Memory Timing Settings

[Badut78]

Hi, I recently tried to build a computer based on Anandtech's budget/entry level guide with some changes

I got:
AthlonXP 2500 333FSB
ASUS A7N8X-X mobo
2X 512Mb Kingston Value Ram DDR333 CL2.5

I'm having trouble making the system stable with WindowsXP restarting randomly.

I strongly suspect it's a memory problem and memtest86+ confirmed that as my system occasionally fails on tests #5 and #8. I've read that Athlon systems might get these errors on test #5 and #8 occasionally due to memory timing problems.

I went up to 3-7-7-15 (slowest possible setting) and it passed test #5 35 times in a row no problem (but I haven't tried test #8 on that setting yet)

Does anyone know what setting (CL - tRCD - tRP - tRAS) is responsible for causing the system instability?

Or even suggest a suitable memory timing setup for my system?

Thanks for your help.

PS:
I found the specs to the kingston ram I bought. They don't mean much to me but maybe it might help you:

Clock Cycle Time (tCK) 6ns (min.) / 12ns (max.)
Row Cycle Time (tRC) 60ns (min.)
Refresh Row Cycle Time (tRFC) 72ns (min.)
Row Active Time (tRAS) 42ns (min.) / 70,000ns (max.)
Single Power Supply of +2.5V (+/- .25V)
Power (IDD0) 2.900 W (operating)
UL Rating 94 V - 0

 

[nanaki333]

i have the same board, asus a7n8x-x. my system kept freezing/restarting, updating, specifically the IDE nforce drivers fixed it for awhile. later it wasn't restarting at all anymore, it was my harddrive(s). i went through 3 drives before i got one in there it likes. i only have 1x 120 in there now, but hey, the computer actually stays on now!

 

[Badut78]

Thanks for your reply.
I don't think my problem is to do with the HDD. The reason I say this is cause of the errors in memtest86 which doesn't use the HDD (boots and runs off the floppy).

As an update I've found a setting that seems quite stable.

2.5-3-3-13

I've run test #5 on that setting for 4 hours with no failures and test #8 for 7 hours with no failures.
The computer is at home at the moment running the full suite of tests. I'll leave it for 24+ hours and see how it goes.
If this is stable I'll have to reformat and reinstall windows. It's crashed so many times I think it's corrupted something.

 

[Badut78]

Sorry to revive a week old topic but I'm still having trouble with this setup.

I can't install Windows XP Professional. After it finishes copying the files, I get a blue screen saying Windows has encountered a problem and needs to restart.
I tried using a Knoppix Linux bootable CD to see if it was a Windows problem, but Knoppix also crashes after a while.

My setup is pretty much following the Anandtech entry level guide with a couple of changes.

AthlonXP 2500 333FSB
ASUS A7N8X-X mobo
2X 512Mb Kingston Value Ram DDR333 CL2.5
Sapphire Radeon 9200se 128Mb
WD 80Gb HDD 8Mb cache
DVD drive
Floppy
AOpen 600A case

I've been asking around in other forums and some of the guys have told me that my PSU is not up to the task?
I'm just using the AOpen 300W PSU that came with the case.
PSU Specs:
3.3V = 28A (max)
5V = 21.5A (max)
12V = 15A (max)

Does anyone else agree the PSU is the culprit here? I just wanted to get more opinions before I go and get a new PSU.

Any help would be much appreciated

 

[zymer]

I think I can help you. I had problems with my Asus mobo too. I ran memtest and got piles of errors (44,000 in 3 hours), so I called Kingston's tech support. I decribed my problem, and he immediately asked, "What motherboard are you using?" I said "ASUS, ...do you need the model number?" and he said "Is it an A7N8X?" I said "Yes..." And he said "Yeah, the whole ASUS A7N8X family of motherboard you're using is finicky about the RAM you have. You need to talk to level-2 tech support for an RMA."

I talked to a level-2 guy for a while, and he had me check the "99" number on the RAM and the company name written on the chips (it said, what else, "Kingston"). He said, "Yup - that RAM doesn't work with your mobo", then set up an RMA for another SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT 512MB chip to be sent to me, and I need to send the other back.

Hope this helps - CALL KINGSTON 9am-9pm EST (level-2 is only there then)!

 

[Badut78]

Thanks Zymer,

aw man, that sucks!! It's gonna be painful to RMA. I live in Australia.

 

[zymer]

Well, I had different RAM - KVR400 (PC3200), so it's it's possible that the RAM problem I had is not your problem - but regardless, you need to call Kingston, and tell them what you've done so far - the Knoppix idea was great. The level-2 support folks will tell you if it's that particular style of RAM that you have that's causing the problem. At the very least you should not be crashing like that.

I say call them right away, they were very nice and helpful to me - especially after I told them I was failing the memtest86 #5 and #6 tests like I was. You may have some trouble with an international RMA, I've not ever had to deal with that. They're sending me a replacement module (after giving them a credit card) and I have to send mine back FedEx, UPS, or Airborne Express within 10 days.