Here are further link infos about DFI the motherboard just in case.
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/dfi-ca64-tc

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813136111

Hey ,

Does both ram sticks working? Do you use last bios version?

ciornyi wrote on 2024-11-14, 06:51:

Hey ,

Does both ram sticks working? Do you use last bios version?

Bios sees both RAM sticks, yes. And i use the last possible 2003 updated bios version.

BIOS detecting the DIMMs does not mean they both work together. Also these motherboards have single channel memory controllers, so DIMMs explicitly don't need to be identical so those 512MB DIMMs should work with 256MB DIMMs so long as they're all SDRAM, unbuffered and support the chosen memory clock. If they don't either, it's an indication something is wrong.

Couple of things to try:
- drop FSB and RAM speed to 100MHz. See if that changes anything
- the board has three DIMM slots, play around with different combinations of slots. Frequently the third slot will only support single-sided DIMMs.

Failing that, please give full specs of the DIMMs, i.e. which and how many chips are on them. That might give a clue.

How exactly is the BIOS not booting the OS? Do you see some error message, or does it hang somewhere after printing the summary screen?

dionb wrote on 2024-11-14, 18:54:

BIOS detecting the DIMMs does not mean they both work together. Also these motherboards have single channel memory controllers, […]
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BIOS detecting the DIMMs does not mean they both work together. Also these motherboards have single channel memory controllers, so DIMMs explicitly don't need to be identical so those 512MB DIMMs should work with 256MB DIMMs so long as they're all SDRAM, unbuffered and support the chosen memory clock. If they don't either, it's an indication something is wrong.

Couple of things to try:
- drop FSB and RAM speed to 100MHz. See if that changes anything
- the board has three DIMM slots, play around with different combinations of slots. Frequently the third slot will only support single-sided DIMMs.

Failing that, please give full specs of the DIMMs, i.e. which and how many chips are on them. That might give a clue.

Full name is Kingston vallued RAM KVR133X72RC3/512
I`ll try dropping speed but seller on ebay told me that it works on if CPU is 133mhz. I have bought two of 512MB, and before that i had 3X 256mb but they were (2 NCP NC4113/4318 256mb PC133 and one single sided 256 PC-133 no name RAM) AND it all worked quite well.
I`ve tried mixed and mached then, and they did not worked together, and i think i`ve read somewhere in manual different kinds wont match together , to always use one of the kind

I`m copying info from a manual:
Memory Parity/ECC Check
If you are using x72 (72-bit) PC SDRAM DIMMs, which are DIMMs
that support the ECC (Error Checking and Correction) function, set
this field to Enabled.

If i enable this option system wonts even come to the booting section, it just get stuck in checking RAM memories, which is this option is needed to turn on maybe indicate that one of RAM`s may be defective.
Just guessing loud.

I uploaded photos that concerns SDRAM so maybe that will give clues.

kmeaw wrote on 2024-11-14, 19:27:

How exactly is the BIOS not booting the OS? Do you see some error message, or does it hang somewhere after printing the summary screen?

It tries to load the OS on boot screen and it just restarts again to BIOS , so it keeps going in circles basically.

I`ve tried everything and nothing will work, it simply wont load system with 2X512MB x72 models, and it wont see smaller size match if i mix and match them together no matter what combination i using. 🙁
I tried Memory Parity/ECC Check with RAM at different combinations out of 3 slots, and in 2/3 slot it showed me this message.

It seems this card wont show these bigger cards since they are ECC models, i`ll have to search for non ECC x64 models.

I have this same memory module and it is actually faulty. You'll probably want to run a round of memtest86+ to rule out faulty RAM.

I had success on a Pro133T system by setting chipset register 69.7=1 - see page 28 of https://theretroweb.com/chip/documentation/vt … 6c365423273.pdf. My board has only one RAM slot so I had to improve compatibility in order to have larger RAM - after patching raminit code, I got a single 512MB module (which as I understand is the largest capacity per slot that the chipset supports) running - single sided with 8 chips s160032llltk-75a (16x32), labelled as "SPECTEK 512MB".

I have never tried running REG modules - for some reason I just assumed that they won't work.

Tiido wrote on 2024-11-15, 00:08:

I have this same memory module and it is actually faulty. You'll probably want to run a round of memtest86+ to rule out faulty RAM.

If i got it right memtest86+ is a software which i can load to test the ram? I can do that by installing stick one by one and checking it.

It is self-booting software, which is ran from a bootable floppy/CD/DVD/USB, so no installing involved.

kmeaw wrote on 2024-11-15, 00:54:

I had success on a Pro133T system by setting chipset register 69.7=1 - see page 28 of https://theretroweb.com/chip/documentation/vt … 6c365423273.pdf. My board has only one RAM slot so I had to improve compatibility in order to have larger RAM - after patching raminit code, I got a single 512MB module (which as I understand is the largest capacity per slot that the chipset supports) running - single sided with 8 chips s160032llltk-75a (16x32), labelled as "SPECTEK 512MB".

I have never tried running REG modules - for some reason I just assumed that they won't work.

Wooow! This is too much for me to understand. I`m not programmer , nor i do modes. I guess i`ll skip this as an option. I myself seems i need to find just regular non ECC models, seller didnt specify what models he is selling, and he answered me they will work for my motherboard judging on specs. 🙁

Tiido wrote on 2024-11-15, 01:08:

It is self-booting software, which is ran from a bootable floppy/CD/DVD/USB, so no installing involved.

I see, thanks for let me know. Thats cool thing to have.

Studiostriver wrote on 2024-11-15, 01:09:

Wooow! This is too much for me to understand. I`m not programmer , nor i do modes. I guess i`ll skip this as an option.

If you are comfortable with ROM flashing, have an external ROM programming device or some other means to recover from a failed flash (such as a spare chip or another board for hotswapping), you can try this ROM.

It seems like it's ECC Registered DIMM according to official site, that means that it's mirracle that you booted even one stick and it won't combine with regular dimm modules . Also it might be buffered witch absolute unsupported by via 694t chipset . Also your memory have high latencies and slower than usual. Unfortunately I think that no matter what , it does not work and best option would be find normal memory without any ecc .

ciornyi wrote on 2024-11-15, 06:42:

It seems like it's ECC Registered DIMM according to official site, that means that it's mirracle that you booted even one stick and it won't combine with regular dimm modules . Also it might be buffered witch absolute unsupported by via 694t chipset . Also your memory have high latencies and slower than usual. Unfortunately I think that no matter what , it does not work and best option would be find normal memory without any ecc .

Thanks for let me know. Man Getting 512mb SDRAM non ECC double sided is hard to be found these days.

ciornyi wrote on 2024-11-15, 06:42:

Also it might be buffered witch absolute unsupported by via 694t chipset

That's also what I thought before but look at the bottom of the page 28 of the document that I referenced above.

kmeaw wrote on 2024-11-15, 23:48:

ciornyi wrote on 2024-11-15, 06:42:

Also it might be buffered witch absolute unsupported by via 694t chipset

That's also what I thought before but look at the bottom of the page 28 of the document that I referenced above.

It sees one stick for sure, bios sees two, it just dont want to boot the OS . 🙁