Newbie Q: Does DDR frequency have to match CPU's FSB?

[shawroo]

Hi,

I'd like to know if DDR frequency must match CPU's FSB? I have an ABIT KV7 motherboard and AMD barton 2600+ with 333Mhz FSB. I bought pc2100 DDR (266Mhz). After I hooked them together, the monitor didn't show anything. Neither could I hear the short beep, which indicates POST is fine.

What can cause this kind of symptom?

Thanks a lot.

 

[ForsakenMaster]

No it doesn't have to match and it sounds to me your Mobo could be bad.

 

[FPSguy]

It doesn't have to match. That motherboard will allow you to set the FSB/RAM ratio at 5:4 so that the FSB can run at 166Mhz while the memory runs at 133Mhz. Did you set the ratio, though (or is it set automatically)? The system could fail to boot if the RAM can't keep up with the FSB and the ratio is set to 1:1. I would think you would hear some type of beep, though. Is everything else running (i.e., fans and hard drives spin up?)? If so, you might try reseating the RAM.

 

[jjyiz28]

damnit, where the guys that says you MUST run it async, no other way. and the remote possibility you do run it async, you will get liek a 50% perfomance penalty.

 

[shawroo]

Originally posted by: ForsakenMaster
No it doesn't have to match and it sounds to me your Mobo could be bad.

All these items (Mobo, CPU, memory) are brand new, which was just boght from Fry's. :brokenheart:

 

[shawroo]

Originally posted by: FPSguy
It doesn't have to match. That motherboard will allow you to set the FSB/RAM ratio at 5:4 so that the FSB can run at 166Mhz while the memory runs at 133Mhz. Did you set the ratio, though (or is it set automatically)? The system could fail to boot if the RAM can't keep up with the FSB and the ratio is set to 1:1. I would think you would hear some type of beep, though. Is everything else running (i.e., fans and hard drives spin up?)? If so, you might try reseating the RAM.

I didn't hear anything, though one shot beep is expected. CPU fan is running. But how could hard drives spin up before POST (power on self-test) is finished? Ram is in DIMM 1, which is required.

 

[MkItGoFstr]

Did you try clearing cmos? Just a thought.

 

[FPSguy]

When I said "reseat the RAM", I meant pull it out and put it back in to make sure it is in there snugly. If you can put it in another slot you can try that too, but even if you must have it in slot 1 I would still pull it out and put it back in (with the power off and the power supply unplugged). You might as well try clearing the CMOS too (with the power off and the supply unplugged). If neither of those work, I think it could be the motherboard and I would call Abit technical support. The beeps of the motherboard as it boots up usually are coded to tell you what parts are working and what parts are not. If the power is coming on and there are no beeps, there is something very basic wrong and it could be the motherboard.

 

[ForsakenMaster]

Just because all this hardware is new doesn't mean
it isn't bad, personal i would try what fpsguy suggested and also clear the cmos.
If that doesn't work flash the bios after all these steps have been taken and the problem is still there i would rma the MoBo.

 

[myocardia]

Shawroo, don't ever touch anything inside of a computer without it being plugged in! I've been building & repairing PC's since the early 90s, so I know what I'm talking about. The only time you want the power cord unplugged is the moment you plug the power supply's ATX connector into the motherboard. As soon as that's accomplished, plug the cord back in. The only way that your case can be grounded is through the AC outlet's ground. If it the case isn't grounded, you aren't grounded, and if you aren't grounded, you WILL be buying parts to replace what you've destroyed!!

Also, with every motherboard I've ever owned, plus every motherboard that I've ever dealt with (and there have been MANY), moving the jumper to reset the bios does absolutely nothing unless the computer itself is turned on. Just turn the computer on for a few seconds, then turn it back off, and move the jumper back to the original position (usually called the "normal" position). BTW, since almost every Socket A motherboard comes with the bios set to a 200 Mhz fsb (front side bus), I really doubt it's going to help to reset the bios.

Oh, one last thing-- it's absolutely impossible to flash the bios on a motherboard that isn't operating.

 

[FPSguy]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Shawroo, don't ever touch anything inside of a computer without it being plugged in! I've been building & repairing PC's since the early 90s, so I know what I'm talking about. The only time you want the power cord unplugged is the moment you plug the power supply's ATX connector into the motherboard. As soon as that's accomplished, plug the cord back in. The only way that your case can be grounded is through the AC outlet's ground. If it the case isn't grounded, you aren't grounded, and if you aren't grounded, you WILL be buying parts to replace what you've destroyed!! Also, with every motherboard I've ever owned, plus every motherboard that I've ever dealt with (and there have been MANY), moving the jumper to reset the bios does absolutely nothing unless the computer itself is turned on. Just turn the computer on for a few seconds, then turn it back off, and move the jumper back to the original position (usually called the "normal" position). BTW, since almost every Socket A motherboard comes with the bios set to a 200 Mhz fsb (front side bus), I really doubt it's going to help to reset the bios. Oh, one last thing-- it's absolutely impossible to flash the bios on a motherboard that isn't operating.

I haven't been building computers since the early 90's, but this advice runs counter to my experience in building 10 or so computers. I believe the manual usually tells you to unplug the power supply when working on the motherboard, and to use a grounding strap or at least touch something metal to discharge any static electricity. My current motherboard (an Abit IS7) has an LED which lights up and shows you there is power in the board even when the computer is off. I was under the impression that the purpose of the LED was to remind you that there was power in the board and that you needed to unplug the power supply before working on the board. Further, I have never had a motherboard where the instructions said to reset the CMOS jumper while the computer was in operation. And, I can tell you from far too much experience resetting the CMOS on my IS7 (after trying to overcome the CH-5 memory divider issue), that it definitely resets with the computer off and the power supply unplugged. Here is an example of Abit telling you to remove the power cord to reset the CMOS after a failed overclock (see step # 2).

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Shawroo, don't ever touch anything inside of a computer without it being plugged in! I've been building & repairing PC's since the early 90s, so I know what I'm talking about. The only time you want the power cord unplugged is the moment you plug the power supply's ATX connector into the motherboard. As soon as that's accomplished, plug the cord back in. The only way that your case can be grounded is through the AC outlet's ground. If it the case isn't grounded, you aren't grounded, and if you aren't grounded, you WILL be buying parts to replace what you've destroyed!!

Also, with every motherboard I've ever owned, plus every motherboard that I've ever dealt with (and there have been MANY), moving the jumper to reset the bios does absolutely nothing unless the computer itself is turned on. Just turn the computer on for a few seconds, then turn it back off, and move the jumper back to the original position (usually called the "normal" position). BTW, since almost every Socket A motherboard comes with the bios set to a 200 Mhz fsb (front side bus), I really doubt it's going to help to reset the bios.

Oh, one last thing-- it's absolutely impossible to flash the bios on a motherboard that isn't operating.

to reset cmos you don't turn on pc . the point of resetting bios, cmos that the battery is not being used to keep the settings in the BIOS therefore it will be reset.

i think ur right about the grounding thing. keep your power supply corded connected BUT remember to hit the off switch on the back of the PSU. i think for me i will forgot to turn off the switch, so its just easier to just unplug it. there's two diff school of thought on this, but i just unplug it instead of tyring to remember if i switched it off on not inthe back.