[KLUG Hardware] Re: Memtest errors -- chipset and memory size ...

[Adam Williams]

>>I'm trying to put together a box out of leftover parts.
>>I have a generic motherboard,
>What chipset?  If you don't know, read the two or three main square
>chips off of it.

The board is a "First International Computer, Inc. VA-503+".  The
chipset is "VIA APOLLO MVP3" according to the manual.  The VIA chips
says "VT82C596B"

>>I have two different PC133 DRAM sticks.  One is a PNY certified
>>to work at 66/100/133, the other is a generic PC133.  
>What sizes?

256Mb.  The manual says it supports, 8, 16, 8 32, 64, 128, & 256. 
Tomorrow I'll try to grab a 128Mb from the office and see if that works
better.

>>Since I have two different branch new SDRAM sticks that exhibit
>>the same behavior I really don't think it is bad RAM.  Any
>>recommendations on how I can narrow it down?
>>(This is the only CPU that matches this motherboard I have).
>9 times out of 10, it's an INcorrect DIMM for the mainboard.  Many
>Pentium mainboard chipsets only support 64MB DIMMs or smaller and I
>don't know of any that support greater than 128MB.

The manual says it does,  but that may be "theoretical"

>You could also potentially have a performance issue.  In addition to the
>fact that Intel Triton I, II and IV (430FX, TX and VX) completely
>disable the L2 cache (i.e. _all_ cache is disabled) if you put in more
>than 64MB, many ViA and SiS chipsets also only support 64-256MB cachable
>(i.e. only the first 64-256MB is cachable).

The machine will only have 256Mb.  I just tried two different DIMMS. 

Performance isn't so big a deal.  The user is going to use it as a PC as
they can't afford (or don't want to afford M$).  It will just run
standard Ximain apps + OO.

If anyone can recommend one of those $50-75 inkjets that produces decent
output from Linux, it would be appreciated.   Again,  speed isn't really
an issue.