Memory Ratio/Frequency

[congaboy77]

Ladies and Gentlemen... I am stumped. My friend built a computer and couldn't get it to post. He brought it to me b/c I've built a few machines already and I got it to post, but not much else. Then randomly, it will boot successfully. Other times, the BIOS will give me an error message. The message is "Warning! Now System is in Safe Mode. Please re-setting CPU or Memory Ratio/Frequency in the CMOS setup." I have the option of entering the BIOS or ignoring the problem.

So far, I've completely disassembled it and reassembled it. -No success
I've tried adding one component at a time-- no success.
I've tried clearing the CMOS. -- no success
Went into the BIOS and told it to load default configurations. -- no success
Went into BIOS and told it to load optimized defaults -- no success.
Replaced MOBO. --No success

So far I don't know what board is in there, all I can tell you is that it's blue-green. Has a Sony CDR that's being picked up by the BIOS and a samsung HD. The Memory frequency is at "200." It is a single stick of ram (assuming 256 but could be 512) that says DDR 333. Thermaltake 450W power supply. AMD Athlon XP 1800+ CPU.

I know that I cleaned the CPU really well when I put it back together. The last guy that put it on there used way to much thermal paste.

Any suggestions? All help is appreciated.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: congaboy77
The Memory frequency is at "200." It is a single stick of ram (assuming 256 but could be 512) that says DDR 333.

Try running the RAM in spec, rather than overclocked. According to you it is rated @ 166, not 200. (actually, you may be attempting to run it @ 100 instead, which still likely will not work)

Also, make sure the XP 1800+ is running @ 133 fsb, it's default speed.

 

[congaboy77]

I went into the bios and adjusted the memory frequency to "Auto" from "by SPD." There aren't choices for frequencies. Changing it to "auto" didn't do any good. I am using a Phoenix Bios. Is there any other way to get to it?

 

[AnonymouseUser]

There may be jumpers on the board. If not, try another stick of RAM, preferably PC2100 (133).

 

[congaboy77]

Also, changing it to Auto didn't work. I set the bios to "expert" and set the Ram to 125% which made the "resulting frequency" 133 and it still reads 200.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

You may have RAM that is incompatible with the chipset/mobo. If at all possible find out who makes the board and get the latest BIOS (if it doesn't have it already). They may also have a RAM compatibility chart on their website.

 

[congaboy77]

Tried one stick of Crucial 166mhz and then 2 sticks (256MB) each and no luck.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I guess it's safe to say RAM isn't the culprit then.

You wouldn't happen to have a spare Socket A CPU lying around, would you?

 

[congaboy77]

Nope, no extra CPU. Any other ideas? It was working fine for a while-- booted normally, but then randomly stopped. It takes a while to start up also. I hit the power button, it comes up (blank screen), then it seems like it re-boots, and then I get the error message.

 

[congaboy77]

I just figured out the MOBO is a Shuttle Ultra V 1.1 AN35N. Can anyone come up w/ anything else?

 

[AnonymouseUser]

That is a hella good mobo (using one now, ex has the other :/ ), and it shouldn't have any problems with the CPU or RAM (have had mine upwards of 220+ fsb with generic PC3200 RAM).

Since you say the CPU had too much thermal paste when you got it, I would work on that first. Try it in a working system, or try another CPU in that mobo.

One more thing: make sure you have the 4-pin ATX12v connector plugged in.

 

[Navid]

When you are in the Bios, check the CPU temperature if it shows it.

 

[congaboy77]

CPU temp is 37-40 degrees Celsius.
I have the 4 pin connector plugged in.
I cleaned the thermal paste before I re-seated the heatsink and CPU. I think the only thing left is the CPU... but why would the memory frequency read 200mhz regardless of what I set in the BIOS?

 

[congaboy77]

Ok, so my personal computer died today. Took out my CPU and put it in the machine with problems. At the first boot, memory speed still read 133 mhz. I then tinkered w/ the bios settings, now at boot it reads 266 and the computer works flawlessly. I guess it was the CPU after all.