I built a computer a while ago - FX-55, Foxconn NF4UK8AA-8EKRS, 1G (2x512) Crucial RAM.
Everything works fine. I decided I wanted to add a 2nd gig of RAM, so I order the same item from Newegg as above.
Here's where things go south... I had expected to be able to run all 4 sticks (4x512) at once to get 2G. However, the computer isn't stable with all 4 sticks. The POST shows 2G of RAM running in single-channel mode (bad). By not stable, I get constant (but not consistent) reboots - sometimes during the boot, sometimes after the machine has been running for some random amount of time (never more than 5 mins or so, though).
Since I know the current two sticks work, I start swapping sticks - can't get the machine stable with any combination of old & new RAM. Machine is 100% stable with the old RAM.
So I start digging deeper. First thing I notice is the old ram is double-sided and the new RAM is single sided.
When I tried to boot with 1 old and 1 new stick, I found a line in the POST which said "DDR DIMM AT SLOTS 2 6 7". The same line using 2 old sticks shows "DDR DIMM AT SLOTS 2 3 6 7".
When I dug a little deeper, I think I figured out that my mobo, while having 4 slots, only supports 4 banks of RAM. Double-sided sticks take up 2 banks, so I think I understand why I can't run all 4 sticks at once (would require 6 banks, no?).
However, what baffles me is that I can't run the two new sticks by themselves - same instability. The POST shows 1G running in dual-channel mode (ok, good). It shows two slots of DDR DIMM (makes sense given they're single-sided).
My first thought tells me I have a stick of bad RAM, but this is the 2nd order of RAM from Newegg (first order showed same symptoms and were single-sided). I didn't figure out the single-sided vs. double-sided then, but the symptoms are the same, so I'm kind of doubtful I got two bad sets of RAM in a row.
Cliffs
Trying to add 2nd gig of RAM to current machine, new RAM is single-sided, old RAM is double-sided. Machine not stable with all 4 sticks, machine not stable with 2 new sticks, machine IS stable with just the old two sticks.
Thoughts? I'm 1 BIOS update behind and will flash it to the current version and try again (notes only say something about BIOS password).
Everything works fine. I decided I wanted to add a 2nd gig of RAM, so I order the same item from Newegg as above.
Here's where things go south... I had expected to be able to run all 4 sticks (4x512) at once to get 2G. However, the computer isn't stable with all 4 sticks. The POST shows 2G of RAM running in single-channel mode (bad). By not stable, I get constant (but not consistent) reboots - sometimes during the boot, sometimes after the machine has been running for some random amount of time (never more than 5 mins or so, though).
Since I know the current two sticks work, I start swapping sticks - can't get the machine stable with any combination of old & new RAM. Machine is 100% stable with the old RAM.
So I start digging deeper. First thing I notice is the old ram is double-sided and the new RAM is single sided.
When I tried to boot with 1 old and 1 new stick, I found a line in the POST which said "DDR DIMM AT SLOTS 2 6 7". The same line using 2 old sticks shows "DDR DIMM AT SLOTS 2 3 6 7".
When I dug a little deeper, I think I figured out that my mobo, while having 4 slots, only supports 4 banks of RAM. Double-sided sticks take up 2 banks, so I think I understand why I can't run all 4 sticks at once (would require 6 banks, no?).
However, what baffles me is that I can't run the two new sticks by themselves - same instability. The POST shows 1G running in dual-channel mode (ok, good). It shows two slots of DDR DIMM (makes sense given they're single-sided).
My first thought tells me I have a stick of bad RAM, but this is the 2nd order of RAM from Newegg (first order showed same symptoms and were single-sided). I didn't figure out the single-sided vs. double-sided then, but the symptoms are the same, so I'm kind of doubtful I got two bad sets of RAM in a row.
Cliffs
Trying to add 2nd gig of RAM to current machine, new RAM is single-sided, old RAM is double-sided. Machine not stable with all 4 sticks, machine not stable with 2 new sticks, machine IS stable with just the old two sticks.
Thoughts? I'm 1 BIOS update behind and will flash it to the current version and try again (notes only say something about BIOS password).