RAM Timing question.

JimboWizbo · 09-12-2008, 06:24 AM

I put the following rig together a while ago:

Foxconn MCP61SM2MA-ERS2H Socket AM2
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+
Ebuyer Extra Value 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 533MHz PC2-4200 240pin
Ebuyer Extra Value Silver 500W PSU

Lot's of extra value parts as the customer wanted it as cheap as possible disregarding reliability

The PC was unstable at first, blue screening often. After manually inputting RAM timings and such it worked a dream for a week or so.
Then it was returned to me having totally died, failing to post at all. I have ruled out CPU, PSU, and all the RAM sticks. I assumed it was the Foxconn motherboard giving up.

It's only recently occurred to me that the memory is PC2-4200, (525MHz?) whereas the motherboard supports PC2-4300.

My question is could it be possible that this mismatch is causing the PC to not post at all? After a short spell of working fine. Or was my first idea correct and the motherboard is indeed kaput.

I would simply test it with some other RAM if I weren't 200miles away from the machine!

Many thanks

Jim

**belfasteddie** · 09-13-2008, 12:50 AM

4200 and 4300 are the same thing. Have you tried the comp with one stick?

JimboWizbo · 09-13-2008, 04:43 AM

Yes I've done just about everything I can do to diagnose except
1. RAM with a different speed
2. Changing the motherboard.

**wrench97** · 09-13-2008, 05:36 PM

If it worked with the ram before it not going to be a speed issue.

JimboWizbo · 09-13-2008, 05:38 PM

So would you say it's likely to be the cheapo motherboard?

**wrench97** · 09-13-2008, 05:50 PM

I would first look at the PSU but as you have already done that maybe reset the CMOS and see if it will post.

JimboWizbo · 09-17-2008, 05:23 AM

It is certainly not the PSU, and resetting the CMOS didn't help with two separate PSUs in.

**wrench97** · 09-17-2008, 12:54 PM

If you remove the Ram and try to boot it do you get any beeps from the motherboard speaker?

**Kalim** · 09-17-2008, 06:21 PM

Check the PSU connectors on the motherboard and the MOSFETs and capacitors around the CPU. Burnt/leaking/blown is what you want to look for. A bad PSU can kill a motherboard and any hardware connected to it inside seconds.

That motherboard won't just die with that CPU - something has to have caused it, unless it was very faulty since the beginning. It might have been overvoltage which killed the motherboard/CPU though, you can't test this now.

09-12-2008, 06:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
JimboWizbo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 6 OS: XP	RAM Timing question. I put the following rig together a while ago: Foxconn MCP61SM2MA-ERS2H Socket AM2 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Ebuyer Extra Value 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 533MHz PC2-4200 240pin Ebuyer Extra Value Silver 500W PSU Lot's of extra value parts as the customer wanted it as cheap as possible disregarding reliability The PC was unstable at first, blue screening often. After manually inputting RAM timings and such it worked a dream for a week or so. Then it was returned to me having totally died, failing to post at all. I have ruled out CPU, PSU, and all the RAM sticks. I assumed it was the Foxconn motherboard giving up. It's only recently occurred to me that the memory is PC2-4200, (525MHz?) whereas the motherboard supports PC2-4300. My question is could it be possible that this mismatch is causing the PC to not post at all? After a short spell of working fine. Or was my first idea correct and the motherboard is indeed kaput. I would simply test it with some other RAM if I weren't 200miles away from the machine! Many thanks Jim

09-13-2008, 12:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
belfasteddie Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Belfast N.I. Posts: 1,551 OS: Puppy Linux 4.12	Re: RAM Timing question. 4200 and 4300 are the same thing. Have you tried the comp with one stick?

09-13-2008, 04:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
JimboWizbo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: RAM Timing question. Yes I've done just about everything I can do to diagnose except 1. RAM with a different speed 2. Changing the motherboard.

09-13-2008, 05:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,638 OS: Win7	Re: RAM Timing question. If it worked with the ram before it not going to be a speed issue. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

09-13-2008, 05:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
JimboWizbo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: RAM Timing question. So would you say it's likely to be the cheapo motherboard?

09-13-2008, 05:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,638 OS: Win7	Re: RAM Timing question. I would first look at the PSU but as you have already done that maybe reset the CMOS and see if it will post. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

09-17-2008, 05:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
JimboWizbo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: RAM Timing question. It is certainly not the PSU, and resetting the CMOS didn't help with two separate PSUs in.

09-17-2008, 12:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,638 OS: Win7	Re: RAM Timing question. If you remove the Ram and try to boot it do you get any beeps from the motherboard speaker? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

09-17-2008, 06:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
Kalim Roaming To Help Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,642 OS: Many	Re: RAM Timing question. Check the PSU connectors on the motherboard and the MOSFETs and capacitors around the CPU. Burnt/leaking/blown is what you want to look for. A bad PSU can kill a motherboard and any hardware connected to it inside seconds. That motherboard won't just die with that CPU - something has to have caused it, unless it was very faulty since the beginning. It might have been overvoltage which killed the motherboard/CPU though, you can't test this now.