At witts end---need practical help

[Lemon law]

I bought a used computer---really cheap---it arrived a basket case---infested with malware --mobo drivers not installed---fixed all that.---not interested in over clocking---but this puppy's memory is underclocked. And I would be thrilled to get and keep stock settings.

System stats---asrock K8NF4G-sata2 mobo--socket 754 sempron 64 3000+ processor, running XP pro 32 bit---bios rev1.30---Geforce 6100 on board video chip---only two slots on board for PC3200 memory. Both populated with ram that is advertised as PC3200 ram.
Both slots use non-ecc ram--One slot is populated with a stick of 512mb corsair vs512mb400 that is supposed to run at 2.5-3-3-8 timing at 2T@2.5 volts---the other slot is a stick of 256mb Nanya nt256d64s88b1-g5t that I can find little data on---but CPU-Z reports it as capable of running at 3-3-3-8 at PC3200. And also reports tighter timings for PC2700 and PC 2100.

And as a disclaimer, don't let any of my knowledge of memory jargon fool anyone---I have done some reading---but am woefully short of practical experience---but when I finally fixed my malware and driver problems---the system felt slightly slow so I began to delve deeper. I downloaded memtest86, cpu-z, and various benchmarking programs. Memtest86 showed no ram errors---bench marking programs showed sub standard memory results---and cpu-z---quickly showed why---because instead of getting PC 3200 bus speeds--the mobo was running ram timing not even up to pc2100 speeds.

After downloading the mobo manual---and reading de fine print on bios settings---a quick trip to the bios setting screen showed ram settings at initially at auto----and after changing
to PCI-asynch and manually setting the timings to PC 3200, 3-3-3-8-2T I achieved PC3200
memory speeds according to cpu-z and a 50% greater score in memory through put.

And I would be a happy camper if I could keep these settings---but anytime anything goes wrong with windows---the bios resets itself---and I doubt its memory errors because runs of Memtest86 still show no errors. And then I either get under pc2700 speeds or under PC2100 speeds---and then I have to to back and reset the bios.

Until yesterday---when even resetting the bios still leaves me running at under PC 2100 speeds-----but no memory errors in memtest86.

Can anyone suggest what I should do next???---I have more time than money---but I suspect I should replace the nanya stick with at least another corsair vs512mb400.

 

[MarcVenice]

remove that nanya stick, what does ddr400 cost nowadays ? 20 bucks ?

 

[Lemon law]

To MarcVenice who asks--remove that nanya stick, what does ddr400 cost nowadays ? 20 bucks ?

Well another stick of vs512mb400 is more like $45.00 shipped--cheapest price new I can find--and forget ebay--idiots there pay far more for used.

 

[f4phantom2500]

Check the FS/FT forum, you can get a 512MB PC3200 stick for pretty cheap there I bet. It's usually not good to mix brands, especially sizes, of RAM sticks because problems like this come up. Since you have a 754 setup ideally you'd have a single 1GB stick, but if I were you I'd take out that 256MB stick and either put in a second 512MB PC3200 stick or just leave it empty.

 

[MarcVenice]

hmz yeah I underestimated the price of that corsair ram. I'm assuming you put the bios back to manual. Why is windows crashing though ? I mean, my windows like NEVER crashes, so if you get it to stop crashing, then it should be okay to just make the ram run at 'stock' speed, even if it means having to go back to the bios every once in a while when windows crashes.

Does windows crash if you run the ram at the settings the bios puts them on automatically ?

- f4p makes a lot of sense too ^^

 

[Lemon law]

While I thank any and all for replying---it still does not explain why I was able to get stock PC3200 settings before---and can't regain them now. What could be blocking it now?

You may well be right---the zero money thing might be to pitch the nanya stick and just run 512MB---or go cheaper and get vs256mb400---but with my memory needs replacing the nanya
stick with a stick of vs512mb400 would make XP pro run better----but if I purchase a stick of vs1GB400---I get ram that has a cl of 3 instead of 2.5---and how do I know my bios won't do weird things with the mis-match if I retain the existing vs512mb400.---which I probably should do if I ever upgrade to ram hungry vista? And lastly---with a single channel set up---does it matter if the larger number of MB ram is installed in slot one or two?

And as I was composing this--I see MarcV weighed back in----and yes I reset everything back as before to manual----my windows does crash no more or less often than other XP systems I have used-----so its a back to the bios rarely---but over a period of many months--stuff happens.---I have been playing with this for quite awhile.---and sadly making little forward progress.---so I am asking for HEEEEEEEEEELP.

And what is f4p?