View Single Post
  #8  
Old August 12th 06, 09:15 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion,microsoft.public.win98.internet.windows_update,microsoft.public.win98.networking,microsoft.public.win98.performance,microsoft.public.win98.setup
Alan
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 213
Default Problems with additional RAM aand NIC


"Alan" wrote in message
...

"Haggis" wrote in message
...


"Alan" wrote in message
...

"Haggis" wrote in message
...



"Alan" wrote in message
...

"Haggis" wrote in message
...



"Alan" wrote in message
...
X posted. 2nd attempt as the first time I left the header off

and
it
hasn't
appeared!

I recently purchased additional RAM for my system. The existing

was
2x256k
and for the remaining slot I bought 512k.(All the same
spec/supplier/manufacturer). The system has been stable for some
time
so
I
added the vcache 512000 entry into the system.ini and let that

run
with
no
problems for a couple of days. I then added the 512k RAM which

the
Award
BIOS recognised and dealt with. Unfortunately, I then realised

that
there
was no Internet access. The 2091 router saw the PC power up but

no
data
sent
to line. Checks on the system revealed a problem with the VIA

Rhine
II
fast
Ethernet adapter. Now try as I might with reloads of software

from
the
ASUS
and Windows CDs, I couldn't get the NIC to be accepted by

Windows.
Even
turning the LAN off and on in the BIOS was recognised by Windows

but
did
not
resolve the problem. Finally I powered off, removed the

additional
RAM
(no
difference) and then restored a previous version of the Registry

and
hey
presto all OK. Question was I just unlucky or is there a tie in
between
the
additional RAM and the Rhine adapter?
Alan



I cannot think of a reason the NIC would fail when adding memory
...but
then
again NIC drivers do get corrupted ...

reboot into safe mode and remove all entries relating to your NIC

(and
any
other NIC cards found there) ..you may have a ghost NIC in
there...(control
paneldevice manager

reboot and let windows go through the install of the drivers again

..

post back :

I note your comments. Some time ago I did clear out ghosts but I

will
check
again. In the meantime, I also took the liberty of e-mailing ASUS

and
spent
time surfing to see if there is anything the MOBO can or cannot do.

One
of
ASUS posts for the A7V8X-X suggested there may be a problem

depending
on
the
speed of the FSB. I am using an AMD Athlon XP 2200+ and the BIOS is

set
to
auto for this and I am having difficulty finding what speed it is
running
at
in terms of FSB.
The spec. for the MOBO for the Memory says 3 x DDR DIMM Sockets,

Max
3
GB
unbuffered PC2100/1600 non-ECC DDR SDRAM. A note then says:- PC3200
maximum
to 2 banks only. PC2700 maximum to 4 banks only. I am using PC2700

so
am
limited to 4 banks - but does anybody know what the deffinition of

a
bank
is?
In addition the CPU socket spec. says that when using 333MHz FSB

CPU,
system
memory supports DDR333 only. I don't understand this, can anybody
explain
the significance.
Thanks
Alan




a "Bank" is the slot the memory goes into (what you are using sounds

ok
...did you try just the 512mb ?)

FSB of the processor has to match the FSB speed of the

motherboard/memory
or
they do not communicate properly (Front Side Bus)

I can't seem to find what FSB speed the processor is running at. When

I
check in the BIOS nothing appears to relate to it and the settings are
auto.
The BIOS correctly identifies the AMD OK at POST but no FSB detail.
Alan



if hit "pause" quick enough at boot time , you should see the CPU speed

and
stepping.(and IIRC you can see it in sysinfo under accessories/tools

..going
from memory here :)

most motherboards will detect and automatically adjust bus speed to

match
the CPU and Memory

Thanks for your input. I don't appear to have a pause option during POST

but
do confirm the correct speed of 1800 is being given. At present System

Info
giving an IRQ of 3 for the Rhine LAN. I have been spending time checking
over everything - just to make sure. I found this little gem buried deep
down in the ASUS web page for the MOBO and it wasn't there a little while
ago when I last checked. Anyway what it says is concerning the memory

banks
and according to ASUS, one single sided DIMM means one bank, one double
sided DIMM means two banks, two single sided DIMMs means two banks etc.
Banks doesn't mean slots in their logic! So in my case there are three

slots
on the MOBO and using PC2700 I can use 4 banks, i.e. 2 doubles or as I

have
one double and two singles. Why they don't put this in the user's manual

is
beyond me.
I have had all the RAM out and checked it against the Samsung DDR SDRAM
Module Code Information and as I thought, it is all the same type. When I
was running the 2 x 256 modules I also logged onto www.crucial.com/uk to
check what they said and use their little routine to analyse the memory
options for my MOBO. Very useful and confirmed what I had done was correct
with the same option for upgrading to 1 Meg. Next step was to put the 512
into slot one and nothing else and see how it runs. At present all OK and

no
failing devices! I shall then upgrade the system.ini again and try one 256
at a time and see what happens.
Alan
Now running 768 with no apparent problems.

Alan