Hi all:

Apologies for staring a new thread but I think this is the easiest way to get specific responses:

As some know I am building a media server. The board I am using is this one:

http://www.foxconnchannel.com/product/Motherboards/detail_spec.aspx?ID=en-us0000006

I haven't built a PC for ages however, I am fairly competent. I think I have a RAM or RAM configuration issue. Basically the board acepts DDR2 memory only accross 2 banks of 2 slots (four in total). I am running low on funds so only bought 1 strip of 512mb 533mhz RAM and it ithis type of RAM is supposedly compatible. Without RAM installed the machine spins up and then emits the expected beeps and goes no further (this is obviously supposed to happen). When I install the 1 strip I have the beeping stops yet nothing appears on screen and the fans spin only. I have a floppy connected for testing and this does not boot - so this is a RAM problem as far as I can tell.

I guess the problem is caused as a result of the RAM not being installed in pairs however, this is based on anecdote rather than fact. I also guess this is because the board is set to dual mode yet this seems to be determined by the bios as opposed to a jumper so I cannot change the settings because I cannot get into the bios (also there is no keyboard connected yet I doubt this is the problem.

The MB manual entry on RAM states:

"

This motherboard includes four 240-pin slots with 1.8 V for DDR2. These slots

support 256 Mb, 512 Mb and 1 Gb DDR2 technologies for x8 and x16 devices, and

support maximum memory bandwidth of 8.5GB/s using DDR2 533 memory, 10.

7GB/s using DDR2 667 in Dual-Channel interleaved mode, You must install at

least one memory bank to ensure normal operation."

Yet this sheds no further light on the issue. Can someone please tell me if I have to buy another strip or indeed what else I might be overlooking.

Thanks

It also says -

Supports non-ECC memory, unbuffered DIMM only

I assume the DIMM you have complies?

Graham1982:

Basically the board acepts DDR2 memory only accross 2 banks of 2 slots (four in total).

...and...

7GB/s using DDR2 667 in Dual-Channel interleaved mode, You must install at

least one memory bank to ensure normal operation."

The manuals with their poor English can sometimes be cryptic, but I think this one is pretty clear - the memory slots need to be populated in banks, i.e in pairs... I'd bet one pint on this, although I'd expect the MB to beep a memory error.

BTW, how would you get into the BIOS setup without a keyboard anyway?

It'll be interesting to find out - although a matched pair of memory modules will give additional DDR performance, most, (if not all) of the motherboards I've ever used were able to run with a single DIMM module (older SIMM's needed to be in pairs).

Thanks guys - thought someone would work it out a memory bank is obviously more than one. I cannot test this until I buy another SIMM - will keep you informed.

Changed my mind - put in the original SIMM I had and booted the machine, it works up until a point in as much as it tries to boot XP from an old IDE HD I have yet when it reaches the loading screen it switches off. Through a process of elimination I think it is a bad PSU at fault as I recycled this from an old machine. Incidentally I bought an extra RAM simm and this does not work when seated with the other SIMM  on the board so I imagine that it is a PSU issue.

Will replace the PSU. Does this sound like the right course of action to you guys? Oh the processeor temp whilst in the BIOS is 39-40 degrees is this normal?

Thanks

Graham

Graham1982:

Changed my mind - put in the original SIMM I had and booted the machine, it works up until a point in as much as it tries to boot XP from an old IDE HD I have yet when it reaches the loading screen it switches off. Through a process of elimination I think it is a bad PSU at fault as I recycled this from an old machine. Incidentally I bought an extra RAM simm and this does not work when seated with the other SIMM  on the board so I imagine that it is a PSU issue.

 

Will replace the PSU. Does this sound like the right course of action to you guys? Oh the processeor temp whilst in the BIOS is 39-40 degrees is this normal?

 

Thanks

 

Graham

Looks like the motherboard does not support the hard drive which might be too slow.
PSU heat I cannot comment on and depends on how much current the motherboard needs.
Has your processor no cooling fan ?  (I don't know what motherboard you're using.)

Are you trying to boot from a previous XP installation on the HD? - this isn't going to work. You should try to boot from an XP CD so that the HD can be reformatted and all the correct hardware and motherboard drivers are installed.

Hi Puncher:

I hadn't thought of that until I read it on another forum. I changed my mind and thought the HD was broken. I won't be able to test this theory until tonight when I will format the HD I have and stick Windows on it.

I never thought getting this thing up and running would take so long!

Thanks for your help

Graham

Hi all:

It is all up and running properly now, using XP. It is only reading 512mb of RAM instead of the 1 gig that can be installed, in fact when I put the extra 512 in it won't boot but I am sure I can sort that out at some point.

I am now interested to know about the Beo4 control option, how I go about building/buying the board needed. Also I have some genral questions about multiple screen output - I was going to use video senders to output the same image from the PC to recieving TVs around the house but then I thought houses that use Windows Media Centr to control their whole house entertainent must have some kind of system whereby media is displayed in different rooms at the same time as defined by the user? Is this only possible with LCD/Plasma or is there a CRT work around?

Thanks

Graham