Apollo Pro133A (694X) and 512MB DIMM Compatibility

Is your memory not fully recognized? (Intel VX chipset Memory recognition)
KachiWachi
The New Guy
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Hi all!

I have a board with the above chipset. While off investigating another issue, I decided to fool with the RAM a bit.

The machine has 2 sticks of PC-133 installed...DIMM 3 is 256MB with 16 chips (2 Rank, 4 Bank, 128Mb Technology) while the other (DIMM 2) is 512MB. It has aluminum covers, so I cannot tell how many chips are installed. SPD identifies it as having 1 Rank, 4 Bank. DIMM 1 is not populated (the socket is actually broken), and to comply with PC-133 specifications, the chipset DRAM Bank 6/7 is disabled.

The board boots fine as stated above, but if I try to run only on DIMM 2 (512MB) in any slot, the machine *beeps* back at me as "No Memory Installed". If I swap slots (both DIMMS installed)...same thing.

This chipset is *supposed* to be compatible with 256MB Technology...and it is...sorta.

Any idea what might be going on here?
apple_rom
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- Update bios.
- Use another (size/type/manufacturer) memory sticks.
KachiWachi
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Duh...please re-read the the question asked.

(Note - BIOS is current.)

What I actually want to know is how the Chipset Registers (memory only) should look with the various mbit technologies installed.
apple_rom
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What I actually want to know is how the Chipset Registers (memory only) should look with the various mbit technologies installed.
By MemSizing-procedure, which initialize memory-controller. Look this code in the end of bios-file, before BB, for 2Mbit usualy at 36000h in Award bios.
KachiWachi
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I guess I mean how the registers should look when viewed with a utility such as WPCREDIT.
apple_rom
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I guess I mean how the registers should look when viewed with a utility such as WPCREDIT.
Mbit-tech read from SPD for each DIMM-module.
Last edited by apple_rom on Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
KachiWachi
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apple_rom - Thanks for posting, but you are not understanding what I am asking here. :(

Perhaps this post will help everyone understand a bit better -> http://www.lavalys.com/forum/index.php?&showtopic=794
apple_rom
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--------[ Debug - PCI ]-----
B00 D00 F00: VIA VT82C694X Apollo Pro133A Chipset - Host-PCI Bridge

Offset 00: 06 11 91 06 06 00 10 A2 C4 00 00 06 00 00 00 00
Offset 10: 08 00 00 E4 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 20: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 43 10 18 80
Offset 30: 00 00 00 00 A0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 40: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 50: FD D8 C8 B6 04 00 30 30 0E 80 00 00 20 20 28 30
Offset 60: 3C 2A 00 A0 E4 E6 E6 00 43 3C 86 2D 08 3F 00 55
Offset 70: C4 88 4C 0C 0E A1 D2 00 00 F4 01 02 00 00 00 00
Offset 80: 0F 45 00 00 C0 00 00 00 02 00 01 00 9E 00 00 00
Offset 90: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset A0: 02 C0 20 00 03 02 00 1F 02 01 00 00 EB 02 00 00
Offset B0: 62 EC 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset C0: 01 00 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset D0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0E 22 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Rx58 = 0E, Rx59 = 80
Bank 0/1 = 0 = no memory
Bank 2/3 = E = 256Mbitx8 SDRAM
Bank 4/5 = 8 = 128Mbit SDRAM
Bank 6/7 = 0 = no memory

Rx5A = 00, Rx5B = 00
Bank 0/1 = 0 = no memory

Rx5C = 20, Rx5D = 20
Bank 2 = 512Mb
Bank 3 = no memory
(DIMM 512Mb - Single Side)

Rx5E = 28, Rx5F = 30
Bank 4 = 128Mb
Bank 5 = 128Mb
(DIMM 256Mb - Double Side)

Rx56 = 30, Rx57 = 30
Bank 6/7 = no memory

Rx60 = 3C
Bank 0/1 = 0 = no memory
Bank 2/3 = C = SDRAM
Bank 4/5 = 3 = SDRAM
Bank 6/7 = 0 = no memory

