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GrandpaBuggins
04-08-2006, 09:07 PM
I have a Novatech PC - product code PC-0728T
..it has a Foxconn 661FXME mobo - I am having problems upgrading from 2x512mb DDR2 RAM to 2x1024mb DDR2 RAM
I have installed two strips of Novatech RAM-40/1G (400MHz 184Pin 1GB PC3200 DDR RAM )
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PC Wizard 2006 shows the following info re. my current memory set-up..

General Information :
A0 (RAS 0) : 512 (Single Bank)
A1 (RAS 2) : 512 (Single Bank)
A2 : Empty
A3 : Empty

Information SPD EEPROM (A0) :
Manufacturer : Unspecified
Part Number : MDD1GB-08M-400ÿÿÿÿ
Serial Number : Unspecified
Type : DDR-SDRAM PC3200 (200 MHz) - [DDR-400]
Size : 4 MB (1 rows, 4 banks)
Module Buffered : No
Module Registered : No
Width : 64-bit
Error Correction Capability : No
Max. Burst Length : 8
Refresh : Reduced (.5x)7.8 µs, Self Refresh
Voltage : SSTL 2.5v
Manufacture : Week 26 of 2006
Supported Frequencies : 133 MHz, 166 MHz, 200 MHz
CAS Latency (tCL) : 2 clocks @133 MHz, 2.5 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS to CAS (tRCD) : 2 clocks @133 MHz, 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS Precharge (tRP) : 2 clocks @133 MHz, 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
Cycle Time (tRAS) : 6 clocks @133 MHz, 7 clocks @166 MHz, 8 clocks @200 MHz

Information SPD EEPROM (A1) :
Manufacturer : Unspecified
Part Number : MDD1GB-08M-400ÿÿÿÿ
Serial Number : Unspecified
Type : DDR-SDRAM PC3200 (200 MHz) - [DDR-400]
Size : 4 MB (1 rows, 4 banks)
Module Buffered : No
Module Registered : No
Width : 64-bit
Error Correction Capability : No
Max. Burst Length : 8
Refresh : Reduced (.5x)7.8 µs, Self Refresh
Voltage : SSTL 2.5v
Manufacture : Week 30 of 2006
Supported Frequencies : 133 MHz, 166 MHz, 200 MHz
CAS Latency (tCL) : 2 clocks @133 MHz, 2.5 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS to CAS (tRCD) : 2 clocks @133 MHz, 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS Precharge (tRP) : 2 clocks @133 MHz, 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
Cycle Time (tRAS) : 6 clocks @133 MHz, 7 clocks @166 MHz, 8 clocks @200 MHz

Memory Controller Information :
Memory Controller : DIMM, SDRAM
Number of connectors : 4
Max. Module Size : 1024 MB
Max. Memory Size : 4096 MB
Supported Speed : Unspecified
Supported Voltages : 3.3v
Error Detection Method : No
Error Correction Capability : Unspecified
Current/Supported Interleave : 1-way/1-way
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- current BIOS is shown as:
Manufacturer : Phoenix Technologies, LTD
Version : 6.00 PG
Date : 03 March 2005
Address : 0xE000 on 256 KB
Copyright : Copyright (C) 2003, Phoenix Technologies, LTD
Motherboard ID : 03/03/2005-SiS-661-6A7I4FK9C-00
OEM Signature : S661 Series 4ABN1S13 030305
DMI Version : 2.2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Physical Memory is described as..
General Information :
A0 (RAS 0) : 512 (Single Bank)
A1 (RAS 2) : 512 (Single Bank)
A2 : Empty
A3 : Empty

Information SPD EEPROM (A0) :
Manufacturer : Unspecified
Part Number : MDD1GB-08M-400ÿÿÿÿ
Serial Number : Unspecified
Type : DDR-SDRAM PC3200 (200 MHz) - [DDR-400]
Size : 4 MB (1 rows, 4 banks)
Module Buffered : No
Module Registered : No
Width : 64-bit
Error Correction Capability : No
Max. Burst Length : 8
Refresh : Reduced (.5x)7.8 µs, Self Refresh
Voltage : SSTL 2.5v
Manufacture : Week 26 of 2006
Supported Frequencies : 133 MHz, 166 MHz, 200 MHz
CAS Latency (tCL) : 2 clocks @133 MHz, 2.5 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS to CAS (tRCD) : 2 clocks @133 MHz, 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS Precharge (tRP) : 2 clocks @133 MHz, 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
Cycle Time (tRAS) : 6 clocks @133 MHz, 7 clocks @166 MHz, 8 clocks @200 MHz

