My computer cant handle 256 megs of RAM!

[BZeto]

I have an Asus A7V133 mobo. When I first built the system, I tried putting in a 256 meg stick of ram plus a 128 meg stick, it worked ok for a while an they I started gettting problems, so I took out the 256 meg stick and everything worked fine. I thought the stick of RAM must be bad. So later on I added 64 megs of ram totalling to 192 megs of memory. I kept it this way for a while, now, I decided to get more RAM for UT2003. So I bought a brand new 256 meg stick of CRUCIAL memory from their website and I just got it today. I took out both the 64 meg and the 128 meg stick and just installed the new crucial 256 mb stick, it was in the far RAM slot from the CPU.. I turned on the comp and all I got was continuous system beeps, so It wasn't recognizing the RAM. So I unplugged everything again and put the 64 meg stick in the far slot, then put the 256 meg stick in the slot next to it. the computer booted and it indeed showed I had 320 megs of RAM. windows booted and I got a Windows Registry Checker error. It said it had an error accessing the system registry, then it says windows will restart and repair the registry for you. And under that message I had an explorer illegal operation. I clicked ok and nothing happened, then a while later I had a Blue screen of death, then my PC restarted and went to the safe mode screen, when I chose normal mode it restarted again, blah blah, blah. I was sick of it then. So I just took out the 256 meg stick and put the 128 meg stick back in. booted up my PC, everything works fine now. 196 megs of total RAM again now. So heres my question:

Whats wrong!!!!????!!!

Ackk, this isn't an acient motherboard, it can handle much more memory than this.

It wont even boot with the 256 meg stick in alone, and when I have it in the second slot with the 64 meg stick in the first, it boots and recognizes that I have 320 megs of ram total, but then I get these errors! Can anyone at all help me?

BTW, I'm using windows 98 SE.

System specs:
Asus A7V133 mobo
AMD Athlon T-bird 1.33 ghz
Geforce 2 GTS Pro 64 mb
Seagate 40 gb HDD
192 mb RAM (for now hopefully)

 

[mastertech01]

I dont know about your board but some are limited to certain slots using double sided ram. Have you tried the stick alone in each slot?

 

[BD231]

That chipset is good for up to 768 to 1gb of memory if I remember correctly. I'd check your CAS settings, it may be that your motherboard can only handle more memory with lower CAS settings.

 

[BZeto]

No, I have not. Is 256 mb and up RAM the only that is double sided? not 128 and under? I think with the last 256 meg stick I had it in the slot closest to the cpu before with no luck, haven't tried the middle alone. But it was in the middle when the 64 meg chip was on the side, but I had all those registry errors and crap, why was I getting all those? I really dont wanna have to buy a new mobo just so I can have more than 256 megs of RAM..

 

[BZeto]

I'm pretty sure my CAS setting is the automatically configure it depending on the RAM I have in. I didn't set manual settings.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

I've run 2x Crucial 256Mb PC133 Cas2 ram at those timings in an A7v Classic motherboard without a hitch...

I'm just wondering if a bios update might help? Failing that, try setting the ram manually to run at 100MHz, CAS3. It's possible that you've got a stick that just won't run at the speed automatically picked by the SPD. As far as registry errors go, I can offer only one piece of advice - Goto 2K/XP

Seriously though, I think your registry problems are caused solely by improperly configured ram 'confusing' the PC.
I've run 98 with 512Mb ram and no problems whatsoever.

 

[BZeto]

so should I change the CAS latency in the BIOS, then put the 256 meg stick back in? I remember in the bios seeing like 3T and 2T or something like that, do I choose 2T to set the CAS latency to 2?

How could have not configured the RAM correctley if all I had was the one 256 meg stick in?



Arrrrr.... this sucks.....

 

[BZeto]

I checked the BIOS, its set to SPD right now, if I change it to user define I get 3 things I can change.

Latency

RAS precharge time

RAS to CAS Delay

I cant either choose 3T or 2T.


you'd think SPD would know what to run the 256 meg stick at since it was in there all alone. I cant change them all to 2T with the 256 meg stick in b/c the comp wont even boot with just that stick in.

This is so confusing, do you think its the whole motherboard thats the problem?

 

[Viper96720]

The lower the memory setting number the more aggressive it is. Put it all on 3 or higher to make it more stable but slower memory. If the memory still won't work. See if you can find someone else with a computer to put it in make sure it's the memory that's bad not the motherboard.

 

[BZeto]

Ok, I'll try that. I'm pretty sure the memory isn't bad, b/c it did the same thing with my last 256 meg stick of Atlus Precision brand memory.

I hate computers sometimes....


Any other suggestions?

 

[BZeto]

Well, I got it working

I went into the BIOS, changed all the settings to "2T", CAS 2 I assume. saved changes, turned off computer. Took out the 2 sticks of RAM that were in there, installed the Crucial 256 meg stick in the slot closest to the CPU, hooked everything back up and rebooted. Everything seems to be working fine so far

I dont know if it was manually changing the CAS latency to 2T in the bios or having the stick in the slot closest to the CPU. Well, I'm just glad it works. Maybe now I can get that old 256 meg stick of Atlus Precision brand memory and install it too. I just hope win 98 can handle 512mb ok.

 

[kranky]

My comp has 512 MB RAM with Win98, no problems. I put the last 256MB in it two weeks ago.

 

[axelfox]

you'd better just send those sticks to me

 

[MadRat]

You have to use low density SDRAM in those KT133, KM133, KT133A, and KLE133 motherboards. Your double-sided memory is probably high density.