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I have the ECS K7S5A Mainboard with an AthalonXP 1600+ processor (1.2GHZ, I think) and currently 96MB of PC100 SDRAM. I bought 2 256MB sticks of PC2100 DDR to upgrade to 512MB of DDR. When I plugged in the RAM, I got a blank screen and no system beep. The HDD was still active, so were the CDROM's and the optical mouse, but the screen, all sound devices, and the keyboard all did nothing. I reinstalled the old RAM and everything works fine again. Not sure what is going on. I'm almost dead sure that the RAM is the right kind for the motherboard. Anyone have any suggestions?
This info might help:
300W PSU (I think)
integrated sound
ATI 3D Rage Pro (2X AGP, 8.0MB of SGRAM)
I also ordered a 128MB ATI All-in-Wonder vid card (9700 series) which I plan to install soon. Problem is I need 128MB of system RAM to run the software that comes with it.
One thing that you could try is to install the new memory, reset your CMOS jumper on your board (make sure that your psu is unplugged when you do this) Plug it back in and see if it will work.
Honey X 030811
k7S5a Pro rev. 5
XP 2400+ @2250ghz Thoroughbred-B
Crucial PC2100 ddr 768
Radeon 9000 64 mb
Maxtor 40g (32g)
Coolmax "Taurus" 450w PS
Asus QT CD/RW
Samsung DVD<br
0 
By the way, what is the manufacturer of your ram??
Honey X 030811
k7S5a Pro rev. 5
XP 2400+ @2250ghz Thoroughbred-B
Crucial PC2100 ddr 768
Radeon 9000 64 mb
Maxtor 40g (32g)
Coolmax "Taurus" 450w PS
Asus QT CD/RW
Samsung DVD<br
0
I agree with Michelle67. The MB should run fine with 2-256 DDR2100. If the system still won't POST after clearing the CMOS try running with just one stick at a time. BTW, you did remove the PC100 when you inserted the DDR? Try entering the BIOS immediately upon startup, reset date,time, and anything else necessary, like onboard hardware you are not using and also boot order. You should be running 133/133 unless that is a Duron chip, in which case it would be 100/133.
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Yea, make sure you remove the PC100 RAM...you can't run both.
If you're into overclocking...search for the Cheepoman or HoneyX overclocking BIOS.
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I bought the RAM off eBay, and the seller asserted that it'd work with AMD Athalon Processors. The brand name is Cyber eMEDIA, don't know if that helps. I'll try resetting the CMOS. I did remove the SDRAM when I put in the DDR since they're not compatible. I also have a new Dell system w/a Pentium 4 and PC2700 DDR RAM(the AMD system is the family PC, but the Dell is mine), and tried the RAM in that. I got the same result, and the Dell has diagnostic lights on back, which indicated a "memory failure". The lights also have a separate pattern for memory compatibility issues. I'm beginning to think that the RAM itself is dead, but I'll try resetting the CMOS jumper like you said before I try getting my money back on the RAM. Thanks.
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Some boards are picky about what you put in them. I, myself haven't heard of Cyber eMEDIA when it comes to ram. Are you sure that is the name of it?? It may work with Atlon cpu's but if it's not compatible with your board then it's no good. Even though it is 2700 it should still work enless it's either no good or not compatible.
Honey X 030811
k7S5a Pro rev. 5
XP 2400+ @2250ghz Thoroughbred-B
Crucial PC2100 ddr 768
Radeon 9000 64 mb
Maxtor 40g (32g)
Coolmax "Taurus" 450w PS
Asus QT CD/RW
Samsung DVD<br
0
Are you sure your CPU is an AthlonXP 1600+ or the Athlon Thunderbird 1.2G-1.4G?
Double check the CPU details, I do not recommend using those two kinds of memory together too since the board will not support it.
____________________________
The greatest risk is not taking one
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get the manual here if you do not yet have it
http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/manual_k7s.html
try clearing cmos right before installing the new ram
try one stick of ddr at a time to see if one stick is bad.
The k7s5a is picky about power supplies and ram. ddr that works in one system may not work on a k7s5a
that board defaults to in sync timing - the memory clock is the same as the motherboard fsb clock. So try setting the mobo clock to 100mhz and then trying each stick separately
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redbaron15, do you have another computer that you can try that ram in? If you do give it a shot. If it works then you'll know that the ram is good but not compatible with the board. If that is the case you will know the ram is good and you'll not out of the money although you will still have to get some that will work with the board. I think it is Kingston that ECS recommends but I am using Crucial and it works good.
