2gb new corsair memory

[Michael Carter]

Hmmm, well I think it works. The computer booted OK. While I was replying to this thread over an hour ago, the system hung. No mouse, no keyboard, no nothing. Cursor was locked too and was not flashing in the reply box.

I manually shut it down with the button, waited ten seconds and tried to start it again. It wouldn't even POST. Tried it two more times with the same results. I removed the memory sticks and gently inserted and removed each a few times to clean up the contacts and re-inserted them.

The system booted and has been running fine since about 2130 local. It still makes me nervous though, not knowing if this thing is just going to lock up at random.

I checked in the BIOS to see if the voltage was correct for these sticks. I found out they run on 1.9V. The option in my BIOS for setting core and memory voltage and timings isn't there, unless it's hidden with a key command that I don't know. I guess they don't want little Johnny fooling around with critical BIOS settings.

So now I don't have any idea what voltage the memory buss is running at and don't know if an incorrect voltage setting caused the crash. I've never seen a BIOS without those settings, nor is there an upgrade or different version.

eMachines support was no help. I don't even know if he knew what I was talking about. He had no information at all.

I guess I'll keep it for now. If it still gives me trouble down the road I guess I'll just replace it.

The machine booted fine on each individual stick BTW.

Thanks for the help guys. Much appreciated.

[Rodney]

Michael,
I can tell you that I have tested systems by Dell, HP, Compaq & Sun and tell you that they all have a custom BIOS for their products that do have what we would consider normal, hidden from view. Keeps the proprietary thing going.

[Michael Carter]

Any hidden key commands that you know of for eMachines or Gateway Phoenix Award BIOS?

[Michael Carter]

So far, the system has been re-booted three times with no problems. I did find out through Everest that the memory buss voltage is only 1.8v and Corsair specifies 1.9v for this memory.

I don't know if that will cause stability issues, but FS9 sure smokes on this system now.

It loads twice as fast in heavy scenery areas as it did before, and I'm getting about 20fps on the ground at LOWW, EDDM, LOWI, and EDDF.

The video is smooth with AA turned all the way up. I did have to lower a few settings, but nothing really that I could see a difference in after repeated ajusting to see if I could see a difference. Frames went up by three more.

I don't think I can eek out anything more from this Celeron. I might upgrade to the Core 2 Duo E7400 Wolfdale running at 2.8 Ghz. That would really give the system a kick in the pants.

I hope it doesn't screw with the OS validation.

[Rodney]

Any hidden key commands that you know of for eMachines or Gateway Phoenix Award BIOS?

No hidden commands. Unless you can flash the chip, it can't be done. I don't mean a BIOS FW update from the web, but actually pull the chip and re-flash it.

At that voltage it is running fine, at the slower speed that your bus is capable of. Don't worry about it.

[Michael Carter]

Thanks Rodney. That puts my mind at ease.

It still puzzels me though, as to why it froze up after the very first boot and then wouldn't boot still after three attempts.

It's been running fine though after the fourth and subsequent boots.

[andarlite]

You mentioned that you finally got it to boot after removing them and inserting them a few times to clean the contacts and then it's been working fine since. There's your reason.... probably just oxidation on the contacts.

Regards.
Henry