New setup here

[Virtualbody1234]

Really? What was wrong? What BIOS revision were you using?

[RPerry]

System BIOS Date 07/06/04

no matter what ram you put in it , it always shows half. I should have seen if I could have just switched board for board right there in the shop, I live an hr away. I still feel like I'm missing something.....
I put one 512 stick in when I got home, and now it shows:
OS: (WinXP Professional 5.1 Service Pack 2 (Build #2600)) ¤ OSInstall: (XP was installed 1wk 3days 44mins 27secs) ¤ Up: (2h 38m 50s) ¤ HD: (Total/Free: 223.58/118.33GB)VidCard: (ALL-IN-WONDER 9800 SERIES) ¤ Mem: (Usage: 204/256MB (79.69%)) ¤ CPU: (1 CPU - AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3000+, 1.80 GHz, L1: 64KB L2: 512KB (2% Load))

notice the 256mb

edit: VB1234 I have not returned the MB yet, have to put it in its box and bring it back in the morning. I brought my system in intact, to make sure it wasn't some other problem

[Virtualbody1234]

I think the BIOS revision is the problem. I updated mine as soon as I got my board. The stock revision doesn't properly support the new 90 nm CPUs (3000+, 3200+ and 3500+).

The memory controller is built into the CPU and without proper support the RAM isn't detected properly.

Do a model seacrch here: http://www.msicomputer.com/support/bios_result.asp

And get the revision 3.2:

K8T Neo2-FIR (MS-6702E-010) v. 3.2 319 kb AMD AMI BIOS 9/24/2004
1. This is AMI BIOS release.
2. This BIOS fixes the following problem of the previous version:
- Supports USB devices under DOS mode.
- Updates CPU Microcode (3000+, 3200+, 3500+).
- Fixes BIOS reporting incorrect CPU temperature.

[RPerry]

this must be the problem then, cause I just swapped the MB, came home and have the same problem. This is the last thing I'll try, then I guess I'm going with ASUS

[Virtualbody1234]

Have you flashed the BIOS yet?

[RPerry]

not yet, I have to work tonight, so I'll probably leave it for tomorrow or the weekend, need to do something soon though, cause its driving me nuts knowing I'm only getting half my RAM I'll let you know

[Virtualbody1234]

So... Any news RPerry?

[RPerry]

Yeah, great news... I bought another Car on Saturday, and I saved alot of money by switching my car insurance to Geico ( I swear its the truth) I haven't had the time to do it yet, but hopefully tomorrow.

[Virtualbody1234]

MSI recommends to use the "MSI LiveUpdate utility".

I did mine the "manual" way because I did it before running Windows on it.

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/suppor...UID=608&kind=1


Btw. In reference to your previous comment about Asus... They also require a BIOS update to run the new 90nm CPUs.

[RPerry]

MSI recommends to use the "MSI LiveUpdate utility".

I did mine the "manual" way because I did it before running Windows on it.

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/suppor...UID=608&kind=1


Btw. In reference to your previous comment about Asus... They also require a BIOS update to run the new 90nm CPUs.

thanks for that info VB, I intended to use the liveupdate utility, but didn't check into the ASUS board. I'm just wondering why nobody else has had this problem...