RAM woe?

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Kye

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ok.
i just been down PC world, and brought 512MB of DDR PC3200. it has no latency numbers, just a simple box, no name brand mem.
after coming home, i install it on the last DIMM i had. at the first boot screen there was a error, it was freeze and not let me go into the BIOs or anything. i read the motherboard manual, and learnt that i had too put double sided RAM in the first time, and the other two single sided RAM in the other DIMMs. after 10 minutes of doing this....it boots! and loads, but...

it is not at 400 freq like it should. its working at 266. so, basically its working as a PC2700. i cried a little, but thought maybe software wise i could sort this out. CPUz tells me that:
FSB : DRAM 1/2. i dont think this was 1/2 before.
and the frequency is 267.
i restarted and went into the BIOs, and set the mem at 200, not 166. after selecting that, the screen goes black, and "beeep...beeep...beeep...beeep..." etc. this i had before when changing latencies too 2 from 2.5 when trying too OC. i reset the jumpers, and now i turn too whom can help me.
the latencies are the same as before, and even though CPUz recognises the freq is 266, it still says its PC3200.

please, please help. since i brought this at PC world, theres little change i can take it back for money.
 
What motherboard you got?

As I understand it, you already got 2 sticks of PC3200 in there.

Some boards won't take more than two sticks of PC3200 without throwing up errors. Just a thought.

Need more details.

And you got a better chance of PC World taking it back than an online supplier. Just explain your problem, let them test it, and you should get a refund.
 
ZNF-250 zenith value.
ill try taking it back for my money, otherwise im stuck with it. if thats a case, will a new motherboard sort it out?

edit:
ill try taking one stick of 256MB as well, see if it will work in PC3200.
 
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I'm not familiar with that motherboard, but it sounds like a budget model to me.

Have a look in the manual, it should tell you how many sticks of each type of RAM you can put in each slot.

I'm guessing your board will only take 2 x PC3200.

What size are the other memory modules?

Try your new 512Mb stick on it's own in DIMM slot 1 and see if it will run as 200.

If it does, then what I've outlined is probably true.

And yes, a new motherboard, depending on it's config, would probably sort out the problem, but imo it's probably a wiser move to buy another identical 512 PC3200 and try that in your current motherboard. If they work together OK, sell off your old RAM.
 
i have noone too sell the other two sticks too, and i dont want too touch e-bay. gimmie 5 minutes and ill take out the two 256MBs, then put one in. if it works ill post back here and leave it with 768 for the time being :(
 
well!

you was right. with two sticks it works at 400! im using both no brand RAM. my corsair value with the 512MB would not boot right.

problem is now...that CAS 3 is somthing i do not want. i was happy with my 2.5 :mad:

512MB two sticks one brand the other no brand, 2.5. now, two no brand names at 768MB, 3!

any other suggestions? since i would rather be at 512MB with tigher latency timings.
 
tinker with your BIOS settings - my OCZ memory (CAS3) works just great at CAS2 with a marginal overclock too!!

change it to 2.5 and see what happens. If all goes ttis up then pull the CCMOS jumper and try again...
 
it will be the third time today ive pulled out the jumper...
shall i change the CAS too 2.5 but keep all the rest on auto? will that be ok? rather check before i open her up...again.

edit: and yes....compairing no brand name memory with OCZ?! i can always buy heatspreaders and pretend the memory i have is somthing special.
 
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Kye said:
well!

you was right. with two sticks it works at 400! im using both no brand RAM. my corsair value with the 512MB would not boot right.

problem is now...that CAS 3 is somthing i do not want. i was happy with my 2.5 :mad:

512MB two sticks one brand the other no brand, 2.5. now, two no brand names at 768MB, 3!

any other suggestions? since i would rather be at 512MB with tigher latency timings.
Click to expand...
That's good.

What I actually suggested was just using your new 512 stick and seeing that runs OK by itself.

The idea being, if it did, it's probably OK and not faulty.

What two sticks did you try together?

(gawd, I'm getting confused :D )

As for timings, as Chris said, just experiment.
 
anything in the BIOs and too do with memory ive never had a good time with.

you suggested taking out the two other sticks, leaving in the 512MB. i done that, and it was 400, not 333 like before. i put in the corsiar value 256MB, and it would not boot properly. it would tell me my processor and how much memory, but freeze there. i took that out, and put in the other 256MB, and it works ok. there at 400, PC3200...but the CAS is 3, not 2.5 as it was before.

i wanted too know, since i can automate what i want the timings too be in the BIOs, if im better of setting the CAS# too 2.5, and setting everything else on auto. im left with one stick of corsair value RAM :(
 
It's probably showing CAS 3 cos that's what your PC World memory is. It will default to the lowest setting.

I wouldn't worry about that too much, 0.5 of a CAS setting is really not noticeable.

Like I said earlier, either buy another identical 512Mb stick from PC World and have a Gig of memory or put up with 768 like you have now.

You will not be able to use all 3 sticks.

