.... the M919 won't work with regular COAST (cache on a stick) modules that would otherwise work in socket 5 / 7 boards. It needs a special module designed specifically for the M919. Using a regular COAST module can DAMAGE the board since the two are not electrically-compatible.

Here's what the M919's cache stick looks like:

If the stick you have doesn't look like that, and doesn't say "for M919 only" it won't work.

If the module you have looks like the one above but you still can't get it to work, then there must be a jumper / jumpers on the board to enable external cache.

Yes, the stick I have looks just like that one in your picture. I found jumper settings online but there isn't anything about jumpers for the cache. My board is V3.4 B/F

http://th2chips.freeservers.com/m919/jumper/index.html

Look for an undocumented jumper since that is not the motherboard's complete manual. It's possible they did not include the jumper for external cache.

There has to be one such jumper, even socket 7 pentium boards have them.

Do you have EDO RAM installed? Is it 64mb? If so try switching to FPM ram and a smaller amount.

I tired one 16mb edo, then two different 32mb FPM sticks. I then tried a pair of FPM no luck. I'm currently using the 83mhz overdrive cpu. I was thinking is if possible the stick is bad? but then I don't get how it shows 256kb at the post screen if it were bad.

Strange. My board did the same thing until I switched to fpm, then it worked perfect.

Would a bios update help? I tried to update but it would not get started in either 5V or 12V I'm not sure if this chip is even flashable it's generic. M919 5-6.

Is there any other way for me to test the stick to see if it is bad?

@ soviet conscript, or anyone that knows. What model or brand of FPM stick are you using that this board works with? and is there anyway to flash the bios? I haven't had any luck. I found this webpage that has the latest bios but I don't know if it is the right one for my board. I also do have two of these boards now and both do the same exact thing. http://th2chips.freeservers.com/m919/

The BIOS chip on your board is most likely non-flashable as you say. The only way to upgrade it would be to flash another chip with the right file using another motherboard or a dedicated device programmer, and since you can't erase the original, you can always go back to it if the upgrade doesn't work.

The BIOS is 32 pins and 128KB so you'd need a 28F1000/29F010 or compatible Flash ROM chip. Socket 7 boards tend to have these with the right circuitry for on-board flashing.

@133mhz, is this a chip that would work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-28F010-1024K-12 … =item25a248b685
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-AM29F010-45PC-IC … =item3cd45a15da

Yes, both are perfectly suitable, but keep in mind that the Intel part requires a 12V programming voltage. With a standalone programmer that's not an issue, but if you use a motherboard make sure it can be jumpered for 12V flashing (or just get the 5V-only AMD part).