BIOS Updating

[Mr-Me-II]

I have a ASRock 775v88+ Motherboard. It has 4 memory slots, meaning two DDR Channels.

Like most motherboards, the DDR Channels are color coded and seperated (2x modules of 2). From here on out I will refer to these slots as Channel1A Channel2A Channel1B Channel2B If that makes any sense. If not I included a photo, (Board pictured is the same make and model as mine)

The memory I was using: 2x512MB Corsair Value Select PC3200 CAS2.5 in slots Channel1A and Channel1B , meaning Dual Channel.

A while ago, one random day for no apparent reason, Channel1A Channel2A stopped working completely. I was wondering why I was getting 30FPS in Source, so I checked CPU-Z suspecting a dead stick of Ram or underclocked/cooked CPU. It showed 512mb Ram, so I assumed I was right.

I powered off my machine, and took one out ( Channel1B ) and powered on, in an attempt to see which stick cooked (as there was no visable cook-marks on the memory modules themselves) After my computer beeped angrilly at me, I swapped it out with the one I pulled from Channel1B. I expected it to boot with 512, but again I got an angry beep.

I tried putting onestick in both Channel1A andChannel2Awith the same result, angry beeps.This is when I realized Channel1A Channel2A were both faulty. There is no damage whatsoever around either of these memory slots, and they are both as clean as they were when the board was new (Intake-fan filters rock!)

Currently I am using both sticks of 512 in slots Channel1B Channel2B, meaning I am running in Single Channel mode (Eww). Both memorymodules are working fine, andhave passed Ram-testers without any problems.

My bios version is 1.40. The current version for this motherboard is 1.80. I have not seen anything in the Changelogs from version to version that would relate to my problem, nor have I seen any posts of users with a similar problem, meaning it is not a known issue with this board.

I have never liked messing with the Bios on the motherboard...plus I have no floppy drive currently installed [:@]


My question is, what are the chances that the latestBios will fix my cooked memory slots, knowing there is no physical problem with them?

Thanks for reading

[fallen1]

The BIOS update might fix your problem..then again, it might not. If the problem is that your current BIOS has become somewhat corrupted and/or unstable, that could cause your motherboard to not recognize the slot correctly or to mismanage the voltage going to that slot. In that case, a BIOS update would almost certainly fix the problem (assuming that it didn't physically fry the slot with bad voltage). If the problem is that the slot is actually fried, then the only fix is a new motherboard. Always remember that just because it doesn't look like there's something physically wrong with it that doesn't mean it isn't fried. There could be broken pins or circuits inside the plastic slo housing, a bad voltage regulator, a faulty resistor, etc.
Updating the BIOS can't hurt, and even if it doesn't fix the problem you are having with the RAM slot it may let you squeeze a bit more performance out of your machine.

[Mr-Me-II]

ORIGINAL: [PHXX]fallen1
There could be broken pins or circuits inside the plastic slo housing, a bad voltage regulator, a faulty resistor, etc.

Sounds like a challenge! Wheres my soldering iron...


Thanks for the input, I will eventually take on the task of opening my case and cutting the 500 Zip ties I have holding wires...to find a FDD molex...which I am now hoping my PSU has two of becausei have one in my videocard [:@]

[Elvis]

Hello just something you may need to look at
there is a bios setting to select dual memory
when you only had one stick in it bios may beep
till the bios setting is put to single chanel memory...
I have a spare p4 board that dont use dual memory
i get more fps with it..than my msi board

[Mr-Me-II]

Already thought of checking the Bios setting, but thanks anyway for the suggestion

[Tubby-3D]

BIOS renditions change for 2 reasons.

1. They have better recognition patterns to define hardware specs and to open functionality to hadware by coding a new section into BIOS to control signal to your hardware..

2. They update it so it will speak to the OS you're using better because of updates and changes the OS's undergo on a normal basis. Remember, the OS you use is not in any way related to good old bill and the boys at microsoft. They tend to make changes in the OS that warrant BIOS changes. things like Direct X 9.00a, b and c use the BIOS in very different ways. If you updated this or any one of the 406000 Microsoft patches, you're probbaly due for the BIOS update. BIOS is firmware or basically the translator from hardware to OS.

Since Microsoft has it's own dialect in everything, i'd say do the BIOS update and see if your problem is that minimal.However, from my standpoint, seeing this shit every day.. if your RAM failed on one stick only, I'd be willing to be your MB is pretty much on it's way out and one or more of your capacitors or circuits is screwed.. But, you may get lucky because most recent BIOS fixes allow users to install up to 3 GB of memory on their systems for use with Windows XP andXP 64 Bit. most motherboard manufacturers, if it's a newer board, have the ability to do a live update in Windows from your HD. So, usually you wouldn't need a floppy.

And for my opinion on your Motherboard.. well..

[link=http://www.asus.com]www.asus.com[/link] You won't have these problems anymore..

[Bullet]

there is also a tool that plugs into Etho(sometimes)/Parallel/Serial and (sometimes) USB, that when plugged in, will bypass the boot drive, and run a hardware check on everything from Northbridge to southbridge. I have one fot Parallel and Serial. Another way to test it, is to use a Volt Meter to see if there is any power goin through it. Check the voltages, mebbe its grounding to case or bad solder where it mounts to mobo. Just a thought ........

[Mr-Me-II]

Tubby, it is two dead slots, the A slot from each channel. Now that I think of it, there is a pretty high chance is may be a bad cap. I remember when I first got my Mobo and CPU, the Heatsink was too fricken big for the board! There were 2 caps in the way. I pulled out a drill and tried to grind the side of the HS away the best I could, but it was taking too long since I did not have the right tools.

Eventually I just forced the damn thing down, and in doing so I pulled a leg out of one of the caps just a little bit. I will pull out my Mobo sometime today and inspect it in great detail, with a Jewlers Loop and a Voltmeter. I might have to take a trip to Radioshack for this one...

I will post my findings, if I find any

[Fugazi]

Yeah I agree it does seem like two dead slots to me too.

Yeah grab your self a multimeter and a PSU tester while at it (good to have) but they wont have a psu tester at radioshack Im fairly sure of. The new Antec PSU tester is like $20 and nice.

[Mr-Me-II]

I have access to pretty much any testing device you could think of. My girlfriends father is a mad computer/electronics scientist. He has everything from Ohmmeters to Oscilliscopes from the 60's.

I will attempt a bios update tonight...I have not had too much time to work on this lately...hope the update fixes it...(couldn't hurt anyway)

[Tubby-3D]

If I had to guess without seeing the hardware, if you pulled the cap off even slightly, you've probably done damage. Like I said, a BIOS update may fix the issue if it were the RAM in the slots throwing it off, but if it's just not recognizing it at all, the board is most likely screwed. The problem with even stretching the circuitry on most motherboards, is that you'll throw the voltage tolerance off entirely. They're usually pretty precise. If a voltage drops off or you get surges, you'll burn out controllers pretty quick. I'd say look into replacing the motherboard. If both Slot A for the channels don't work, You have a better chance of seeing god than it being a software (aka firmware, OS or application) issue. issue.