I got it working, but only after a bit of a scare with the DRAM
slots. I'm on the cheap, so I only bought a single 1GB DDR-667 memory
stick for this system. The user's guide for the board said "install a
single SIMM in either of the available sockets" (there are two
sockets).
So, I put the single stick in socket #1 -- and the system would not
boot. Steady beeping, indicating that no memory is present on the
board.
I moved the stick to socket #2, and she runs like a champ.
Now, I don't know if I have a defective board, and that socket #1 has
a problem -- or the user's guide for the board is wrong and it really
does demand that a single memory stick be put in the second slot. I
don't want to RMA the board if there's nothing wrong with it, and I
also would rather not spend more money on a (non-returnable) extra
memory stick, just to test it out. Grrrr....
So, anyone have any experience/opinion about this? Did I miss a BIOS
setting that I should take another look at?
Randy Brick MacKenna wrote:
> Folks, I just bought this ECS motherboard as the basis for a Linux box
> I'm building:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813135039
>
> I got it working, but only after a bit of a scare with the DRAM
> slots. I'm on the cheap, so I only bought a single 1GB DDR-667 memory
> stick for this system. The user's guide for the board said "install a
> single SIMM in either of the available sockets" (there are two
> sockets).
>
> So, I put the single stick in socket #1 -- and the system would not
> boot. Steady beeping, indicating that no memory is present on the
> board.
>
> I moved the stick to socket #2, and she runs like a champ.
>
> Now, I don't know if I have a defective board, and that socket #1 has
> a problem -- or the user's guide for the board is wrong and it really
> does demand that a single memory stick be put in the second slot. I
> don't want to RMA the board if there's nothing wrong with it, and I
> also would rather not spend more money on a (non-returnable) extra
> memory stick, just to test it out. Grrrr....
>
> So, anyone have any experience/opinion about this? Did I miss a BIOS
> setting that I should take another look at?
>
> Thanks,
> Randy
>
There is no reason to suspect that is a "feature". The AM2 processors can
support up to four sticks. The processors support single channel or dual
channel operation, and in single channel modes, "anything goes". You should
be able to install the RAM in either slot or both. I haven't looked at the
manual yet (because the download rate is pretty slow) but I don't expect to
see a limitation stated in there.
When something like this happens, I would first suspect contamination of the
socket pins. Mke sure the motherboard is well supported, to avoid
flexure. Power off and unplug the system (to remove standby power from the
RAM sockets). Insert and remove your single DIMM, into the duff socket,
about five times. That should be enough to scrape any water borne waste
products from the wash cycle, from the socket pins. Then, power up and
check again for beeps.
The memory controller is inside the processor. The only thing the motherboard
contributes, in the case of AM2, is a set of copper tracks and the memory sockets.
So in terms of memory failing, the motherboard maker doesn't do anything high
tech, except get the board transmission line impedance correct.
The BIOS does have to read the SPD EEPROM on each DIMM slot. The SMBUS is a
low speed serial bus, and that bus is connected to each DIMM. If the BIOS
is unable to "see" the SPD chip, then it might decide there is nothing there.
Before the SPD chip was invented, a BIOS might do blind probes (do test writes
and reads), to try to figure out the memory stick size. Since all the current
memory shipping has an SPD on it, I suppose now the BIOS coders can afford
to ignore any socket where they cannot read out an SPD chip on the memory
DIMM.
On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:55:00 -0700, Randy Brick MacKenna
<randymackenna@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Folks, I just bought this ECS motherboard as the basis for a Linux box
>I'm building:
>
>http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813135039
>
>I got it working, but only after a bit of a scare with the DRAM
>slots. I'm on the cheap, so I only bought a single 1GB DDR-667 memory
>stick for this system. The user's guide for the board said "install a
>single SIMM in either of the available sockets" (there are two
>sockets).
>
>So, I put the single stick in socket #1 -- and the system would not
>boot. Steady beeping, indicating that no memory is present on the
>board.
>
>I moved the stick to socket #2, and she runs like a champ.
>
>Now, I don't know if I have a defective board, and that socket #1 has
>a problem -- or the user's guide for the board is wrong and it really
>does demand that a single memory stick be put in the second slot. I
>don't want to RMA the board if there's nothing wrong with it, and I
>also would rather not spend more money on a (non-returnable) extra
>memory stick, just to test it out. Grrrr....
>
>So, anyone have any experience/opinion about this? Did I miss a BIOS
>setting that I should take another look at?
