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PC133 memory warning!
Last month I started upgrade my system. I hve purchased new Pentium III 667EB processor, GigaByte 6VX7-4X motherboard, and 256MB SDRAM memory, all for 133MHz front side bus speed. From the beginning the new hardware setup was very unstable under Windows 98SE operating system, unexpected system crashes, errors in dll modules (comctl32, mprserv...). According to my knowledge, and information from this forum, I was looking for drivers/IRQ conflict typically for VIA Apollo Pro 133A chipset, Matrox G400 and SBLive! board. Finally after two weeks, I found the source of my problem: SDRAM memory!
I checked the memory with last version SiSoft Sandra 2000 test programs. This is an interesting fragment of a summary report:
< Memory Modules >
Memory Module 1: 256MB 16x(16Mx8) SDRAM CL3 PC125-333-622
and answer from SiSoft to a very similar problem:
Q: Sandra says my PC100 SDRAM is PC125! PC125 does not exist!
A: There is no official PC125 specification, although some modules have been marked as PC125. The more recent SDRAM chips which could not run at 133MHz have been marked as 125. Thus your PC100 memory is actually rated up to 125MHz.
My SDRAM was sold under PC133 specification (mdule description LD PC133WAB, May 2000).
Yesterday I checked hardware using "old" 128MB PC100 SDRAM from Siemens. No problems, even with memory speed 133MHz (CL 3), fsb 150MHz, Marvel G400 overclocked to G400 MAX, the computer passed all heavy tests included 3DMark 2000 (score 3149).
Today I got a RMA number.
I checked the memory with last version SiSoft Sandra 2000 test programs. This is an interesting fragment of a summary report:
< Memory Modules >
Memory Module 1: 256MB 16x(16Mx8) SDRAM CL3 PC125-333-622
and answer from SiSoft to a very similar problem:
Q: Sandra says my PC100 SDRAM is PC125! PC125 does not exist!
A: There is no official PC125 specification, although some modules have been marked as PC125. The more recent SDRAM chips which could not run at 133MHz have been marked as 125. Thus your PC100 memory is actually rated up to 125MHz.
My SDRAM was sold under PC133 specification (mdule description LD PC133WAB, May 2000).
Yesterday I checked hardware using "old" 128MB PC100 SDRAM from Siemens. No problems, even with memory speed 133MHz (CL 3), fsb 150MHz, Marvel G400 overclocked to G400 MAX, the computer passed all heavy tests included 3DMark 2000 (score 3149).
Today I got a RMA number.
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