K7S5A -- Be CAREFUL when installing memory!

Ron

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Jan 11, 2002, 12:17:55 AM1/11/02

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Had a perfectly working K7S5A for two months, then added more DDR memory.
Installed the memory while the board was in the case. As usual, it took
quite a bit of effort to seat the DIMM in the slot.

The board booted, but hung at the initial post screen. No way to go into
setup -- appears locked up. After a few attempts to boot, I decided to take
out the additional RAM. Same thing!

After a lot of troubleshooting, the board simply dies. No fans spinning, no
lights, nothing. CPU, memory is OK in another Abit board, but the ECS board
was dead.

Installed another ECS K7S5A with the same parts and case and all is perfect
again.

What happened? Normally on a new MB, I install the CPU/heatsink and memory
outside the case on the foam antistatic mat (or a flat surface). I think
when I added the new ram in the installed board, the MB flexed a bit too
much when the RAM eventually seated. Some internal trace under the DIMM
slots must be broken. In fact, even with the proper standoffs, due to the
board design, there is very little physical support under the memory slots.
It is awfully easy to flex damage the board.

I read numerous posts in all the various ECS boards of problems after
changing/adding memory. Perhaps this is a major cause for an otherwise very
nice board.

Install the memory outside the case on a solid flat, antistatic surface....

R2D2

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Jan 11, 2002, 2:22:16 AM1/11/02

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Did you unplug the power supply from the wall socket?
Some (most) ATX type boards are still energized when the ATX
power supply is plugged in.

Kyle Brant

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Jan 11, 2002, 11:36:57 AM1/11/02

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I shove a plastic or wood pencil centrally beneath the sdram/ddr
sockets of the mobo when it's in the case and I'm attempting to
install sdram sticks. Too much force is required to insert the memory
sticks. The runners on these boards are so narrow, and the copper
foil so thin, that it doesn't take much flexing of the mobo to break a
runner, and finding the open runner is near impossible, or not worth
the effort when the mobo is only $55. It could also be a poor solder
joint that is broken also, but more likely a runner problem. Sorry
you had such bad luck.

--
Best regards,
Kyle
cut.s.p.a.m.m.e.n.o.t. from email address to reply

"Ron" <rle...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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darin

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Jan 11, 2002, 3:46:48 PM1/11/02

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On Thu, 10 Jan 2002 21:17:55 -0800, "Ron" <rle...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi,
A couple months ago I destroyed a k7vzm motherboard by installing
memory. Everything worked fine until I swapped the memory modules to
be used in my K7s5a. After closer examination of the board I found
that the dimms connector pins were bent away from the module and some
were just flattened.

I had applied "too much" pressure in the reinstallation. My backup
k7vzm had the same problem but I was able to make it operate by using
a sewing needle to bend the dimm contacts just enough to work with my
ram....

Britannica

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Jan 11, 2002, 5:33:46 PM1/11/02

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"Ron" <rle...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<u3st8ff...@corp.supernews.com>...

> Had a perfectly working K7S5A for two months, then added more DDR memory.
> Installed the memory while the board was in the case. As usual, it took
> quite a bit of effort to seat the DIMM in the slot.
>
> The board booted, but hung at the initial post screen. No way to go into
> setup -- appears locked up. After a few attempts to boot, I decided to take
> out the additional RAM. Same thing!
>
> After a lot of troubleshooting, the board simply dies. No fans spinning, no
> lights, nothing. CPU, memory is OK in another Abit board, but the ECS board
> was dead.
>
> Installed another ECS K7S5A with the same parts and case and all is perfect
> again.
>
> What happened? Normally on a new MB, I install the CPU/heatsink and memory
> outside the case on the foam antistatic mat (or a flat surface). I think
> when I added the new ram in the installed board, the MB flexed a bit too
> much when the RAM eventually seated. Some internal trace under the DIMM
> slots must be broken. In fact, even with the proper standoffs, due to the
> board design, there is very little physical support under the memory slots.
> It is awfully easy to flex damage the board.

A rubber block about 1mm less in thickness than the height of the
stand-offs and stuck to the tray under the dimm slots (at 90 degrees
to them) is a solution adopted by some OEMs. I found one in an NEC
machine I recently dismantled and have used it in my GW802 case. I
haven't seen these available anywhere, but a pencil eraser - if you
could find one of suitable thickness would do the job.

> I read numerous posts in all the various ECS boards of problems after
> changing/adding memory. Perhaps this is a major cause for an otherwise very
> nice board.
>
> Install the memory outside the case on a solid flat, antistatic surface....

Probably good advice for initial set-up, but if there's a lot of
memory swapping/testing to be done then repeatedly removing and
installing the mobo will also put the traces at some risk.

Britannica

lew alcindor

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Jan 12, 2002, 11:27:17 AM1/12/02

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Also noticed a lot of "flex" when I installed memory. Its almost like there
should be a stand-off installed on the motherboard tray for support.
Fortunately I haven't busted my board, even after removing it and
re-installing memory a few times.

"Ron" <rle...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Bunch Of Fun

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Jan 12, 2002, 3:36:37 PM1/12/02

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Be careful of static.

Unplug your power supply.

Support the motherboard while you insert the DIMM.

Radical Dragon

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Jan 12, 2002, 5:46:46 PM1/12/02

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Hi BoF,
static yup be careful, Unplug the power supply? NOPE!
you switch it OFF at the wall, and the psu if it has a switch, BUT you leave
it plugged IN!..
So that the case is earthed via the mains lead.. then use an anti static
wristband attatched to the case.. That way everything is at earth
potential..
Unless you live in come country where the earth is floating:-(
Cheers,
RD
"Bunch Of Fun" <carl...@bunchoffun.com> wrote in message
news:3C409E55...@bunchoffun.com...

Bunch Of Fun

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Jan 14, 2002, 3:47:48 PM1/14/02

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The ATX power supply always supplies power to the board (for
wake-on-lan, etc.). You should ground yourself on something else.

Shep©

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Jan 14, 2002, 3:58:22 PM1/14/02

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On Mon, 14 Jan 2002 15:47:48 -0500, Bunch Of Fun
<carl...@bunchoffun.com> wrote:

>The ATX power supply always supplies power to the board (for
>wake-on-lan, etc.). You should ground yourself on something else.

Good point and an old trick.Power off at the wall/leave power cable
in.Case will stay grounded and static dumped as soon as the user
touches any bare metal part.
HTH :O)