Samsung DDR400 no post in IT7

[MudWhistle]

Hi, I just picked up some generic samsung DDR-400 512 meg stick from work to test out in my IT7. I'm not sure the numbers on the ram itself, but they end in "TCC4". Are these the new cas 3 modules that people have been talking about?. I read on abit's site for the IT7-Max2 that some ddr400 modules fail to boot because they are cas3 etc. What I dont understand is that the ram working fine in my KG7 which im typing this post with right now.

I have reset the cmos in my IT7 and updated the bios but the sammy ddr400 wont post, my ddr333 generic samsung works fine. Any suggestions?

[Bravo]

Samsung DDR 400 uses CL3, all Intel based I845 boards do not support this timing. Ask for a refund.

[MudWhistle]

hmm, yeah i just did a sammy ddr400 search at icronic forums and noticed some problems. What is weird is that i had it running in a P4B-533 (i845 chipset) this morning at work. I dont need a refund, I was just testing this stick to see if i should do a volume order, guess this ram is outta the question, thanks for your reply.

[Ragnarok]

U have tried another stick of ram and update the bios?

One of the newer bios has support for CL3 DDR400 modules supposedly.

[MudWhistle]

I have tried another stick, same problem with the IT7, but works fine on a P4B-533. What's weird is i just did some research, most people are saying incompatabilities with cl3 and i845 but I have yet to see any proof that this stick is actually cl3 (I read a few pdf's and it seems that the manufacturer of the pcb can change the cl rate from 2.5 or 3), like preprogram the pcb for the ram. So im not sure if my ram is actually cl2.5 or 3 because sammy TCC4 can be set to either or. It works fine in a P4B-533 which throws out the notion of a straight "incompatability" with i845 chipsets. The bios you mention Ragnarok that supposedly fixes the cl3 compatability issues is only for the Abit IT7 MAX 2. I remember Opp saying something like you can flash the Regular IT7 with the bios'es meant for the IT7-2, but i'm not willing to try that unless someone else here has done that :o

I also dont want to flash the bios and lose the 3+ vmem selections etc.

you will notice this guy has basically the same ram but he is running a 4G4A board (very similar to I845E right?) and is getting some wicked results.

So basically the question now lies, is this just an Abit BD7II/IT7 problem or are other boards (besides abit brand) having isssues with Samsung TCC4 ram. I have yet to see any non abit/i845e boards exibit these boot issues.

[hallowen]

Had the same problem with OCZ 400DDR, RMA'd THREE TIMES before I got one to Post with my IT7.

As far as the bios goes, try the Modded BT that Jupiler has posted in the INTEL Forum which gives you up to 3.2v.

AFAIK, the IT7 Will work with DDR400(I've been using a 256 stick in my system for about a month now).

BTW: Haven,t EVER had problems with my Mushkin PC3200.

[ronnie0738]

I think it may be a board compatibility issue. I have had 2 sticks of sammys true 400 and they both run fine at cas2.5 up to 450+DDR on my 4g4a.

[MudWhistle]

Hi ronnie0738:

Yeah the 4G4A does not seem to have any problems with the Sammy DDR, look at that post at hardforums i posted above. I am using the A4 modded bios, maybe with a new bios this ram will work, untill then, stay away from cl3 sammy ddr 400 if you own an Abit DDR board

[MudWhistle]

Heh, finally got this stick of sammy 512 ddr TCC4 to boot in an IT7, i used the BT modified bios and she fired right up, problem is, i can only run it at 133 fsb with a 3/4 divider so like 178 mhz. as soon as i push her to 200 mhz on the ram, she wont boot. I wish i had some more time to play with this but it has to go back, i mean cant even do 200mhz mem with 2.5,3,3,7 enhanced off at 2.9 volts., blah. Oh well, this ram is going back and I wont be ordering this stuff in volume at least for intel boards.