Memory problem

[rjshine]

I bought a new motherboard, CPU, power supply and 1 mb of ram (2)512mb chips to construct my own computer from scratch. When I install both chips the computer starts then I get a prompt about hardware creating instability in the system. The system works fine with just one 512mb chip. The motherboard is rated to support up to 2mb of ram. I'm stumped. Anyone with and idea what I should do please let me know. Thanks.

rs

[Whyzman]

Will each of the 512 RAM sticks work by itself? If so, I would add a floppy drive and run memtest86 on them independently...

http://www.memtest86.com/

[Quantax]

I bought a new motherboard, CPU, power supply and 1 mb of ram (2)512mb chips to construct my own computer from scratch. When I install both chips the computer starts then I get a prompt about hardware creating instability in the system. The system works fine with just one 512mb chip. The motherboard is rated to support up to 2mb of ram. I'm stumped. Anyone with and idea what I should do please let me know. Thanks.

rs

Are the two chips identical? Differences in timing and density would indicate an incompatibility issue.

[rjshine]

The chips will work independently if used alone, but when I install both chips that is when the problems occur. The chips are identical.

rs

[mjc]

Time for some specs...MB, OS and specific problems

[Fruss Tray Ted]

I would add a floppy drive and run memtest86 on them independently...

Just a head's up. Memtest has downloadable iso images (in Zip format) for cd's also, I just used one on a pc with no floppy drive.

[rjshine]

Here's the info on my system.

The system does not boot to my OS when a memory chip is installed in both slots.

User : Roy
Domain : MSHOME

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
Speed : 2.99GHz
Performance Rating : PR3974 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 1 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 2 Unit(s)
Internal Data Cache : 16kB Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
L2 On-board Cache : 1MB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector, 2 threads sharing

Mainboard
Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI IMB USB i2c/SMBus
MP Support : 1 Processor(s)
MP APIC : Yes
System BIOS : American Megatrends Inc. 080010
System : PCCHIPS M955G
Mainboard : PCCHIPS M955G
Total Memory : 479MB DDR-SDRAM

Chipset 1
Model : Elitegroup Computer Sys PM880 CPU to PCI Bridge
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 199MHz (796MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 512MB DDR-SDRAM
Shared Memory : 32MB
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 199MHz (398MHz data rate)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Plug and Play Monitor
Adapter : VIA/S3G UniChrome Pro IGP

Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : WDC WD80 0JD-23JNA1 SCSI Disk Device (75GB)
CD-ROM/DVD : JLMS XJ-HD166S (CD 48X Rd) (DVD 6X Rd)
CD-ROM/DVD : LITE-ON LTR-40125S (CD 8X Rd, 40X Wr)

Logical Storage Devices
1.44MB 3.5" (A : N/A
Hard Disk (C : 19GB (9.1GB, 49% Free Space) (NTFS)
Hard Disk (D : 19GB (17GB, 91% Free Space) (NTFS)
CD-ROM/DVD (E : N/A
CD-ROM/DVD (F : N/A

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 2 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : Microsoft PS/2 Mouse

MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller

Communication Device(s)
Device : Intel(R) 536EP V.92 Modem

Printers and Faxes
Model : Lexmark Z23/Z33 Color Jetprinter (Copy 1)
Model : Lexmark Z23/Z33 Color Jetprinter
Model : Fax

Power Management
AC Line Status : On-Line

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Home (Win32 x86) 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)

Network Services
Adapter : VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter