Can't get new memory module to work w/old

absinthe

Senior member
Apr 13, 2000
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I've been running on 256 MB of memory for quite some time. I got it direct from Crucial, as I have always done in the past, but I found a great deal at Newegg on a "Patriot" 512 MB module.

My current stick is: 256 MB, DDR333 PC2700

The new one I bought is: 512 MB, PC3200, DDR400

Both are non-buffered, non-ecc, CL 2.5, 184-pin

My mobo is an Epox 8k5a2. When I install the new memory module, I get a "system halted" message. I thought the new RAM would just run at the lower speed to match the older.

Is there adjustment I can make in the BIOS to get this to work, and am I going to have to return the RAM?

thanks,

-abs
 

absinthe

Senior member
Apr 13, 2000
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Ok, I seem to have gotten it to work. It's like this ...

I have 3 DIMM slots.

- If I remove my old 256 MB (PC2700) module from the first slot and replace it with the new 512 MB (PC3200) module, everything works.

- If I then add back the 256 MB module in the second slot, it does not work. I get the old "system halted" message again.

- But, if I add back the old 256 MB module in the third slot (leaving the second slot empty), it seems to work again.

Could I have a bad DIMM slot??

Anyone, the systems registers 768 MB of RAM, so I guess it's working. After I send in this $30 rebate, I'll have tripled my memory for less than $30. Not bad, considering I plan to build a whole new machine very soon and use this as a "secondary" box.

=abs

Edit: Oh, is there something I can do to test out this memory? Like run that MEMTEST86 (something like that; I've got it around here somewhere) program overnight? -abs
 

amdskip

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
22,530
13
81
Yep, run memtest on it. Some motherboards are just setup to have you install memory like you have it now.
 

absinthe

Senior member
Apr 13, 2000
255
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Ok, ran MEMTEST386 for 12+ hours with no errors. Everything seemed great, but ...

Now the computer is "crashing" to that "hardware failure" blue screen every so often. Something is obviously not right. I'm afraid I don't know much about BIOS settings for memory. Is there something I can change/try to stabilize this? (mobo is Epox 8k5a2 ... see first post in thread above for memory specs).

I'd like to know if this can be salvaged before I attempt to return the memory to Newegg and just order Crucial.

thx,

-abs