abit VI7 mb + DDR 400 = BAD MEMORY !!??? WORSE after bios update!!!!!

I've got a vi7, and 2 sticks of Corsair 256M ddr400 mem.

the mb came w/ ver. 15 of the bios.

I was able to install xp pro with little trouble, but after a couple
of strange BSOD's; I decided to run a memory test. I used memtest86
(v3), and discovered that test #5 had some failures - and ONLY test
#5.

I also tried using ms's windows mem diag program (similiar to
memtest86), and got CONSISTANT memory errors ong the LRAND test ON
BOTH STICKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've tried removing the sticks; tried each 1 individually, both
together again; same problem. always failures on test 5, and LRAND.

Cosair is a good name, and there's no way I will believe that TWO
sticks are bad and fail to only 1 type of memory test. The problem HAS
to be the mb. So I decided to update the bios to ver. 16.

NOW THE MB WON'T EVEN BOOT XP!!!!
Everytime the screen changes to the gui desktop, the thing just
reboots!!!!!

what's the story here????

tia - Bob

 

Hello?

does anyone from abit visit this NG??
is there no answer to my problem?

tia - Bob

 

Still sounds like memory errors. Clear the cmos and recheck all settings.
Leave the memory at BY SPD and let everything else auto-detect. You might
want to increase the DDR voltage to 2.7 or 2.8.

 

hi Skid;

tx for your reply; I've already tried clearing cmos (again & again).
I've had to DOWNGRADE my bios back to ver. 15; because xp just keeps
rebooting under the new version.

I've also upped my ddr voltage, but with little change to the # of
errors; maybe reduced a bit with 2.7v.

I can't use "by spd" because it appears that the default timing #'s
that come up are WRONG! I've set them correctly, and greatly reduced
the # of errors. In fact; I no longer get ANY errors with the LRAND
test, but am still getting plenty with the ERAND test....

I've further reduced the # of errors by slowing my FSB down a little
bit... but once again - still getting 'em...

From what I've read - it's looking like ddr400 memory is NOT ready for
prime time. Not everyone's agrees on the specs....

has anyone else had similiar problems with CORSAIR ddr 400 sticks and
abit mb's??

tia - Bob