it, Karma = Life?

[maury]

Thanks for your quick responses.

I did try booting up with each of the 32MB DIMM's, one at a time, and had
the same problem.

And no, I wasn't able to get into BIOS Setup, the machine just stopped; but I would like to try that again.

I am also contacting Gateway support for their input and will post back as soon as I have more information.

[maury]

Thanks for your quick responses.

I did try booting up with each of the 32MB DIMM's, one at a time, and had
the same problem.

And no, I wasn't able to get into BIOS Setup, the machine just stopped; but I would like to try that again.

I am also contacting Gateway support for their input and will post back as soon as I have more information.

[maury]

Gateway tech support supplied me with the following:
http://www.gateway.com/support/techdocs/references/motherboard/cy1t/cy1t
2.shtml

They said,
"PC100 memory is not compatible with your motherboard, this is why it
isn't working correctly. Please reference the Memory Upgrades portion
of the above page for information on the type of memory that can be used
in the system. This type of memory is not proprietary, the technology
to support PC100 memory simply didn't exist when this computer was built
five years ago."

So would I need PC66 memory? The web page doesn't say.

[mjc]

In theory the PC100 should work...the link isn't working so I can't see what Gateway said...

------------------
mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[maury]

Here's the correct link, which should work; somehow the final letters get cut if the URL is too long.

//www.gateway.com/support/techdocs/references/motherboard/cy1t/cy1t2.shtml

I suppose I could try installing the modules in a different system to see if they work.




[This message has been edited by maury (edited 10-19-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

Hey Maury,

I saw one comment on that website that you provided that may offer a clue. Apparently, only gold plated contacts should be used for the memory modules.

Do your modules have gold plated contacts??

MJC is right in that PC100 should be backward compatible. Your idea to try them in another system is a good one though.

Good luck.

Big Blue 66


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Life = Karma, or is it, Karma = Life?

[YODA74]

But isn't that only if your sockets are made of different metal? I Guess what I'm trying to say is you can't mix different metals like(gold & tin)it's like two different conductors? and tin will make gold oxadize? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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W/Me (memory eater)
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answers (http://www.dewassoc.com/support/index.html)

[mjc]

PC100 memory is not anything different than PC66 other than it is confirmed to run a certain speed. It can run at lower speeds with no problem...unless the motherboard uses the SPD (a small EPROM on the stick that contains info about it) information to do the automatic configuration and it doesn't recognize the PC100 as a valid memory type...that may possibly be cleared up with a BIOS update (slim chance). If that is the case (Gateway tech said that PC100 technology didn't exist 5 years ago...) then PC66 is the only way unless you want to buy the EDO SIMMS (if you can find them).

------------------
mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[maury]

Yes, the contacts on the PC100 SDRAM are gold-plated.

I did a search for SPD on Kingston's site and turned up the following VERY INTERESTING article -- must read -- titled "PC100 Vs. PC66: What's the Big deal".
http://www.kingston.com/tools/bits/bit30.asp

Thanks to all who replied. It was a big help. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif