Added More RAM to my computer...now its unstable

[robathome]

hi friends,

Recently I purchased a 256 MB PC133 SDRAM chip to add to my computer. I have 256MB PC133 RAM in the computer already so i thought it would be great to get my system kickin at 512 mb's of ram. No such luck! After installing the ram, my computer is acting really laim. I have outlook express 6 open and it crashes all the time. Explorer crashes all the time too. I have a P3 800 and aBIT motherboard (i forget the actual name and all), both ram chips are made Kbyte.

Another problem i found with my computer is that i have three ram slots and only two of them work. The middle slot doesn't do anything at all. I put the second ram chip in the third slot. Is there some rule where you have to put the ram in the computer in order?

Please me a help hand...Thanks!

Let me know if you need more info about system specs.

[Meatrack]

Memory is really picky. Some brands of ram don't like to cooperate with others. The problem could just be that the two sticks you have aren't compatible with each other. Another solution could be that the third slot you put the new stick in could also be bad just like your second slot.

[jeffhhh]

How much memory is reported in device manager?
[This message has been edited by jeffhhh (edited 12-16-2001).]

[This message has been edited by jeffhhh (edited 12-16-2001).]

[jeffhhh]

The users manual for the BLT/BLT-RAID ( found at http://www.cobracomputer.com/abitBL7Raid.asp ) states that memory modules can be populated in any order.

All memory slots should work.

[muckshifter]

Windows ME simply can't cope with more than 512MB of memory.

And neither can any other Win9x variant.

And it's a 'feature'. It transpires that Win ME, Win98 and Win95 cannot deal with main memory sizes in excess of 512MB. The Microsoft Knowledgebase entries on the subject (dating back a few short weeks) contain the following fascinating facts:

"The Windows 32-bit protected-mode cache driver (Vcache) determines the maximum cache size based on the amount of RAM that is present when Windows starts. Vcache then reserves enough memory addresses to permit it to access a cache of the maximum size so that it can increase the cache to that size if needed. These addresses are allocated in a range of virtual addresses from 0xC0000000 through 0xFFFFFFFF (3 to 4 gigabytes) known as the system arena.

"On computers with large amounts of RAM, the maximum cache size can be large enough that Vcache consumes all of the addresses in the system arena, leaving no virtual memory addresses available for other functions such as opening an MS-DOS prompt (creating a new virtual machine).

"This problem may occur more readily with Advanced Graphics Port (AGP) video adapters because the AGP aperture is also mapped to addresses in the system arena. For example, if Vcache is using a maximum cache size of 800MB and an AGP video adapter has a 128MB aperture mapped, there is very little address space remaining for the other system code and data that must occupy this range of virtual addresses."

And here are the three suggested workarounds:

"1. Physically remove any memory in excess of 512MB [!]

"2. Use the System Configuration utility to limit the amount of memory that Windows uses to 512MB or less.

"3. Use the MaxFileCache setting in the System.ini file to reduce the maximum amount of memory that Vcache uses to 512MB (524,288 KB) or less."

And the unspoken fourth solution: upgrade to Windows 2000/XP.

Knowledgebase also admits that the addressing restriction has been identified as a failing in Windows. Installing Win2K obviated the problem. All 768MB ran faultlessly.

So if you think that adding extra memory will make your Win 9x system run faster, the answer is: it will, provided you don't exceed 512MB. With today's systems more than capable of exceeding this size, and with wallets capacious enough to purchase more than 512MB of RDRAM, Win 9X/ME suddenly appears rather passé.
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

------------------
If at first you DO succeed, then try not to look too surprised.

[robathome]

In device manager it states that I have 511 MB's of RAM.

I'm running windows98 (version 4).

Both memory sticks are made by the same brand. (K-byte Memory, Inc)

I don't have more then 512MB's of ram. I only have a total of two 256 MB SDRAM 32x64 dimms.

I do know that my motherboard has 256k level 2 cache. Does that make any difference? Do i need to add more cache to make the system stable?

What else can i do since I'm not exceeding the win98 minimums?

[Rick]

If it only shows 511 meg of ram then you have a bad stick or at least one meg / chip is bad or failing the memory test at bootup.

While your checking things what does your bios show for installed memory?

------------------
To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[YODA74]

i run the same memory and have same amount mine is only showing 496 out of 512 this mem. came from Crucial so pretty much know it's not bad sticks,your vid is going to take some of the mem.You can test your memory here.it's free
http://www.simmtester.com/

------------------
Treading,Troden,Trails
HERE (http://www.davematthewsband.com)

[robathome]

Well it goes by too fast so i don't get to see the number on the screen.
What i want to do is have it so that it runs through the memory test three times...How do i set it to do that? I forget when and what key i hit to get into the bios.

could adding more ram be making my computer overheat?

[robathome]

Just to let you know, I have GeForce2 Ultra video card with 64mb of ram on the board.

So does adding more ram freak my computer out?

[robathome]

I used that DocMemory RAM diagnostic tool you suggested and it says under system info the following:
CPU: Genuine Intel, 686
DRAM size: 512 MB

My motherboard is an ABIT DX 1.7
Windows 98 version 4
Soundblaster Live Value sound card
GeForce2 ULtra video card
I have a 4 gig and 20 gig hard drive installed.
the 4 gig is the primary hard drive
I have a p3 800EB (or something E) 256k level 2 cache

Running the diagnostic tool as I type this. I have two computers.

[robathome]

it passed the memory test.

So, now what do you think I should check?

[BigBlue66]

Howdy,

Seems to me that all this nonsense started after you purchased and installed the new stick of memory. It's also normal for the system to use one megabyte of RAM, so don't worry about that.

I would have to say that most likely the RAM chip you just bought is faulty. Try running it by itself and see what happens.

This is not an issue of the >512mb problem.

I suggest that first you make sure all memory is properly and fully seated. Run the new stick by itself. Another possibility as someone else pointed out, is that two of your DIMM slots are faulty. It's been known to happen. Happened to me once.

Having the system count up memory three times will not really tell you anything. But if you want to, you can set it in BIOS. You usually hit the Del key to get into BIOS as the system is counting up the RAM. Be patient, sometimes you have to try a couple of times to get into setup.

Once in CMOS setup, go to the Advanced CMOS Features section and look for a line item that says something like, "Power On Self Test". Set it to the opposite of what you find it set at. Save and exit, reboot, and then it should count up the memory three times.

Good luck.

Big Blue 66


------------------
Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.
- Pamela Vault Starr

[robathome]

i determined that my computer is not overheating and I'm pretty certain that the ram chip is ok. It says at start up that i have 524,??? ram.

Is there something maybe in the BIOS that i need to do?

[jeffhhh]

Try this if you haven't already:

Remove the new RAM stick and see how much RAM is reported in device manager. Then replace the old RAM stick with the new RAM stick in the same slot and check for memory reported again. It should be the same. If so, try and duplicate your problem with only the new stick installed. If you cant duplicate it, install the known good stick in the slot where you 1st installed the new stick in, leaving the new stick intalled. Do you get the problems after doing that? Next, remove the new stick, keeping the old stick installed in the slot it is now in. Check memory reported again and try and duplicate the problem.

Do you know if both memory sticks are of the same speed in terms of nanoseconds? I'm not sure if a difference in that speed could cause a problem. Can someone tell me?

[ski]

256MB of RAM is plenty for almost all working environments, and adding more will not make a system run any faster unless you do a lot of multitasking with memory intensive programs, i.e., design graphics, video editing, etc. And in a lot of these cases, even 256MB is enough.
256MB is also plenty for serious gamers if they use a high end video card, which I notice that you use.

[ts-webmaster]

I'm a professional web designer and 3d artist so i use alot of demanding programs and I really just want to be able to use them all at the same time. : ) -- makes working easier and faster.

[ski]

HUH?????

[jeffhhh]

ummmm...ok

[ts-webmaster]

sorry guys, that looked funny didn't it!? I'm the same person as Robathome. I tried to post that after that last message but it wouldn't let me because the spam filter. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

How would I find out what the nanosecond speed is of each chip?

What I tried tonight was putting the new chip in the first slot and turning the machine on to see what would happen. I get 256 MB RAM, same as the old stick. So i added the second stick to my third slot and now i have 512MB of RAM. So far so good, I been using it for about 10 minutes straight and it hasn't crashed yet...knock on wood.

So, from what everyone has posted, I think this was the problem. I think my old ram, eventhough it is the same brand (Kbyte pc133 ram) it might be of a slower speed. So putting the faster chip in the first slot might have been what i need to do. Didn't someone say that the position of the faster ram made a difference?





[This message has been edited by ts-webmaster (edited 12-18-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

Hey,

Hmmm, I have always heard that the faster/larger stick of RAM should go in the first DIMM slot that the computer reads from. Your case verifies that.

Cheers,

BB 66


------------------
Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.
- Pamela Vault Starr

[jeffhhh]

From what I can gather on RAM speed, its mostly just older types of RAM that is measured in nano seconds and SDRAM is measured in Mhz. It sounds like all PC133 SDRAMS are the same speed, but i've read a few conflicting web pages on that. The chips on the stick used to indicate speed with a -6 or -7, indicating 60 or 70 ns. but SDRAM speed is 10 or less ns and might not be printed anywhere on the stick.
Maybe someone can expand a little more on this.

[This message has been edited by jeffhhh (edited 12-18-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

Hey Jeff,

Nope, SDRAM is measured in nanoseconds, just like EDO and FPM was at one time.

I've seen SDRAM rated at 10, 8, 7.5 and 7 nanoseconds.

Cheers,

BB 66


------------------
Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.
- Pamela Vault Starr

[mjc]

The PCxxx rating is not the "speed" the memory runs at but what bus speed it is rated to be able to handle...PC66 can handle a FSB of 66 using it in a 100MHz bus would be overclocking it severely....and so on, that is why you should be able to use a higher rated stick on slower bus.

------------------
mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[jeffhhh]

Thanks for clearing that up bigblue and mjc http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[ts-webmaster]

if i wanted to find out the nanosecond speed of my ram chips how would i do that? got any cool apps that will tell me?

[Paleo Pete]

Check the numbers on the chip. It should have a number on each individual IC chip. The last number is usually related to the ns speed. 7=70ns, 6= 60ns 1=10ns (I think, may be 0)

------------------
Support the right to keep and arm bears.
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.dreamwater.com/paleopete/computer.htm) has been moved, please update your bookmarks.

[ts-webmaster]

hmm i thought maybe there was a program out there that would tell me...I'm not opening up the computer anytime soon. Its working quite nicely now.