Rx64-67 = E4 E6 E6 00
Bank 0/1 = No Interleave
Bank 2/3 = 4-way
Bank 4/5 = 4-way
Bank 6/7 = no slot (may be only 3 DIMM-slots on mobo?)
KachiWachi
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Bits 7-5: DRAM MA Map Type: 000=16Mb (default), 100=64Mb, 101/11x=Reserved
Bit 4: DRAM Bank VCM Enable: 0=disable (default), 1=enable
Bits 3-1: DRAM MA Map Type: 000=16Mb (default), 100=64Mb, 101/11x=Reserved
Bit 0: DRAM Bank VCM Enable: 0=disable (default), 1=enable

So...
0000 = 0 = 16Mb Technology (default), VCM Disabled
1000 = 8 = 64Mb Technology, VCM Disabled
1010 = A = Reserved, VCM Disabled (*might be* 128Mb Technology?)
11x0 = C/E = Reserved, VCM Disabled (*might be* 256Mb Technology?)

"The problem is that DIMM 3 (4/5) is 128 Mb Technology, and DIMM 2 (2/3) is (possibly) 256 Mb Technology. DIMM 3 has 16 chips (VG36128801BT-7L, 4Mx8x4), while DIMM 2's configuration is unknown at present (covered module)." DIMM 1 (0/1) is available, but broken, so no module can be installed. DIMM 4 (6/7) is not installed on the motherboard.


Device 0 Offset 5F-5A – DRAM Row Ending Address:

Offset 5A – Bank 0 Ending (HA[31:24]) (01h) .......... RW
Offset 5B – Bank 1 Ending (HA[31:24]) (01h) .......... RW
Offset 5C – Bank 2 Ending (HA[31:24]) (01h) .......... RW
Offset 5D – Bank 3 Ending (HA[31:24]) (01h) .......... RW
Offset 5E – Bank 4 Ending (HA[31:24]) (01h) .......... RW
Offset 5F – Bank 5 Ending (HA[31:24]) (01h) .......... RW
Offset 56 – Bank 6 Ending (HA[31:24]) (01h) .......... RW
Offset 57 – Bank 7 Ending (HA[31:24]) (01h) .......... RW


Offset 5A – Bank 0 - 00h - 0000 0000 - No Memory Installed
Offset 5B – Bank 1 - 00h - 0000 0000 - No Memory Installed
Offset 5C – Bank 2 - 20h - 0010 0000 - Row Ending Address = (?)
Offset 5D – Bank 3 - 20h - 0010 0000 - (No module Row, so address does not increment?)
Offset 5E – Bank 4 - 28h - 0010 1000 - Row Ending Address = (?)
Offset 5F – Bank 5 - 30h - 0011 0000 - Row Ending Address = (?)
Offset 56 – Bank 6 - 30h - 0011 0000 - Slot Not Installed (Memory cannot increment)
Offset 57 – Bank 7 - 30h - 0011 0000 - Slot Not Installed (Memory cannot increment)
apple_rom
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Code: Select all

Device 0 Offset 59-58 - DRAM MA Map Type
...
7-5   Bank 1/0 MA Map Type
000 16Mbit SDRAM.....................................default
001 -reserved-
01x -reserved-
100 64Mbit / 128Mbit SDRAM
101 256Mbit x 32 SDRAM
110 256Mbit x 16 SDRAM
111 256Mbit x 8 or x 4 SDRAM
...
KachiWachi
The New Guy
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Where do you get your info?

I get mine straight from the 694X datasheet (v1.44, May 23, 2005), which was sent to me directly from VIA Support.

If you have a more recent datasheet, please post a link for it. Thanks.
apple_rom
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This is from datasheet by last "SDRAM"-chipset - KT133A.
KachiWachi
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OK...so how can we prove that the same "readings" will apply to the 694X?

And on top of that, why is the thing accepting a 256Mbx8 module when it does not support it...as shown when trying to boot with just that module installed? (See the EVEREST post for more info.)
apple_rom
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OK...so how can we prove that the same "readings" will apply to the 694X?
It`s same manufacturer, same RAM-type. You can to сompare another registers...
KachiWachi
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OK...let's *assume* that what apple_rom says is true for this chipset.

Why does the machine seem to recognize the 512MB module in conjunction with others, but not on its own?
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