133FSB and HCLK probs

[lan_boy]

I have a DFI CA-63SN. In the BIOS (award) there is a setting for the CPU FSB speed (also has jumpers) and there is a setting for ther DRAM Clock (no jumpers).

When i set the CPU to "auto" via jumpers, it correctly detects the Intel 600EB to be 133MHz FSB. The DRAM Clock sits at "HCLK-33". This made sense, when I had PC100 memory installed. I recently tried using PC133 (certified, from Micron) and the setting remained at "HCLK-33". Ok, I say, and i double check the RAM specs on Micron's site, as well as using a utility to snoop the SPD chips to confirm it's PC133 (it is).

So, I figure, what the heck and I set the DRAM Clock setting to "HCLK" (when FSB is at 133, there is an "HCLK" and "HCLK-33
). Now, upon reboot, I get a steady series of beeps (believed to indicate no memory). I've tried clearing CMOS using jumper and popping battery and shorting the battery holder contacts. The only way I can get this thing to boot, now, is to manually strap the CPU FSB to 100Mhz, which allows the RAM to run also at 100MHz (recall the HCLK setting I made in BIOS). Nothing I do seems to clear the HCLK setting and when booted up at 100MHz FSB there is not an option to drop DRAM Clock back to "-33". That setting appears to be an option only when FSB is set to 133, which I can no longer boot with because of the damn HCLK setting which causes this PC133 RAM to fail or the mobo to fail in detecting it.

I realize this is most likely an issue with the PC133 RAM and Mobo not getting along, but the bottom line at this point is:

HOW can I get my BIOS to a) REALLY clear itself and reconfigure everything on reboot or b) Get that setting in BIOS back to "HCLK-33" so it'll boot with 133MHz FSB again?

Any help is appreciated. I must be missing something obvious here, because it just shouldn't be this difficult (ya, right).

Thanks,

-LB

 

[lan_boy]

Grr... never mind (I guess), though if anyone has some additional insight they can offer I'd appreciate it.

So, putting my prior PC100 memory sticks (128MB each) in had no effect along with clearing CMOS. BUT, here's the rub on that. The PC100 is also micron RAM and very similar in chip number to the PC133 from micron. It looks like the only difference is in chip speed (8ns vs. 7.5ns). In looking at the SPD info for both the PC100 and PC133 they are extremely similar, except for the PC133 support listed in the SPD of the PC133 sticks.

Ok, so I drop in an older 64MB PC100 stick of NEC I had kicking around and it has very different SPD info (one thing being 222 vs. 322) ontop of being a 64MB stick instead of the 128MB's i have in the form of the PC100 and 133 sticks. Well, it now boots up fine with 133FSB and the DRAM Clock is automagically back again to "HCLK-33" (where it should be for PC100, no?). For whatever the reason, pulling the Micron PC133 and PC100 seems to not be enough of a change for my mobo/bios to see the change.

For now, I'm stuck with some legit Micron PC133 that simply doesn't work (yet) with this mobo. A shame, but I can at least overclock the FSB more capably that I could with the PC100 in it. Hopefully I can find a fix for this or maybe DFI can come thru with some info on how to make this PC133 work in their mobo.

Not sure how high I can go with the P3/600EB, since the AGP/PCI bus speeds might be the limiting factor. I don't think I can change the divider for them.

Thanks,

-LB

 

[EvilpopE]

Check to see if you have an option in your bios for cas latency of your ram. Try setting it to either cas2 or cas3(whatever the opposite of what it is set at now). I had the same problem with some ram on my be6-2 (didn't boot) until i changed that setting.

 

[markedmundb]

Most CAS2 PC100 Ram (at 8Ns) will run PC133 at CAS3.

Even tho my new Soyo board gives me "Reccomended CAS is 2" and "Recommended RAM speed is PC100" it'll run with my new Crucial 128Mb DIMM at Turbo, Host+33, CAS3, and my generic 128Mb DIMM at 8Ns, Host+33, CAS3.

Try setting the bits at the top (DRAM Bank bits- I forget the proper title I've only had this board 2 days.) at 8/10Ns, as opposed to Turbo or any other mode. on the PC100 DIMM Slot

Strange you should get No Memory Beep codes.

Have you tried swapping the RAM chips around so they are in different DIMM Slots? It could be that the fastest is required in the first slot for the faster RAM speed to be recognised...

Just a few thoughts...

BIOS clearance: Try unplugging the PSU from the board, before shorting the jumpers/ removing the battery. When you do short the BIOS jumper and/or remove the battery, leave it for a while (go and make a cup of tea) before replugging everything in. That'll clear the BIOS.

Have you checked your mobo manufacturer's website for a BIOS update. They could be a minor problem in your current BIOS, that an update would fix...

Another coupl'a ideas...