Old Motherboard & RAM Upgrade

B

b1177

New Member
I am trying to replace the memory on an old motherboard, a Tekram P5H30-WS (Manual: http://www.elhvb.com/mobokive/Archive/Tekram/manuals/p5h30ws /P5H30-S12a.PDF)

Now, according to that manual the mobo can accept 128MB 72-pin SIMM memory, with a max of 512MB (128x4). So I went ahead and ordered some memory for it:

ATC 128MB 72p 60ns 18c 8x8 8K Buffered ECC EDO SIMM

(From: http://www.memoryx.net/atcgsa.html)

The old memory in it was

IBM 8mb 72p 70ns Simm Memory Module (Part No.: 74G1188)

When I install the 128MB memory the computer makes a tiny effort to start, and then shuts down (by effort, I mean the fans moves slightly before it shuts off). This occurs when all the memory is in, and when half the memory is in (And those are the only two options since it is SIMM). If I put the old memory back in, it works fine. If there is no memory in it at all, it still functions (it just doesnt boot up, and beeps a bunch :) )

So I am all out of ideas. If anyone can shed some light on this, it would be greatly appreciated.

b1177
 
First you need a Welcome to the Computer Forum! http://www.computerforum.com/70672-official-welcome-thread.html and a reminder given to new members to review the http://www.computerforum.com/52038-forum-rules.html

The link for the PDF file wasn't a manual or specifications page there. That was simply a comparison chart between different boards. The likely problem you are seeing there is simply having bought the wrong replacement memory. Do you know if the board runs PC66, PC100, or PC133 memory? The last two will easily fit into the same memory slots but are incapatible with each other. The old simms were speed specific over the newer DDR, DDR2, and now DDR3 memory where a board will take a mix like one DDR400 with a DDR33 dimm
 
72pins.. I think those were Edos? PC66/100/133 has 168pins. To me this sounds like a shorting/power supply problem. No pbeeps whatsoever? I would first off make sure nothing is shorting, then try to boot with one stick at the time. the origional stick, then the new stick. then if those dont work check the psu
 
You are installing the new RAM in pairs right? You have to install simms in each bank in matching pairs. Your post isn't clear as to whether you have 2x64MB sticks or 1x128MB stick.

Don't worry about that PC33/66/100/133 stuff that's not the kind of RAM you have, although it sounds like you already know that :)
 
The link for the PDF file wasn't a manual or specifications page there.
Click to expand...

It is the manual, as evidence by the "P5H30-NS/WS User’s Manual" in the file.

You are installing the new RAM in pairs right? You have to install simms in each bank in matching pairs. Your post isn't clear as to whether you have 2x64MB sticks or 1x128MB stick.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am installing them in pairs. It is 4 individual 128MB sticks, placed in two at a time.

The real problem when looking at the actual specifications is that the simm slots only support upto 52mb
Click to expand...

That may be, but according to the manual (p. 12):

Installing the Memory (DRAM SIMMS)
· The P5H30-NS/WS mainboard supports 72-pin SIMMS of two types:
· Fast Page Mode (Asymmetric or Symmetric)
· EDO (Extended Data Output)
· SIMM Sizes supported: 4MB, 8MB, 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, and 128MB
· A total of (4) SIMMS can be installed for a maximum RAM capacity of 512MB. (With four 128MB SIMMS Installed)
· Minimum RAM capacity is 8MB (With (2) 4MB SIMMS Installed)
· SIMMS speed requirements: 70ns or 60ns

1. This mainboard contains (2) SIMM
Banks. Each bank consists of (2)
SIMM Sockets. Memory must be
installed two SIMMS (1 Bank) at a
time. The two SIMMS in a bank
must be identical.

1. Install SIMMS 1 and 2 first. The
SIMMS must be oriented in the
correct way. There is a notch in
one end of the SIMM. Align this notch
as shown in the Diagram below.
Retainers on either side of the
SIMM will hold it in place.

b1177
 
The 52MB max is a typo as you can't make 52MB with 4 SIMMs. The only other thing I see is that the new RAM has ECC and your old doesn't. That shouldn't matter though as according to the manual your board supports ECC (it has parity checking options in the BIOS). I think all you can do is try and exchange the RAM, if it still doesn't work try to find some non-ECC 128MB modules and if it still doesn't work try getting 4x64MB. I'm not sure what else you can do, this stuff is really old so unless you have a strong reason to keep using it you might want to consider getting a newer machine
 
The 52mb is not the total system memry but max for each indibidual slot. I've seen older boards that list 48mb not allowing the use of 64mb simms but 32mb only. The "4x72pins SIMM sockets support up to 52MB" listing is seen on the manufacturer's own specifications page posted earlier suggesting 48mb siimms as the largest there.

The other Tekram page shows a 256mb max for the memory total there. Except that is not for the exact same model. That page is for the P5H30-NS/WS not the P5H30-WS.
 
The board names are the same, it's probably a max of 4x64MB. And 52MB doesn't work as the max per slot nor the board max, and I'm reasonably certain that a 48MB 72pin SIMM doesn't exist outside of networking equipment.
 
There was no reference to 128mb simms while the manual indicates a 512mb max compared to what was found on the manufacturer's own pages. The following is an extract from the manual to compare.


DRAM SIMM SOCKETS:
(4) 72-pin SIMM sockets are provided to support a
maximum RAM memory capacity of 512 MB. SIMM types of either Fast Page Mode
(FPM) or Extended Data Output (EDO) are supported and automatically detected by
the BIOS. *ECC Support: The Intel 430HX PCIset chipset can detect and correct 1-bit​
memory errors when DRAM SIMM modules supporting parity are used.

Shot at 2007-07-05

​
 
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Its got a 430HX chipset that can read up to 512mb, but it would be up to the board maker of how much it would really read. Just like the nforce 4, some will read 2gb some all the way to 16gbs. So I say the manufacture limited that board to 265 which would be four 64mb sticks since it wont read any of the 128mb ones. So I say thats why there confusion between 265 and 512.
 
It probably has more to do with the type of memory used. For ECC memory you are limited to 256mb while it will run 512mb of non ECC memory. That would one way of looking at the dilemna there.
 
That might be true, but where did you get that the 430HX has a 256 limit on ECC ram, I dont mean what you think, show me something!
 
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If anything would ECC not let you have more RAM? In any event I would suggest getting the 128MB sticks replaced with new 128MB sticks and if it still doesn't work move down to 64MB sticks.
 
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