Or you could buy another motherboard but even then no guarantee all 3 sticks will work together.

Why not offer the 2 sticks of 256Mb PC3200 for sale on this forum in our 'Bargains' section? You should get £35.00 - £45.00 for them. Then buy another 512Mb stick of RAM.
 
i set the CAS too 2.5, then closed my eyes...no beeps! i have one 256MB stick left, with 256Mb extra from today. considering it cost me £60.
the manual says, it can only support one double sided stick of ram. so, unless there are single sided DDR PC3200 RAM sticks i dont know about...otherwise ill go try and sell the 256mb that i have.

im going too open my southern comfort too celebrate. and thank you everyone whos helped me with this problem! considering since the other forums ive been apart of are not as quick or helpful. thank you for tolerating me and my problems that i share with my PC.
i raise my glass too this forum, and now call it home.
 
Kye said:
im going too open my southern comfort too celebrate. and thank you everyone whos helped me with this problem! considering since the other forums ive been apart of are not as quick or helpful. thank you for tolerating me and my problems that i share with my PC.
i raise my glass too this forum, and now call it home.
Click to expand...
hey man, I'll raise a glass of Italian red wine with you.

Cheers. And you're welcome :D
 
i was happy with my 768MB last night, now i want the 1GB. are all 512MB DDR PC3200 sticks double sided? the first DIMM is the only one that is said too support double sided. and why would the corsair not work in the last dimm?
 
i have my 1GB! southern comfort coming back for the celebration. i am very, very happy :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

the corsair is on the last DIMM, last time it was in the middle between the two. but, its working now.


edit: sisoft sandra memory bandwidth benchmark gives me about 40 less on both the two things it benchmarks for. i was under the impression that more RAM would give a bigger memory bandwidth...any thoughts?
 
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ok...
at the moment, my 1GB is acting like PC2100. its at 200 in the bios and CPUz sees it as PC3200. but, sisoft sandra tells me differently with the mem bandwidth benchmark.

with the 768MB config i was getting PC2700.

it was simple, but now im getting lost and confused. i gave back the anti-static wrist-band so, i wont be able too do anything intil i get it back.

the lower memory bandwidth is disapointing, but...i dont really know what it does. game benchmark-wise i get the same scores then i did with PC3200. at this rate, ill be selling all 3 of the damn sticks and getting 1GB of geil instead.
 
dont worry about the wrist band - i've built about 10 computers and played with the insides of many more and not yet have i broken any components due to static. Touch the side of the case before doing anything, to ground yourself, and you will be just fine.

Get a new motherboard - it sounds like that one is playing you up, as opposed to it being the memory
 
an american told me that with a 754 board with all dimms being used there is a preformence hit. and, i was better of dumping the 256 sticks and getting another 512. or what he said would be even better...one stick of GB.

if i can take back the other stick 512MB stick i dont mind spending another £40 for 1GB stick.
 
My computer is still not working (following on from conversation yesterday)

Hi

My computer is still not working.

I'm back- last night I tried reloaded my Windows Me cd on my computer.

I have also checked my computer specifications:

OS Name: Windows
Version 4.90.3000 Build 3000
System model VT 82C693/A
System type: X86-based PC
Processor: Intel(r) celeron (tm)
Processor Genuine INtel ~600Mhz
B10S version: Award Modular
BIOS V.4.51PG
Total physical memory: 63.45 MB
Available physical memory: 6.40 MB
Total virtual memory: 2.00GB
Available Virtual memory: 1.88 GB
Page Files Space 1.94 GB

In addition to the problems I mentioned yesterday,the computer also told me the following last night:

I'm getting this message when the desktop opens:
"Your are using the Selective Startup for toubleshooting your system"
and
"RUNDLL Error loading C/windows/system/MSA64chk.dll (system cannot find files specified)- 3 times this message
This was my message of yesterday:

My computer is still not working.

I downloaded AdAware and Stinger- it does not seem to have a virus on.
I have also done the the disk cleanup, scan disk and disk defrag.

But it seems to be worse now - I think mainly because I had to switch it off at the plug several times (it was the only way of getting any 'reaction' from the computer.
The computer stalls and wont allow me to switch it off or to open programmes (only allows me in 'save' mode). Save mode seems to be fine, but as soon as I do anything on the ordinary mode it stalls. Or it goes automatically to a blue screen with this message (if it makes any sense to you):

An exception OE has occurred at 0028:C004C4B1 in VXDVFAT (01) + 0000CC25. This is called from 0028:C182BB80 in VSD voltrack (04) =+ 00000430. Then press any key to attempt to continue or control-alt-delete to restart.

However it wont restart if I press control-alt-delete and if I 'press any key' it goes back to the desktop- but then stalls when I attempt to open anything (or leave the icons 'uncoloured'/empty if you know what I mean)
I bought the computer in 2000, it runs on Windows Me- since then I downloaded various programmes, including for my digital camera and also for the external cd drive. I have about 300 photos stored on the hard drive.
 
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