Memory problem not due to memory itself?

[absinthe]

I have an old EpoX 8K5A2 mobo, originally purchased in 2002, into which I originally put 1 stick of 256 MB RAM ordered directly from Crucial.

In 2005, I needed more RAM and so ordered some cheaper Patriot (I think) RAM, a 512 MB stick that was rated higher than the Crucial's PC2700, but my understanding was that it would slow down to meet the slower RAM's rate and should work fine. But I got, as I recall, a blue screen at boot-up time usually which read "Hardware Failure ... Contact Your Hardware Manufacturer." I thought, "Okay. Dumb not buying Crucial RAM." I RMA'd the "cheaper" RAM and ordered more Crucial so that the specs of my RAM would match exactly.

But even with two sticks of matching Crucial RAM, I still had the same problem with the 512 MB in DIMM slot 1 and the 256 MB DIMM in slot 2. I now even had problems using each stick individually! Eventually, the computer seemed to "stabilize," and I was able to use it rather intensely without much problem for some time.

Very recently I put together a new computer and I want to give my older one to a relative. But now the "hardware failure" message problem is back and is worse. This is true using the 256 MB and 512 MB sticks together or separately in any combination. Memtest386 fails pretty quickly using any combination. I went out and bought a new stick of Kingston RAM rated for DDR400 (I had read reviews saying that it worked fine at PC2100, so I figured PC2700 should be no prob -- and the other specs matched). It STILL is failing Memtest286.

So if I have memory problems, and it isn't the sticks themselves, what else could it be?

-abs

 

[alzan]

Have you or can you check the memory on another system? If it fails on a known-working system than it's the RAM; if not it's the motherboard. If it's the motherboard, you could try resetting or flashing the BIOS.

alzan

 

[absinthe]

It's an old slot A mobo, and I don't have access to any others or other compatible system to check it. But I've checked 3 different sticks of RAM, including one that's brand new out of the box, in all sorts of different combinations. At this point I'm virtually convinced it's not the RAM.

And yeah, I've flashed the BIOS and I've also reset the CMOS. Same thing. I don't really know what else to try. I've got my eye on some replacement mobos on eBay, but that is going on the assumption that a new mobo will fix the problem. I really don't know what else it could be.

I do have an e-mail in to EpoX tech support to see if they can tell me anything.

-abs

 

[Fardringle]

Based on what you have tried, I would say the problem is likely with the memory controller (or the physical RAM slots) on the motherboard. The only way to really know for sure is to try the memory in a different system.