Dear Tubesandwires: I ran the Bios Agent program and here is what I got. Maximum Memory: 2048 MB So that would be 2GB. Right? Thanks! kerry

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I need the bios string (the current Bios Agent calls it the Bios ID) or all the information Bios Agent found in order to be able to possibly determine the mboard model. Knowing it will support up to 2gb of ram is not enough info on it's own to be able to determine whether specific ram modules will be compatible with the mboard. Knowing which mboard model it actually is will nail down which ram will work in the mboard for sure.

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Dear Tubesandwires: That is an awsome program. I dont know how you found it but it tells every thing about the BIOS. So here goes... BIOS type: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG BIOS date: 05/17/04 BIOS ID: 05/17/2004-KM400-8235-6A6LYM4BC-00 OEM Sign-on: W7061VMS V1.0 051704 11:47:15 Super I/O: Winbond 697HF rev 2 found at port 2Eh Chipset: VIA 82C3205 rev 0 OS: Microsoft Windows XP Version: 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 CPU type: AMD Athlon(tm) XP CPU speed: 1670 Mhz CPU max speed: 2100 Mhz BIOS ROM in socket: Yes BIOS ROM size: 512K Memory installed: 768 MB Memory maximum: 2048 MB Thanks and let me know what you think! I should nickname you the Super Computer Geek! kerry

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I searched using this: 05/17/2004-KM400-8235-6A6LYM4BC-00 (if you don't get an exact "hit" you search without the date for: KM400-8235-6A6LYM4BC-00, or KM400-8235-6A6LYM4BC, then choose a "hit" with date that is close ) Your mboard is a Microstar (MSI) MS-6734 KM400 in the bios string - it has a Via KM400 or KM400A chipset MSI models often have a MS-xxxx model number and another model number. MS-6734 is either of two model series. KM4AM-L or KM4M-L KM4AM-L - probably has MS-6734 Rev. or Ver. 1.x printed on the mboard in larger characters, often between the slots KM400A chipset (the chip with that model number is probably UNDER a heatsink) KM4M-L - probably has MS-6734 Rev or Ver. 3.x printed on the mboard in larger characters, often between the slots KM400 chipset (the chip with that model number is probably UNDER a heatsink) If MS-6734 is not printed on the mboard, find the Rev. or Ver. number (MSI calls it the PCB number; Printed Circuit Board number) The bios version updates for the two mboard series are DIFFERENT. If you get an update, make sure you get the bios update for the right Rev. or Ver. series!! NEVER flash your bios if you are having no problems! NEVER flash your bios unless you find information in release notes for the bios version or elsewhere that says it will DEFINATELY cure a problem you are having! More support info and downloads: http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?... When you search for ram compatible with MSI models, the MS-xxxx model number may not be listed, but the other model often is instead. E.g. using one of the links I pointed to above Kingston ram for: MSI KM4M/KM4M-L (MS-6734) http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/con... MSI KM4AM-L Motherboard http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/con... (it's exactly the same ram for both models)

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Greetings Tubesandwires! (aka Super Computer Geek) ;) Thanks for all the hard work and effort and time you put into the info in response 10. I greatly appreciate your help. You said in response 10 that "it has a Via KM400 or KM400A chipset" but the BIOS Agent program says the chipset is a VIA 82C3205 rev 0. Is there a difference? I looked at the mother board again and I see a small chip with a sticker on it that says KM400A 8237. Is this important? I noticed this KM400A is exactly the same as you told me in repsonse 10 but what do the numbers 8237 mean? I took another look at the mother board and found this MS-7061 ver 1.0 on it. Does this help? What I need to know now as per your warning about BIOS version updates can you determine the update I need and find where I can download it? I am totally lost when it comes to things like BIOS updates. I tried to update my BIOS on a computer several years and I really f*cked up. The computer wouldnt even start. So I would really appreciate it if you could find out what update I need and where I can download it and how to install the update. Also I still need to know what the maximum RAM is that I can put in the 2 slots on the mother board. I trust you can help me. Kindest regards, kerry

