new ram=>instable Win98SE

[Flintz]

I am not sure if this is the right forum, but I had no idea whereelse I should post my problem:

first my system specs:
Athlon 1.33 GHz
Asus A7M266
2x256 MB Ram (Samsung) <== thats what this post is about
IBM 75 GB HD
SBLive! Player 5.1
Ausu V7700T
Windows 98 SE


Here my Problem:
when I bought my PC it had one 256 MB ram module (Samsung). Recently I bought another 256 MB module from Samsung. Now my system got quite instable. Anyone have an idea what's wrong with my system? Bad ram-module? Too much ram for Win98SE (I heard somewhere that it does not like too much ram)?
I tried nearly all BIOS settings, nothing worked. BUT when I only use ONE module (no matter if I use the old or the new one) the system runs stable!!!
Somewhere I heard that the Asus A7M266 doesn't like Samsung modules especially not two of them.
I hope someone knows an answer.

Thanks for ur help

 

[Buz2b]

I "only" run 384MB on my A7M but I can tell you that it will run just fine with 512MB (2x256) of Crucial RAM. A friend of mine has his A7M this way. He is also running Win98SE. Win98SE will use up to 512MB of RAM with no problem. Anything over that is where you get into trouble. So, you might want to look at the Samsung modules as being at fault. Whether it is because of the A7M not "liking" the ttwo Samsung modules at once or because they are not stable enough modules, I cannot tell you. I use Crucial and have no experience with Samsung. You might try going to this page and compare the components of your DDR to that of those listed there. Possibly you might find the answer with that. One thing you might try is going into the BIOS and turning down your settings for the RAM timings to see if you can get the Samsung more stable that way. Of course, this could slow your system a bit, but you may not notice it too much.

 

[Flintz]

I have tried everything I can think of. All kinds of timing settings in the bios, voltage increase for the modules...I had no succes

 

[Buz2b]

What voltage does it indicate you're running? Are you using a monitoring program to see this? Did you check your VIO jumpers? Those have been problematic at times with the manual indicating the wrong settings. Verify pin 1 location to confirm your jumper positions.
That's about all I can think of, except of course, get Crucial RAM. You can get one 256 Module for $33.99 with free shipping right now. You might be able to mix one 256 Crucial with one Samsung, but I doubt it. You could always sell your Samsung on eGay. Sorry I could not help further, but you may be fighting a losing battle.

 

[Flintz]

I would get Crucial modules if I could!!! There is no way to get this d*mn memory in Germany. Only way is to order in England, but when you are under 18 (like me, I am 17) it's even harder

 

[Buz2b]

Can you get Micron? I thought I read somewhere that they were able to get that in Germany. It is the same thing. Don't let the age thing stop you. Use the Net to solve the problem.