>
>Thanks,
>Randy
Consider the board defective and return it for refund. IMO,
you have better odds of getting a good board by avoiding
ECS.
kony wrote:
> On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:55:00 -0700, Randy Brick MacKenna
> <randymackenna@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Folks, I just bought this ECS motherboard as the basis for a Linux
> > box I'm building:
> >
> > http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813135039
> >
> > I got it working, but only after a bit of a scare with the DRAM
> > slots. I'm on the cheap, so I only bought a single 1GB DDR-667
> > memory stick for this system. The user's guide for the board said
> > "install a single SIMM in either of the available sockets" (there
> > are two sockets).
> >
> > So, I put the single stick in socket #1 -- and the system would not
> > boot. Steady beeping, indicating that no memory is present on the
> > board.
> >
> > I moved the stick to socket #2, and she runs like a champ.
> >
> > Now, I don't know if I have a defective board, and that socket #1
> > has a problem -- or the user's guide for the board is wrong and it
> > really does demand that a single memory stick be put in the second
> > slot. I don't want to RMA the board if there's nothing wrong with
> > it, and I also would rather not spend more money on a
> > (non-returnable) extra memory stick, just to test it out. Grrrr....
> >
> > So, anyone have any experience/opinion about this? Did I miss a
> > BIOS setting that I should take another look at?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Randy
>
> Consider the board defective and return it for refund. IMO,
> you have better odds of getting a good board by avoiding
> ECS.
I'll second that. Almost 100% of the time that I'm asked to troubleshoot a
system with an ECS mobo it's the mobo that needs replacing.
> I only bought a single 1GB DDR-667 memory
> stick for this system. The user's guide for the board said "install a
> single SIMM in either of the available sockets" (there are two
> sockets).
>
> So, I put the single stick in socket #1 -- and the system would not
> boot. Steady beeping, indicating that no memory is present on the
> board.
>
> I moved the stick to socket #2, and she runs like a champ.
The manual said to install a SIMM, not a DIMM???
I have the same mobo, and it had no problems running just a 1GB
Kingston PC5300 module in either of its sockets. OTOH I've seen
damaged sockets (PCI, not DIMM) and have had memory modules that were
so marginal that they worked only in a certain socket.
On Sep 24, 7:18 pm, "~misfit~" <misfit6...@hayoo.com.au> wrote:
> kony wrote:
> > On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:55:00 -0700, Randy Brick MacKenna
> > <randymacke...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > Folks, I just bought this ECS motherboard as the basis for a Linux
> > > box I'm building:
>
> > >http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813135039
>
> > > I got it working, but only after a bit of a scare with the DRAM
> > > slots. I'm on the cheap, so I only bought a single 1GB DDR-667
> > > memory stick for this system. The user's guide for the board said
> > > "install a single SIMM in either of the available sockets" (there
> > > are two sockets).
>
> > > So, I put the single stick in socket #1 -- and the system would not
> > > boot. Steady beeping, indicating that no memory is present on the
> > > board.
>
> > > I moved the stick to socket #2, and she runs like a champ.
>
> > > Now, I don't know if I have a defective board, and that socket #1
> > > has a problem -- or the user's guide for the board is wrong and it
> > > really does demand that a single memory stick be put in the second
> > > slot. I don't want to RMA the board if there's nothing wrong with
> > > it, and I also would rather not spend more money on a
> > > (non-returnable) extra memory stick, just to test it out. Grrrr....
>
> > > So, anyone have any experience/opinion about this? Did I miss a
> > > BIOS setting that I should take another look at?
>
> > > Thanks,
> > > Randy
>
> > Consider the board defective and return it for refund. IMO,
> > you have better odds of getting a good board by avoiding
> > ECS.
>
> I'll second that. Almost 100% of the time that I'm asked to troubleshoot a
> system with an ECS mobo it's the mobo that needs replacing.
>
> You get what you pay for.
> --
> TTFN.
>
> Shaun.
Which brand should I look at instead, if I end up returning this ECS
board for a refund? Almost all of them in this price range had mixed
reviews. I'm not building a high performance gaming system...just
want something of good quality and stability for my home Linux server.
Thanks,
Randy
P.S. To the other person who responded: Yes, I should have said
"DIMM", not "SIMM". Still somewhat new to all this...sorry...
>
> Which brand should I look at instead, if I end up returning this ECS
> board for a refund? Almost all of them in this price range had mixed
> reviews. I'm not building a high performance gaming system...just
> want something of good quality and stability for my home Linux server.
>
The Nvidia chipsets are all pretty much the same and should be fine with
most Linux distros. You may need to tune hard drives using hdparm or
atacontrol if using *BSD.
On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:16:23 -0700, Randy Brick MacKenna
<randymackenna@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Which brand should I look at instead, if I end up returning this ECS
>board for a refund? Almost all of them in this price range had mixed
>reviews. I'm not building a high performance gaming system...just
>want something of good quality and stability for my home Linux server.
>
>Thanks,
>Randy
>
>P.S. To the other person who responded: Yes, I should have said
>"DIMM", not "SIMM". Still somewhat new to all this...sorry...
