Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!nic.csu.net!csus.edu!decwrl!pa.dec.com!e2big.mko.dec.com!atccad.enet.dec.com!timmons From: timmons@atccad.enet.dec.com Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware Subject: Message-ID: <1991Jun17.175721.2752@e2big.mko.dec.com> Date: 17 Jun 91 21:03:18 GMT Sender: guest@e2big.mko.dec.com (Guest (DECnet)) Reply-To: Timmons@atccad.enet.dec.com Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation Lines: 21 Subject:AMD 386-40, Forex memory questions Date: Mon, 17 Jun 91 17:57:21 GMT Just got a noname motherboard with AMD 386 40 Mhz using Forex chip set. I have had strange memory problems. The manual says that 80 nsec chips are required. With 70 nsec SIMMS, it would not boot or run at 40 Mhz, but worked fine at 20 Mhz. I called where I got it from - they said try another brand/type of memory. I borrowed a set of working SIMMs from a 33mhz 386 and they would not boot at 40 Mhz or 20 Mhz. But strangely, the different SIMMS did start memory tests on both 20 and 40 Mhz (BIOS gives buzz in speaker to indicate tests). So, I put the original SIMMS back in, but in a different order. Now the system boots at 20 Mhz only but runs at both 20 Mhz and 40 Mhz. So the system never even gets to memory test with original SIMMS, but now it will run with them at both 20 and 40 Mhz. So I think I am happy, but confused. It also passes all test at 20 and 40 Mhz with fast bus and minimum wait states. I think the moral of this is to always buy the chips where you buy the board, then let them fix it! But can anyone shine some light on the situation? Ray T.