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Bios Agent reads the information on the bios chip. It assumes the bios version is the original one, or one or a series of bios updates the manufacturer intended it to have. MS-7061 ver 1.0 does NOT jive with the information I found. Sometimes you can use a bios update for several mboard models despite the original bios string being different, as long as the I/O chip and the main chipset are the same, or in the same family. I suspect someone has flashed this mboard with an update that wasn't meant specifically for this model. If a model number is found, you are always supposed to go by that, and the Rev. or Ver,. number. I'll look up MS-7061 Ver 1.X "You said in response 10 that "it has a Via KM400 or KM400A chipset" but the BIOS Agent program says the chipset is a VIA 82C3205 rev 0. Is there a difference?" Via chipsets, and most main chipsets, always have two main chips. Via usually also has a name for certain combinations of main chips. Bios Agent usually reports only one of the two main chips, and doesn't use Via's name for the combo. K means it's for AMD cpu's - in this case, Socket A (462) Athlon or Duron, sometimes Sempron. M means one of the main chips has integrated graphics - that provides onboard video - that's the one with the heatsink on it, or sometimes a small fan. " I see a small chip with a sticker on it that says KM400A 8237...what do the numbers 8237 mean?" There're probably numbers also on one of the main chips. I'm surprised you see KM400A at all. That label is probably not on one of the chipset chips. It does confirm the Via chipset is KM400A, not KN400. You can definately use the same ram as I found because ram compatibility is primarily determined by the main chipset, but I pointed you to the wrong mboard info. "Also I still need to know what the maximum RAM is that I can put in the 2 slots on the mother board." Same as in the ram info above - max 1gb per slot - but you must use modules that are listed as compatible, whatever ram brand you get. The 333mhz modules are faster, but both must be 333mhz for all the ram to run at that speed - the bios will run all the ram at the speed of the slowest module specs. "So I would really appreciate it if you could find out what update I need and where I can download it and how to install the update." NEVER flash your bios if you are having no problems! NEVER flash your bios unless you find information in release notes for the bios version or elsewhere that says it will DEFINATELY cure a problem you are having! You are taking a big risk when you flash your bios - if the flash fails, and/or the flash chip physically fails while flashing (this is COMMON - these cheap flash chips can only be flashed an unpredictable small number of times), you will have a mboard that will not boot. The same thing can happen if you use the wrong bios update! I have only used the wrong bios update on a mboard only once - it was an MSI mboard - it looked identical to another mboard model in every way, even the Model and Ver number was the same - the only difference was the main chip under the heatsink had a A in the model number, the bios update was for a model that had a chip without the A in the model number under it's heatsink. The mboard never booted after that. The bios chip is soldered into the mboard rather than being in a socket, so it's too hard for me to fix, and too expensive to have someone else fix the problem.

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MS-7061 There are at least 3 series, one of which has KM400A, which can have an onboard networking chip and port, or not. KM4AM-V - probably MS-7061 - Ver. 1.x (going by the bios version numbers) http://www.msicomputer.com/product/... Downloads http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?... This one is probably the one you have. examine the pictures and manual to make sure. Kingston ram for MSI KM4AM-V Motherboard Same as I found before PLUS it supports 400mhz ram http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/con... ...... I don't think it's this one. KM4AM-L - probably MS-7061 - Ver. 3.x - much the same as KM4AM-V except it has built a built in networking chip and port? Downloads http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?... MSI KM4AM-L Motherboard Same ram as I found before http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/con...

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Dear Tubesandwires: I cant tell you how much I appreciate your research. If you get a chance perhaps you can give me some guidance concerning the problem I am having with using a cloned drive as my new C drive. The post number is 169199. If you have time to take a look at this issue I would appreciate any input or thoughts or ideas you might have. Thanks a bunch for the time and help and the info you have shared with me! kerry

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