[KLUG Hardware] Re: Memtest errors -- yep, it's the SDRAM you're feeding it ...

[Bryan J. Smith]

On Sun, 2002-06-09 at 21:10, Adam Williams wrote:
> The board is a "First International Computer, Inc. VA-503+".  The
> chipset is "VIA APOLLO MVP3" according to the manual.

Had one of those when they first came out.  Exchanged it for a Soyo 5HEM
(same mVP3) after the VA-503+ it toasted itself.  Not pretty.

> The VIA chips says "VT82C596B"

That's the southbridge, not the northbridge.  Doesn't tell me anything
about the memory.  

According to this page: 
http://www.via.com.tw/jsp/en/products/apollo/mvp3.jsp

The mVP3 should be the chip with 598 (VT82c598).  There was an "earlier"
mVP3 that wasn't exactly the same as the latter versions too.  I
remember the big fuss on that.

> 256Mb.  The manual says it supports, 8, 16, 8 32, 64, 128, & 256.

Be _wary_ when they say "256MB" -- usually just EDO, max SDRAM is half
that.  And then you've got IC width/timing issues to worry about.  If
you're trying PC133, I seriously doubt you're going to have any luck.

I couldn't get any 128MB SDRAM to work with my Soyo 5HEM (same 598
chip).  A 64MB SDRAM Siemens DIMM is in it now.

> Tomorrow I'll try to grab a 128Mb from the office and see if that works
> better.

Good luck.  But don't think it's the mainboard.  You could always try
some EDO to just verify the board.

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

Again, the max EDO is usually listed, max SDRAM is half that.  That was
typical of all combination EDO/SDRAM chipsets.  It has to do with the
refresh -- SDRAM is synchronous and has more strenuous timing issues.

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

If I remember correctly, the FIC VA-503+ had (2) DIMMs?  You better hope
you get lucky with a pair of 128MB'ers.

> 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.

Depending how much L2 cache there is, and how the JTAG is configured, it
will cache anywhere from the first 128MB to 512MB.  You should be safe
with 256MB in most cases.

It's not like those Intel Triton I/II/IV (430FX/VX/TX) chipsets that
disabled the L2 cache _completely_ if you put more than 64MB in.  That
was just stupid, but Intel didn't want to bother with a little more
logic to accomodate.

> 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.

Haven't been there in awhile, but it's hard to go wrong with HP now that
Bruce Perens is there.

For $400, their LaserJet 1220se kicks serious butt -- PostScript 2,
scan/copy built-in, Qt status window, working on a SANE driver.  I have
one ... sweet!

-- Bryan

CC:  PC_Support

P.S.  And they don't put all that hardware trivia in my head on the A+
test.  Ack, I'm even looking at that now, along with Network+/Server+. 
Might as well do the "full suite."

-- 
Bryan J. Smith, E.I.                    SmithConcepts, Inc.
(407)489-7013 (Mobile)             http://SmithConcepts.com
mailto:b.j.smith@ieee.org          Consulting Engineers and
BS Computer Engineering                    IT Professionals
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