400SC Memory Issues - Please fix in next BIOS

I know it is expensive, but I swapped the memory to PC3500 and is it being recognized now at 400MHz (PC3200). I had several Kingston HyperX 512 PC3200 modules only to work at 333MHz. After I switched to Kingston HyperX PC3500, the 400SC is happy at 400MHz. However, I noticed that the CAS timing is still at CAS2.5 -- a step down from what the modules can deliver at this speed (CAS2).

A tech at Corsair actually explained that most of the modules produced in the first half of 2003 and earlier have nonstandard SPD timings flashed by the manufacturers because JEDEC officially announced PC3200 specs only later this year. It may not be the PE400SC (Dell) fault that some "PC3200 and better" modules do not self-configure correctly. I agree that a manual timing tweak in the BIOS would be neat for those who can take the risk.

Hope this makes sense,

- Max

I had a similar problem myself -- so I reprogrammed the DIMM...

I've actually done this a few times on some DIMM's that were funky -- with the correct software to access the SMBus (which is actually just an I2C bus anyway) most motherboards can easily perform write operations to the 24C02 that is on the DIMM's (worst case, you may have to connect a single wire to the WE line on the chip while programming it). There may also be few cases/modules where its not possible (i.e. if the EE has a permanent write protection bit and the manufacturer has set it -- but most I've seen have not had it set).

If you are brave and know what you are doing, its not really all that difficult to update the SPD EE.

As I said though, you better know what you are doing or you can kill the DIMM but it is possible and by customizing the SPD settings you can configure almost any DIMM to be properly recognized (even by the extremely conservative 400SC).

Sounds like advice from the Underground Memory Depot
(No offense meant.)

DIY things like this are perhaps skills that only 0.0000001% of Dell customers possess.

Heh.

Sadly, thats probably true. Of course, that fact tends to help keep me in a job (I'm an engineer).

I tend to be a bit too much of a DIY'er by nature. And I hate to either give up or throw stuff away -- case in point: I had two bad 256MB PC133's recently -- so I desoldered the bad parts off each, moved one good chip back to one (fixing it) and then disabled the second bank on the other leaving it as a usable 128Mb. Of course the amount of TIME this took to accomplish was a lot more than it was worth for used PC133......(what I wouldn't give for a good Metcal for surface mount work).

I just I hate to throw something away when I can fix it or think I might find a use for it. And I have had enough experience over the years to realize that fixing most things falls into one of two categories: (a) trivial if you know what your are doing [but possibly time consuming] or (b) so near impossible as to not be worth the effort. There are very few things that really fall into a true "middle" category.

I would be interested in learning more about how to program the SPD timings...I'm willing to give it a shot.

Thanks,
John

Amen to that Japester..

If you want a machine that responds to differences in timings of your ram for other performance tasks, you will be better off going to Asus, Abit, Gigabyte, etc.  These companies specialize in ram changes that will ultimately yield higher performance.  Where Dell succeeds at is reliability..  Coming from a world of clone boards, clone cases with 100 fans in them I'm glad to use just the standard RAM in my Dell.  My network wasn't stable until I purchased a PowerEdge 1600SC and I have been a fan of Dell ever since..

I don't think Dell needs to provide settings to tweak ram timings, I think the users that expect those kinds of settings should either move to the unpredictable clones where some of us came from (because of price), or pony up the money and purchase a Precision..  As far as PowerEdge is concerned the top priority for any company that sells quality servers (like Poweredges are) should be reliability..  A 10% improvement in the performance at the expense of ram timing could cause reliability issues that I don't think anyone wants..

Ask yourself this:  How many other major manufacturers (Compaq, HP, Gateway, Dell, IBM) allow ram timings, etc on their $500 servers?

For that matter how many even have a $500 server line??  Let's be realistic here. 

Dell should save BIOS revisions for real problems..

I don't want to overclock.  I don't care about overclocking.  What I do care about is that the BIOS is not reading the SPD off my RAM correctly. All I"m asking is that the RAM I bought work at the correct speed on the board of 400mhz, and not be forced down to 333mhz.  I don't want to overclock anything.

I second that Amen!

I have been building PC's for years now and, while clone boxes are more customizable and generally a bit faster and more "tweakable", its reached the point where I am about to just say "why bother".

The basic Dell 400SC (and its kissing cuzin's the Precision 360 & Dimension 8300) are, quite frankly, very well designed -- and VERY well priced. The options for them are priced outrageously but the base units are a steal (which is why I never buy anything but the cheapest thing Dell has offered and then customize it myself).

I'm in the process of moving my main machine over to my Precision 360 box and migrating my "work" PC stuff (which is currently in my Precision 360) over to a refurb Dell 2400 chassis retrofit with a 4600 Mobo. The main reason? NOISE. I have finally reached the point where all the fans in my main machine are driving me insane -- and the Dell's have the benefit of being blessedly quiet (unless the fans start failing -- but lets not go there right now -- knock on wood). It is for the same reason that I use 400SC's as my household video servers/MCE units -- they may not be pretty but they can be hidden behind my entertainment center quite easily (with a nice "pretty" black DVD drive in a USB2 external bay sitting in the entertainment center itself).

Personally, I think Dell should start selling the 400SC's as MCE boxes. They are quieter than the 4600 and the on-board gigabit NIC makes them perfect for use as a video server.

jj..

I think the expectation of RAM that runs at 400Mhz is certainally realistic.  I just don't believe you have to get the fastest, tightest, and most expensive ram to do it..  This appears to be Dell's stance as well.  If the SPD of your ram does not read like upgraded ram that Dell provides for sale to us (who purchases it anyway) then it has to assume something..  And that something is conservative at the 333Mhz level.  I would imagine Dell would design their systems to respond to Dell upgraded RAM..  Everyone else has to conform to their settings or get placed in the 333Mhz box (which isn't all that bad IMO)..

You see, Asus, Abit, Gigabyte don't sell RAM..  They have to make their motherboards compatible with all forms of ram.  I don't think Dell should be obligated to reading and interpreting the SPD of some foreign ram and adjusting the timings accordingly.  What I would do is read the forum and find information about ram that HAS worked and purchase that ram for this system. 

I feel this is an adequate compromise considering life could be worse..  I would understand what you're saying if Dell computers only responded to a proprietary SPD that only Dell ram has..  That would make Dell more IBM like (not that I want that)..

The Dell system has obviously not been configured to read your ram..  You should be able to return it and get something that has proven to work.  I know this first hand since I rushed out and purchased some Geil ram when I received my 400SC (PC3500), and the SPD would not read it so I returned it and faced the restock charge and learned a $20 lesson..

Im in the process of learning that lesson.  I have some geil pc3200 thats reporting at 333mhz even tho the SPD says its pc3200.

Im gonna return it eventually, but what would you guys recomend as good, compatible ram that wont break the bank?

You could consider getting Kingston KTD-WS360A/1G kit for 1 gig of ECC memory that is only $162 bucks!  Its tested to run on PE 400SC for 800mhz fsb.

Here is link:

http://www.ec.kingston.com/shop/partsinfo.asp?promo=boost&ktcpartno=KTD-WS360A/1G