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Memory Problem...I think

H

hamdealio

Junior Member
Comp Specs:
Mobo: ECS KT600-A
CPU: Athlon 2600+
Memory: PNY 512MB, PC 2700
PS: Antec 300W

After installing all of the hardware I tried to boot the computer. It quickly shut down after about 5 seconds. Consequently, I removed each component, starting with the video card down to the memory. After removing the memory the computer stays on. After looking at the PNY website it shows that the memory is compatible with the mobo.

Does this mean that the memory is corrupt?

Should I run any other tests?

Thanks.
 
If it is shutting down after five seconds, it sounds like you might have a heat/heatsink problem. Have you tried reseating the heatsink and making sure the compound is applied properly?
 
I tried reseating the heatsink; same problem. Earlier today I applied Cooler Master's Premium Thermal Compund from a kit. I used their template and applied a thin layer. Could I have applied too much? Why does the computer only shut down with the memory in?
 
Originally posted by: hamdealio
I tried reseating the heatsink; same problem. Earlier today I applied Cooler Master's Premium Thermal Compund from a kit. I used their template and applied a thin layer. Could I have applied too much? Why does the computer only shut down with the memory in?
Click to expand...
Just a quick reality check: heatsink on this way? or this way? If it happens to be a clip-down Thermalright, also note the tips here.

Another possibility is that your case's Power button is having a malfunction and the motherboard thinks it's being pressed non-stop. Unplugging the case's Power-button wire from the motherboard and tickling the power-switch pins with a screwdriver tip instead can help establish whether that's the problem. If it starts and stays running when you use this method, then that tells you something.
 
The heatsink is seated in the correct direction. I tried the screw driver power up test and I had the same problem. Any other ideas?
 
I'm gonna ask more silly questions 😀 What brand/model of heatsink do you have? What are you using for thermal compound between the CPU and the heatsink at the moment? Did you use a :evil:shim:evil:?
 
It is an AMD heatsink; the same one that came with the CPU. I used premium thermal compound from Coller Master on the heatsink. I followed the directions using the plastic template and plastic card to spread the compound.
 
That sounds good. If you use too much thermal compound, it will spooge most of it out the edges, no tremendous harm in that.

One other thought: some boards will shut down if they aren't detecting an RPM signal on the 3-pin header that they consider to be the CPU fan's header. Is your CPU fan plugged into the header that has CPU_FAN or some such CPU-related name next to it? If not, you might try that. And your Clear CMOS jumper is in the Run position for sure, right?
 
Huh 😕 Do you have any other systems you could verify the RAM in? Or other memory you could use in this board?
 
If you have multiple sticks of ram, try taking one out at a time and powering up the system. If you can isolate a stick of memory, and it works fine, then you have found the solution.

I doubt it is a heatsink problem, as CPUs nowadays have load balancing to distribute thermal levels. If it gets too hot it will underclock, not reboot (only the PIII would reboot)

It could be that your ram is getting too hot though. I have a gen1 p4 with rambus, and I had to modify my case with a blowhole situated over my RAM to keep it cool enough.
 
im 99% sure it is that stick of RAM, since it works when you take it out. i m sure your heat sink is fine.

do you really want to use that stick of RAM that doesnt work? Try exchanging for the same and see if it works, my best bet is it is corrupt.
 
Originally posted by: 4dmI doubt it is a heatsink problem, as CPUs nowadays have load balancing to distribute thermal levels. If it gets too hot it will underclock, not reboot (only the PIII would reboot)
Click to expand...
AthlonXPs have a very low mass and don't have a metal heat spreader to add mass to themselves, so they overheat extremely rapidly (1-2 seconds will do it). To prevent system damage, they're designed to power down the whole motherboard if they detect an overheat. Motherboards from the last two years or so do feature that, and that's why people are suggesting that the heatsink might not be making good thermal contact. But it sounds like hamdealio has a handle on that 😀
 
thanks for all of the help. i will go to the store tomorrow and exchange the memory. hopefully this will solve the problem. if not, it will be back to the chalk board or better yet the anandtech forum.
 
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