Honey X 030811
k7S5a Pro rev. 5
XP 2400+ @2250ghz Thoroughbred-B
Crucial PC2100 ddr 768
Radeon 9000 64 mb
Maxtor 40g (32g)
Coolmax "Taurus" 450w PS
Asus QT CD/RW
Samsung DVD<br
0
I'm going to try resetting the CMOS jumper in a few minutes, to see if that works. If not, I'll try getting a hold of kingston RAM. I tried the RAM in a Dell 4600 that currently has 512MB of PC2700 DDR in it, and it had the same result. The Dell also has diagnostic lights on back that indicate the kind of POST problem you have. The pattern I got was for a memory error, not memory compatibility issues. I don't have another DDR motherboard laying around, unfortunately, so I'll have to try the jumper thing, and then Kingston. Thanks
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I'm not saying that you are bound by Kingston memory. There are alot of good manufactures out there that make memory. Crucial, Corsair, Geil etc. What they (ECS) means by recommends is that the Kingston is what was tested with their boards, they may have tested others as well. Like I said before I use Crucial and it works great. To be honest with you there are some things that I would never buy used and memory is one of them. Only because you really don't know what you are getting. Maybe a cd/rw, dvd, floppy because if they don't work they will not keep my system from working (booting up)
Honey X 030811
k7S5a Pro rev. 5
XP 2400+ @2250ghz Thoroughbred-B
Crucial PC2100 ddr 768
Radeon 9000 64 mb
Maxtor 40g (32g)
Coolmax "Taurus" 450w PS
Asus QT CD/RW
Samsung DVD<br
0
Makes sense. The eBay seller was an eBay store, and the RAM was brand new. Luckily, they have a return policy. I tried resetting CMOS, all with the same result. Tried running the DDR and SDRAM at the same time just to see if the DDR slots were still working. I figured that if the DDR slots were bad, then the PC wouldn't even recognize the DDR being installed. The machine didn't boot when I did it, but did with just the SDRAM, so by that logic, I guess my DDR slots still work. I also got different noises with no memory installed than what I got with just the DDR. My best guess is that the RAM is either no good or not compatible at all. I've heard Kingston is good stuff, but I'll keep an open mind for other good brands. Thanks again.
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Your welcome and I do hope that the kingston ram (or which ever you choose) will take care of your problem. Post back and let us know.
Honey X 030811
k7S5a Pro rev. 5
XP 2400+ @2250ghz Thoroughbred-B
Crucial PC2100 ddr 768
Radeon 9000 64 mb
Maxtor 40g (32g)
Coolmax "Taurus" 450w PS
Asus QT CD/RW
Samsung DVD<br
0
you are making a mistake if you return that ram without trying it one stick at a time at 100mhz. It might be bad ram but on a k7s5a, probably not.
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johnoh, if you refer to response #11 redbaron15 stated that he tried it in another system (Dell 4600) with the same results. Should the ram have any reason to not work in the Dell? I'm by far not an expert on computers but the way I see it is if the ram doesn't work in two differnt systems then it has got to be the ram.
Honey X 030811
k7S5a Pro rev. 5
XP 2400+ @2250ghz Thoroughbred-B
Crucial PC2100 ddr 768
Radeon 9000 64 mb
Maxtor 40g (32g)
Coolmax "Taurus" 450w PS
Asus QT CD/RW
Samsung DVD<br
0
johnoh,
I did try each stick seperately, and it didn't work. I already returned the RAM and have been searching name brand websites for compatible model numbers. I'm also looking to buy the RAM from a local store instead of the internet, Michelle67 has a very good point in response #12. Problem is, I can't find the right model number for kingston in any of my local stores. Does anyone know if PNY and EDGE are good brands? They're readily available it seems.
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If you have an Officemax near you they sell Kingston value ram and have it on sale quite often. There should be a circular coming out tomorrow. If you register to receive the circulars online they come on friday for the sales that start on Sunday. I have used PNY back when PC100 was mainstream and it seemed OK. PNY is sold at Bestbuy and Newegg carries it also. I am running the MB your buying RAM for and I didn't have any issues with memory. I did have PSuppy issues though. The MB wouldn't POST with an Antec 400w but would with the Sparkle 300w that I pulled.
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I decided to order a single stick of Kingston DDR 512MB from shop.kingston.com. Just got it today because FedEx took their time. Dropped it in the machine and had no problems. The performance improvement is unreal. I kinda expected to, though. Thanks for the advice.
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