Information SPD EEPROM (A1) :
Manufacturer : Unspecified
Part Number : MDD1GB-08M-400ÿÿÿÿ
Serial Number : Unspecified
Type : DDR-SDRAM PC3200 (200 MHz) - [DDR-400]
Size : 4 MB (1 rows, 4 banks)
Module Buffered : No
Module Registered : No
Width : 64-bit
Error Correction Capability : No
Max. Burst Length : 8
Refresh : Reduced (.5x)7.8 µs, Self Refresh
Voltage : SSTL 2.5v
Manufacture : Week 30 of 2006
Supported Frequencies : 133 MHz, 166 MHz, 200 MHz
CAS Latency (tCL) : 2 clocks @133 MHz, 2.5 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS to CAS (tRCD) : 2 clocks @133 MHz, 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
RAS Precharge (tRP) : 2 clocks @133 MHz, 3 clocks @166 MHz, 3 clocks @200 MHz
Cycle Time (tRAS) : 6 clocks @133 MHz, 7 clocks @166 MHz, 8 clocks @200 MHz

Memory Controller Information :
Memory Controller : DIMM, SDRAM
Number of connectors : 4
Max. Module Size : 1024 MB
Max. Memory Size : 4096 MB
Supported Speed : Unspecified
Supported Voltages : 3.3v
Error Detection Method : No
Error Correction Capability : Unspecified
Current/Supported Interleave : 1-way/1-way
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- so why does my motherboard actually have only two slots available and a maximum memory of 2G as seen here..??
http://www.foxconnchannel.com/Product/m ... -us0000108 (http://www.foxconnchannel.com/Product/motherboard_detail.aspx?id=en-us0000108)

- I have 2 strips of RAM installed at present - each one is 1024mb - these are currently showing as only being 2x512mb (as above)

- has this motherboard been flashed with the wrong BIOS or what - something is VERY wrong here...??!! :shock:

Coops
04-08-2006, 11:33 PM
Strange

Just to help us, what are your 1gb modules, are they single sided or double sided.

ie. do they have chips on just one side of the RAM module or on both sides

GrandpaBuggins
05-08-2006, 03:14 AM
Hi Coops,
- They're single-sided..
- these: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/spec ... ?RAM-40/1G (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?RAM-40/1G)
- unlike the 512's that I replaced them for, which were double-sided..

- it's not another case of the jollyjacks is it..??
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=716

- hmmm, but that still doesn't explain the weird mobo readings..??

Coops
05-08-2006, 09:19 AM
Yes it is most likely the motherboard cannot support single sided 1gb stick.

It will support 1gb stick on this board but mostly likely will be only by using double sided 1gb modules.

You would get all sorts of weird readings with RAM thats not quite right. Firstly RAM modules contain a chip which stores SPD information. So some programs can read this information which would identify what the module is, size, component, part number etc etc. But on the flip side although all this information is there and can be passed on to the system, the simply fact of the matter is, if the mainboard simply cannot process register and address that much memory on one side of the module, it simply won't work.
Some motherboards work in different ways, yours actually POSTED but only showed half the ram. This would then show support for the mainboard only being able to address 512mb on a single side. Most motherboards that are presented with RAM that it cannot address properly just don't POST.

Anyway if you get the RAM Chnaged for double sided 1gb sticks i think you will be fine.

GrandpaBuggins
05-08-2006, 03:51 PM
Thanks for the info, Coops -
Oh dear - looks like our careful budgetting has taken a knock.. :(

If I send back this RAM - will Novatech hold the credit for a replacement if I forward any balance due? :?

..Oh, and could you recommend any (- er, reasonably priced!) double-sided alternative to the RAM 40/1G..??

The Novatech catalogue/site doesn't appear to indicate whether the RAM strips are single or double-sided, and it doesn't seem possible to identify the correct type of RAM from the photo's shown in either.. see this link - where both my 512mb strip and the proposed swap 1024mb strip are pictured side by side.. even the stock codes are similar!!
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prod ... z1p0s0n0m0 (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/products/a537x1y0z1p0s0n0m0)

- how can one determine whether the RAM is single or double-sided...?? :shock:

GrandpaBuggins
06-08-2006, 12:42 AM
This is going increasingly in a jollyjack fashion..ha, ha! :)

I would also like to get the Corsair 2Gb package at:
https://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/spe ... CSR-VS402G (https://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?CSR-VS402G)

jollyjack seemed satisfied - so that's good enough for me..

I shall talk to your sales staff by telephone on Monday, about getting the existing RAM replaced..

Coops
06-08-2006, 01:40 AM
Yes best thing to do is speak to one of our advisors and let them know that you need to have double sided RAM in order for it to work in your system. They can then sort it out for you =)

GrandpaBuggins
07-08-2006, 12:41 PM
I've been on to the returns dept - they've issued me with a returns code number..

It appears that I have to wait for my account to be credited, before making another separate order for the alternative RAM..

- I'll let you know how things proceed..

- once again, many thanks..

BTW: this could be confusing - one type of RAM would be wrong for my PC - yet they're both shown side-by-side in the catalogue..
https://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/spe ... CSR-VS402G (https://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?CSR-VS402G)

GrandpaBuggins
01-09-2006, 09:41 AM
Everything is sorted - thanks, guys..

- she runs like a dream..!!