Assitance on a Slightly Retro Build PLZ

hando · 30 Sep 2007 at 11:26

'llo all,

(Sorry if this is in wrong place - but it seems like a RAM issue to me.)

I recently upgraded my main rig. This left with a bunch of bits and pieces to build a second rig for my missus: most importantly a 512mb GeForce 7800 AGP. So I thought I'd put together the nicest AGP rig I could. After rummaging through the cupboards and a few bargains on ebay - this is what I had:-

DFI Lanparty NF3 250GB
a64 Clawhammer 3700+
2gb (2x1GB) Crucial Value CAS3 PC3200 DDR
512mb Geforce 7800 AGP
Enermax 600w PSU

I also had the following backup gear:-

Sempron 3200+
3 x 512mb Corsair XMS3200

So my problem:-

With the Sempron in the mobo and the 2gb Crucial all works great.

With the 3700+ and the 2gb Crucial in - no POST just DRAM error long beep.

With the 3700+ and just 1gb Crucial in - no POST just DRAM error long beep.

With the 3700+ and the 1.5gb Corsair in - no POST just DRAM error long beep.

With the 3700+ and just ONE 512mb of the corsair in - successful BOOT.

I've tried diff slots and upping DRAM voltage and even running mem @ 180 but no go - the 3700 will only boot with ONE 512 of the Corsair.

If it hadn't worked with ANY of the ram I would have said bad CPU but the fact that it can boot with one makes me think it's a compatibility thing...

Anyone got any suggestions - cos I'm stumped...

thanks in advance.

SinaiSound · 30 Sep 2007 at 14:03

What BIOS are you using?

If you use 3 sticks, you'd have to run the RAM at 2T

I used to run 2 x 1GB Corsair in my DFI UT250 with no problems.

mattyrigby00 · 30 Sep 2007 at 14:10

maybe the memory controller on the 3700+ is messed up.

SinaiSound · 30 Sep 2007 at 14:34

Yeah, that's possible

Have you tried various combinations of slots?

I used to use slots 1 & 3

hando · 30 Sep 2007 at 15:18

Hefner said:
What BIOS are you using?

If you use 3 sticks, you'd have to run the RAM at 2T

I used to run 2 x 1GB Corsair in my DFI UT250 with no problems.

I thought I heard somewhere that Clawhammer's force 1T no matter what? But anyway I'd like to use the 2 x 1GB Corsair and can't get it to even boot with one

I've heard the DIMM's 1 + 3 thingy and was planning to use that but haven't even got that far.

Flummoxed but beginning to think the ebayed 3700+ may be a dud.

hando · 30 Sep 2007 at 15:19

mattyrigby00 said:
maybe the memory controller on the 3700+ is messed up.

I really hope not - if it was wouldn't it fail to boot with any RAM?

mattyrigby00 · 30 Sep 2007 at 17:13

a lot of people selling cpu's on ebay are selling it because they are faulty, id say it probably is the cpu simply because it works fine with another cpu, no idea why itd boot with only certain memory though.

hando · 30 Sep 2007 at 17:17

mattyrigby00 said:
a lot of people selling cpu's on ebay are selling it because they are faulty, id say it probably is the cpu simply because it works fine with another cpu, no idea why itd boot with only certain memory though.

Yeah - I'm finding that out the hard way - this is my 3rd 3700+ (the other two wouldn't POST even before beeps - but I was able to get both of them refunded).

I guess it's back for a refund on this one too. Is there anywhere legit still selling socket 754 3700+'s?