I'm pretty sure it was a system freeze - clock stopped, mouse cursor froze, nothing- unless this test shuts down everything. I could not cancel or stop the test. Prior to running the test I checked the Memory Range test option, "FULL MEMORY" as opposed to the "FREE MEMORY." I went back later after resetting my G3 card to the original system bus speed of 40 MHz and attempted the same RAM test. Same "freeze-type" results. Then I restarted and tried the March tests after selecting "FREE MEMORY" and no freeze resulted. Instead, I could tell something was happening, the progress indicator had the slightest sliver of a bar, the cusror could move and the clock was running. I cancelled the test since I did not want to wait hours or days. So now the question remains as to whether I have a RAM problem, Processor issue, or no problem at all. It seems theoretical that testing RAM while it is being used (the Full Memory test) could cause a problem.
Mike David Klaus Replied: >Probably not. The 'March' tests were originally designed for early >super computers to be run on a continuous basis on segments of memory >to ferret out memory problems. With 256MB of RAM and a G3/350 >running without the L2 cache enabled, I would expect the Minor March >to finish in many hours and the Major to finish in a few days. What >you saw as a 'freeze' was simply the computer chomping away and the >progress indicator not moving. When TT is in certain test modes, it >will not respond to keyboard activity and the mouse disappears, but >it is working. (Answer to cache question) >As long as things are working, don't worry about pulling it out. >Obviously removing the card is a better solution, but if your G3 >software has disabled it you should have no problems. David Nuzum Replied: >These two tests take a very long time to complete. The Major March test can >take days. When you start this test the only activity is one blinking pixel >to indicate that your computer has not frozen. This might be what is >occurring. So perhaps this may be what you think is a freeze. > That said, however if it is a freeze then I don't know what, other then bad >ram. Mike 1st wrote: > Everything >went well up until the last test called "Major March" whereupon my >computer froze instantly. I soft-restarted and rebooted from the CD >and tried the "Minor March" RAM test, one that I skipped on the last >try, and this also caused an instant freeze. > >Is this a bad thing? > > It may help to know I just installed a Powerlogix G3/350 upgrade >processor to my 8500/120 and had been experimenting all day with >various bus and backside cache ratios. I finally decided to stick >with the preset recommended switch settings which gave me the rated >350 MHz clock speed at 50 MHz bus speed (up from 40 MHz with my old >604 on this mobo) at a 7:1 bus ratio. This was with the 512K backside >cache running at 140Mhz or less than the typically desired 2:1 ratio. >So, nothing really too taxing on the system other than the higher bus >speed which, Powerlogix says should work. > >Does anyone know if those particular RAM tests are a major strain to >a system. Should I suspect the RAM? It has given me no problems since >the install. Or is it more likely the processor or system bus >couldn't handle the test activities? Mike's 2nd Question: >Last question: Is disabling the 256K motherboard cache with the G3 >card control panel just as effective as physically removing the >cache DIMM? -- PCI-PowerMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Sonnet & PowerLogix Upgrades - start at $169 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PCI-PowerMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/pci-powermacs.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/pci-powermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
