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problem adding RAM to Athlon mobo
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Posted by: JamieWJackson
My first message here; I just registered. Anyway, I have the following system:
Athlon 900MHz CPU
128MB RAM on 1 DIMM
ATX motherboard with AMI BIOS (C) 1999, "Released" 2/8/2001
Win98SE
XPERT 98 RXL AGP 2X: 1152 x 864 - True Color (32 bit)
That last line is copy-and-pasted straight from the Mvpcinfo program which this web site encouraged me to download. (Incidentally, I got an error using Aladdin Systems' unzipping program on the downloaded file, but it managed to unzip the main executable and the readme before it crapped out, and the program seems to run fine.)
The system works fine other than an error when Windows starts up complaining about the MIDI driver for my sound "card" -- which is an onboard sound interface reported by Mvpcinfo as "Creative Sound Blaster AudioPCI 128". I don't really care about that error since I don't use MIDI more than once every couple years, but if anybody has any ideas I'm interested. The real problem is, I'm trying to add some new RAM, and the system won't boot with it in.  The new RAM is 256MB of PNY brand PC133 SDRAM which I just bought yesterday. I've tried with just the new RAM in and with the existing 128MB in with the 256MB added in next to it. There are 2 DIMM slots on the mobo; no other RAM slots.
When I have the new RAM in, the system will turn on and display a normal BIOS screen, with the AMI logo in top left corner and some typical stuff on the screen such as BIOS date, copyright info, etc., but it won't proceed to the POST report, and I can't press DEL and enter the CMOS (although it says I can). I've put in and removed the RAM a couple of times now and this is the consistent behavior.
My existing 128MB DIMM has the following on it, on a label:
128MB, SDR DIMM, H
(a bar code)
174HS 0120P23620
Each chip on the DIMM has the following on it:
VG36648041DT
11670421S -7L
Have I got the wrong type of RAM here with this new stick? I've tried it in the same slot as the existing 128MB and no go, so I know the slot works. I also have one other non-working DIMM: a 64MB DIMM which did work on my previous mobo alongside my working 128MB stick, but doesn't on this one.
What is the problem? I have the Mvpcinfo data here so just ask if you'd like me to post any more of that. I also wrote down -- on paper, since it's hard to copy and paste before the OS starts up -- the BIOS startup screen which is displayed when the new RAM is in; I'm happy to post any/all of that here, if that might help. I'm not certain what type of motherboard this is, but the word "IRONGATE" appears near the end of the screen.
Posted by: redwench
ugh. need that motherboard model. it might be shown on boot, briefly.
one possibility is that your board does not support dimms that large. another is that one is ecc and one is not. it could just be a bad dimm. your board may not support that speed of ram.
thats a rather elderly system you have there, perhaps a new one is in order. 
Posted by: JamieWJackson
Mvpcinfo reports simply "2001" for the "Motherboard" entry on the first page of data. I did look it up once, months ago when I got this motherboard (used). I'll have to try to find it out again. Although it isn't the newest mobo, I don't think I should have to replace it in order to add RAM. (I would love to throw money at my system but I have little to throw.)
Posted by: JamieWJackson
Oh, and -- thanks! ;-)
Posted by: JamieWJackson
I managed to find enough info on the mobo to ID it as an MSI MS6191. It only supports PC100. So I figure that must be it: my new PC133 RAM just isn't recognized by the system; if I put in PC100 it should be happy. Right?
I feel kinda dumb... wish I'd thought to be more skeptical before I went and bought this RAM. I ass-u-me-d that a mobo fast enough to handle a 900MHz CPU would also handle PC133 RAM.
Posted by: Null Actor
There is no real difference between pc100 and pc133 except that pc133 is designed to handle faster speeds. It should work in your machine.
Try putting your ram in different slots. Sometimes if you have two dimms, they both have to be in particular spots.
Posted by: JamieWJackson
There are 2 DIMM slots on the mobo; no other RAM slots. I've tried booting with only the new RAM in the same slot as the working 128MB DIMM, and also with the working DIMM in its usual slot and the new DIMM in the other slot. Neither arrangement will boot. Only when I take the new DIMM out altogether does it boot. I haven't tried with the new DIMM in the normally-empty slot and the working DIMM removed, but I'm not really inclined to do so, given the failure of the other two arrangements.
I was figuring, when I bought this RAM, that PC133 would work in a PC100 system, but the package for the new DIMM says "For PC 133 Systems Only". Are you _sure_ there's no way a PC100 system will ever choke on PC133 RAM? Maybe I should look at PNY's web site....
Posted by: JamieWJackson
Well, yeah, I guess that was a good idea:
Important Announcement
PC133 Modules are NO LONGER backward compatible with PC100 Machines. To determine the correct memory upgrade for your machine, use the PNY memory configurator.
Posted by: Null Actor
Oh. My bad. Good to know!
Posted by: TotalRecall
That's interesting, and I see they don't explain why.
I've always assumed the RAM was identical, aside from the timing.
Posted by: JamieWJackson
I thought so too.
"Just when I get all the answers... they change all the questions!"
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