I have a Biostar mobo, model m7viw, which has two banks of ram. One is for SDRAM, the other for DDR. I had 2 512mb sticks of SDRAM pc133 installed and wanted to upgrade to the faster, bigger DDR.
I bought 2 sticks of 1 gig Patriot memory, DDR 400.
When I put them in last night, my box spontaneously restarted after only a few minutes. Testing it with only one installed had the same result, although it took a little longer for the restart to happen. I didn't run any memtests because I figured the memory was obviously the problem.
Now before I RMA the memory, are there settings in the BIOS I need to change for this memory to work (going from SDRAM to DDR)? Is this size/speed memory even compatable with this mobo?
Your Biostar M7VIW motherboard is designed to support both SDRAM and DDR memory, but it can only use one type at a time. When you upgrade from SDRAM to DDR memory, there are a few things to check:
Memory Compatibility:
Motherboard Support: The M7VIW supports DDR 266/333 memory, which means DDR 400 (PC3200) is technically overclocked. It's important to verify if your motherboard can handle DDR 400 speeds. Check the motherboard manual or Biostar’s website for the supported memory specifications.
BIOS Settings:
Memory Frequency: You might need to adjust the memory frequency settings in the BIOS. Since DDR 400 is faster than what the board might officially support, it might need to be manually set to run at a lower frequency (e.g., DDR 333). Look for settings related to memory speed and adjust accordingly.
Memory Timings: Ensure that the memory timings and voltage settings are correctly configured for your new RAM. This information is usually available on the memory module’s label or manufacturer’s website.
BIOS Update:
Update BIOS: If your motherboard has a BIOS update available, it may provide better support for newer memory types or fix compatibility issues.
Testing the Memory:
Run Memtest: Even though you suspect the memory is the problem, it's still a good idea to run a memory test to verify if the RAM is functioning correctly. Sometimes, instability can be caused by other factors, such as power supply issues or incorrect BIOS settings.
Check Installation:
Proper Installation: Ensure that the DDR memory is properly seated in the DDR slots. The RAM modules should be firmly inserted and locked in place.
If after checking these points the issues persist, it might be worth contacting Biostar support or considering a different memory module that is confirmed to be compatible with your motherboard. If you continue to experience issues with the new RAM, an RMA might be necessary.
