Problems with new RAM

[Brambory]

I put two new sticks of 512 Crucial 2100 DDR SDRAM CL 2.5 on my MSI KT266 Pro2 running XP Home and Athlon XP 2100+. The two new sticks are in addition to the 512 Samsung (CL 2.5) that was already there. It seemed to run okay for awhile, then I got a blue screen that I have never seen before, with all kinds of dire warnings about serious consequences if I did not figure out what the problem was. Of course there were no hints about what the problem might be, but, being the sharp guy that I used to think I was, I rewound to the last change I made. So I took out one stick and, again, it ran okay, until I got the blue screen again. I couldn't do anything to make the message stop recylcling without eventually unplugging the machine. So I took out the other stick, and have not seen the blue screen in the last two weeks since. I'd like to use this RAM, but I'm spooked now. Does anybody have an idea about what the problem is, and the remedy? Thanks

 

[alzan]

Are the 2 new sticks the same timing as the original (CAS, RAS, etc?) It might be that they don't exactly match. I could be wrong, but I think RAM has to be all the same timings for the system to work correctly.

You might try putting in just the 2 Crucial sticks, boot and go into BIOS and go to RAM settings (probably in "Advanced" or "Chipset Features) and let the BIOS Auto-Detect RAM timings. If your system works correctly after making those changes, the Crucial RAM isn't compatible with the Samsung.

alzan

 

[Brambory]

The Crucial is the same timing as the Samsung. I already have the BIOS set to auto-detect RAM timings. I didn't think of taking out the Samsung and running only the Crucial. I'll try that tonite. Thanks.

If that doesn't work maybe it's an excuse to upgrade. This time I'm thinking of being less of a hot rodder and going down main street, for stability, with P4 on an Intel board......

 

[mechBgon]

First of all, try bumping the memory voltage by 0.1 volt if it is down at 2.5 volts or 2.6 volts. Secondly, look the board over closely for capacitors that are leaking electrolytic fluid, it was a problem with several brands from that era due to some bad capacitors on the Asian market. Your power supply might also be marginal... DIMMs can draw up to 15W each in an extreme situation, although I'm thinking typical draw is much lower than that.

If you want stability, you don't necessarily need to switch to Intel, but you might want to switch from MSI! Asus A7N8X Deluxe is one possibility if you're looking for a new board. I can vouch for it being quite stable, since mine does some pretty heavy lifting at work. It's quality stuff from top to bottom, it lives in the shelter of an APC BackUPS Pro 1000VA uninterruptible power supply, and it's absolutely bombproof: specs

 

[Brambory]

Thanks. I don't know how to change the memory voltage. Is is easy to do without frying it? My psu is a Zalman 300w. I just spent some time on the MSI mainboard and memory forums and read some pretty frustrated posts by people trying to run Crucial RAM, or for that matter any amount of RAM over 512, on K7T boards with no luck. It sorta takes the wind out of my sails for working real hard on trying to make it work in my system. BTW I've got the same UPS. Maybe the next time that lightning strikes the phone dealie outside the house, my mainboard won't catch on fire when I boot up the next morning. Thanks for the tip about ASUS. I'll cruise the Anand forums for more opinions about stable boards. Is there a bias aganist Intel aroung these forums, like maybe because they are the Big Boys?

 

[mechBgon]

There is probably more anti-Intel bias than anti-AMD bias around here, yes. It has a lot to do with AMD providing a lot of value for the money, as well as the anti-establishment theme you're touching on I am on the AMD side of the fence but I've had my share of Intel stuff too, including three dual-processor systems. The work fleet that I maintain is now about 40% AMD and gaining, and the AMDs seem very satisfactory on value, stability and performance. Specs on the PCs are here if you were curious. I'll admit that I hated my KT333-based motherboard, but the nForce, nForce2 and SiS735 boards I've had did well. This week I'll be moving up to Athlon 64

Now about changing the memory voltage... lessee here, what number does MSI call that board... 6380. Go into the BIOS and look at the main BIOS menu, and there's Frequency & Voltage Control. Go in there and check the DDR Voltage (V) setting.