Bad RAM or bad SBLive! ?

[RJ]

Hello all,

I've got a really serious problem.

The first problem

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?threadid=13826

got fixed, but only for a couple of hours. Then I only got sound from one speaker. Well, I knew this problem, the plug wasn't fully inserted, so only one speaker was used. So I pushed the speaker plug fully in - and that caused the PC to freeze.
On the next reboot I also hadn't my graphics. After messing around with this I got it back (reinstalled drivers) but I couldn't get the SBLive! to work.

The other devices, however, are working fine.

Okay, now my question: Is it possible that the SBLive! problem are caused by the RAM I recently inserted ? Well, if I take it off the problem remains, but could that have started it ?

Anyway, I'd like to know everything about RAM:
All three sticks are PC-133 SDRAM, two of them are 128 and one of them is 64 MB. The new one is 128 MB.
I know that there's a latency time, but don't exactly know about it. So what is it ? How can I get info about them ? Do I have to set something in BIOS ? How can I figure out if there's really a RAM problem ?
BTW, I also disabled Quick POST, but no errors are found.

And now to the SBLive!:
Why won't Windows install the drivers for it ? Why does it say that weren't the right ones ? Why the hell does the PC freeze when SBLive! is detected ?

I made a fresh install today. I took everything out but the graphics card, and I installed Windows. Then I installed the SBLive! in PCI2, and the problem occured. Moved to PCI4, same thing. Well, this is a fresh install !!!

Is this card possibly bad ? How can I figure that out besides trying it in another PC ?

RJ

[babylon5guy]

Hi RJ,
Crucial has a good explantion of RAM on their website: http://www.crucial.com/Crucial/pvtCo...ce=motherboard latency CAS 2 and CAS 3 refers to clock cycles so CAS 2 or CL2 would be faster than cas 3. Although according to Crucial this isn't very crucial. As it only applies when memory starts loading up and you don't see a much of difference. I would try using one stick of memory and see if the Live card works, if not I would try another stick of memory. It's doubtful you have two sticks of bad memory. If it does the same thing with both I would definately think it was the live card. Outside of trying it in another computer I don't know how you would tell if it was any good. If in your BIOS you have something called "PCI master read caching" change the setting it's enable or disenabled or something like that. If you have an Abit mobo their latest BIOS update has as one of it's fixes better Live board functionality. If you have any KT133 mobo that may be a problem. I've read where Live boards do not like to share IRQ's and prefer IRQ 5.
Just some thoughts

[RJ]

Hello,

thanks for your reply. Actually I got the SBLive! working again, this time in PCI slot 3.
Well, my CAS settings are set to 2 in bios.

Question: Is the CAS thing like the PC-100/PC-133 thing, so that I can set the settings to CAS3 even if I have 2 sticks of CAS2 RAM and one of CAS3 and can they be mixed this way ?

I have an Abit BE6-II mobo with the lastest bios. Well, the SBLive! has to share an IRQ because there is no other possiblity in my PC.

RJ

[glc]

Yes, you can mix the same way, but you will probably have to use CAS3. PC133 CAS3 will sometimes run OK at 100 CAS2. All you can do is experiment.

[babylon5guy]

Yes I have mixed them, of course like mixing PC100 and PC133 it will operate at the lower speed CAS 3. I have read that on some obscure mobo's it doesn't work but on an Abit you should have no trouble. When I had a stick of each in I had it set to CAS 2 also, and it would freeze up once in awhile, when I set it back down to CAS 3 it operated normally. But as I said, from what I understand it really doesn't matter much, you only get a speed increase in the memory as it starts to read the data, as the data is filling up the memory there is no speed difference in CAS 2 or CAS 3.
HTH

[RJ]

Thanks. So because there isn't really a performance loss I'm going to try CAS3.
Probably it's a RAM problem, because now the SBLive! works fine, but I wanted to install my network card in slot 4 and the PC froze.

BTW, is there any way to check those data on the memory itself ? There are so many numbers, but what do they say about CAS ?

RJ

[babylon5guy]

I have the Abit KT7 and my LAN card only works in slots 5 or 6. I know you only have 5 PCI slots in your board so I'd try 5. I have one stick where it indicates CAS 2 but none of the sticks do. Someone who knows more about what those numbers mean, will have to answer your question. I'd try switching slots first. When you get things sorted out, if your board runs fine at CAS 2 leave it set there, if it is still a little unstable try setting it to CAS 3.
Good Luck

[RJ]

Hello all,

problems are solved now I changed CAS times from 2 to 3, and now it doesn't freeze anymore
All cards (including network card and tv card) are working now.

As to the network card: My card needs busmaster signal, so I can't use 5, because the HPT370 controller chip takes it. But PCI4 is ok, it always worked fine in it and it does again.

Anyway if someone knows the meaning of the numbers it would be helpful to identify the CAS on other ram sticks.

Thanks again for your help.

RJ

[babylon5guy]

All's right with the world when your PC is working right. Glad you got it all sorted out!

[RJ]

All's right with the world when your PC is working right.

Oh yeah, that's really really true. . .

RJ