P4B533 with more tha 512 RAM

[ray1inJT]

Greetings!
I have an ASUS P4B533; BIOS version 1007; P-4 2 GHZ, and have two 256 Kingston DDR PC2100's.
All was fine. When I tried adding a 3rd piece of the exact RAM, the system wouldn't send a video signal.
It didn't seem to be starting the boot sequence, either. I tried combinations of any 2 pieces of the RAM; even tried mixing in a 4th, and the system started every time, with only one or two pieces in. I tried using the #3 DIMM slot, and again, with one or 2 pieces, the system started fine; but not with all 3 filled.
TECH support first said that it was a known DDR problem; that I needed single sided memory to use all 3 slots. Then they said that it was a known OS problem; that I can't use more than 512 with Windows ME, but that with 2000 or XP, I'd be fine. [If THAT were the case, the system would at least boot!!]
Anyway, I'm aware that certain video cards won't work with more than 512 MBSof RAM without making modifications to the system.ini, VCACHE file. At least with that problem, the system would start with 16 colors. Here, I get nothing.
For what it's worth, I have an ATI Radeon 7500. I can't find anything from ASUS or from ATI.
HELP!
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
Ray

 

[CraigRT]

3 sticks with 3 slots total is always known to not be 100% reliable... i have some really reliable systems at home, but they barely even run with all 3 slots filled up with RAM.. i dont know why, all i know is, if i want to get more RAM, i'll have to buy some higher density RAM and swap out the smaller sticks.

 

[ray1inJT]

Thanks for the input.
I've heard of that probelm, too, but thought it to have been adjusted by most manufacturers. Sigh.
Until I hear from someone running with more than 512, I'm a bit hesitant to invest in a costly 512 MB piece of RAM that still may not work in conjunction with a 256. Thanks again!

 

[Kingofcomputer]

are they all double side?

double side dimm = 2 banks, single side dimm = 1 banks.
845 chipset supports 4 banks only, so the 3rd slot is useless if the first 2 slots have double side dimm occupied already.

 

[ray1inJT]

Thanks.
So if I do invest in a double sided 512 MB, I'll be able to use one, and ONLY one, 256 MB with it, with no additional complications?

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: ray1inJT
Thanks.
So if I do invest in a double sided 512 MB, I'll be able to use one, and ONLY one, 256 MB with it, with no additional complications?

Yes, exactly.

Or you can do like I do and run 2 sticks of 512MB RAM. This works fine on Win2000 and WinXP, don't know about 98/Me.