Well the bottom line is they're cheaper for a reason, people
don't pay more just for the heck of it.
You don't mention the other alternatives, but generally ECS
and PCChips are only better than some obscure generic
brands. Generally Asus, Abit, MSI, Gigabyte, Asrock, and
Biostar are better.
kony wrote:
> On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:16:23 -0700, Randy Brick MacKenna
> <randymackenna@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> > Which brand should I look at instead, if I end up returning this ECS
> > board for a refund? Almost all of them in this price range had
> > mixed reviews. I'm not building a high performance gaming
> > system...just want something of good quality and stability for my
> > home Linux server.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Randy
> >
> > P.S. To the other person who responded: Yes, I should have said
> > "DIMM", not "SIMM". Still somewhat new to all this...sorry...
>
>
> Well the bottom line is they're cheaper for a reason, people
> don't pay more just for the heck of it.
>
> You don't mention the other alternatives, but generally ECS
> and PCChips are only better than some obscure generic
> brands. Generally Asus, Abit, MSI, Gigabyte, Asrock, and
> Biostar are better.
Agreed. If it's stability and longevity that you want then Asus is a good
choice. Gigabyte also. Asrock is, I believe, a cut-down Asus? (and should be
good). Basically avoid ECS, PCChips and anything that doesn't have a big web
presence and/or a searchable track-record.
--
TTFN.
On Sep 24, 4:37 pm, Paul <nos...@needed.com> wrote:
> Randy Brick MacKenna wrote:
> > Folks, I just bought this ECS motherboard as the basis for a Linux box
> > I'm building:
>
> >http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813135039
>
> > I got it working, but only after a bit of a scare with the DRAM
> > slots. I'm on the cheap, so I only bought a single 1GB DDR-667 memory
> > stick for this system. The user's guide for the board said "install a
> > single SIMM in either of the available sockets" (there are two
> > sockets).
>
> > So, I put the single stick in socket #1 -- and the system would not
> > boot. Steady beeping, indicating that no memory is present on the
> > board.
>
> > I moved the stick to socket #2, and she runs like a champ.
>
> > Now, I don't know if I have a defective board, and that socket #1 has
> > a problem -- or the user's guide for the board is wrong and it really
> > does demand that a single memory stick be put in the second slot. I
> > don't want to RMA the board if there's nothing wrong with it, and I
> > also would rather not spend more money on a (non-returnable) extra
> > memory stick, just to test it out. Grrrr....
>
> > So, anyone have any experience/opinion about this? Did I miss a BIOS
> > setting that I should take another look at?
>
> > Thanks,
> > Randy
>
> There is no reason to suspect that is a "feature". The AM2 processors can
> support up to four sticks. The processors support single channel or dual
> channel operation, and in single channel modes, "anything goes". You should
> be able to install the RAM in either slot or both. I haven't looked at the
> manual yet (because the download rate is pretty slow) but I don't expect to
> see a limitation stated in there.
>
> When something like this happens, I would first suspect contamination of the
> socket pins. Mke sure the motherboard is well supported, to avoid
> flexure. Power off and unplug the system (to remove standby power from the
> RAM sockets). Insert and remove your single DIMM, into the duff socket,
> about five times. That should be enough to scrape any water borne waste
> products from the wash cycle, from the socket pins. Then, power up and
> check again for beeps.
>
> The memory controller is inside the processor. The only thing the motherboard
> contributes, in the case of AM2, is a set of copper tracks and the memory sockets.
> So in terms of memory failing, the motherboard maker doesn't do anything high
> tech, except get the board transmission line impedance correct.
>
> The BIOS does have to read the SPD EEPROM on each DIMM slot. The SMBUS is a
> low speed serial bus, and that bus is connected to each DIMM. If the BIOS
> is unable to "see" the SPD chip, then it might decide there is nothing there.
> Before the SPD chip was invented, a BIOS might do blind probes (do test writes
> and reads), to try to figure out the memory stick size. Since all the current
> memory shipping has an SPD on it, I suppose now the BIOS coders can afford
> to ignore any socket where they cannot read out an SPD chip on the memory
> DIMM.
>
> HTH,
> Paul
Well...you were spot on with this suggestion...thanks!
I 'scrubbed' the socket a few times by inserting/removing the DIMM,
and then that errant slot worked fine.
I did learn my lesson about this brand...I guess I can't trust the
reviews at the seller's website as much as I thought I could.
However, I can't complain too much...the board and the AMD Athlon 64
3800+ together was only $90.
So, if it works okay now I'll just run it through some 'stress'
workload for a couple of days and see if it holds up. Hopefully it
doesn't die on me two weeks from now...
ECS board - DRAM slot affinity question 
Linear Mode
