Using 3 memory sticks...

[Winjer23]

I have a MSI K8n Neo for the Athlon 3200+ processor (think socket 939). Right now I use 2 sticks of 512MB 400 mhz DDR SDRAM. They work great. However, when I try to add a 3rd 512 stick, my system (running XP Pro w/SP2) intially is fine. On the 1st boot, it will tell me it successfully modified a registry setting and then load windows. On the 2nd boot I will get the "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM file is corrupt or missing - please go to the recovery console and press 'r' to fix" (or whatever) message and my pc cannot boot past this message.

I've found the only way to fix this is to format the HDD and reinstall windows. That seems a little harsh for putting in a 3rd stick of RAM. Am I breaking some hardware rule? Is the 3rd slot not meant to be filled. And, if I run into this problem again, does anyone know a better solution? I tried recovery installs and replacing system with the C:/windows/repair/system, but all to no avail.

thanks

 

[KB]

Using the 3rd memory stick shouldn't be a problem, unless that stick is DOA or not 400MHZ like the others. Try running memtest with just that stick installed to verify if it is bad.

 

[amish]

also what brand of ram is it? are there 3 different brands?
IIRC that board didn't have too many problems with recognizing some brands. and as KB said the third stick may be defaulting to 2700 ram instead of 3200.

 

[Winjer23]

It's all Corsair... and I am pretty sure the 3rd has the same specs as the first two.

I guess it's okay to use the 3rd stick, eh...

Well, I'm just afraid if I try the stick again my PC will be trashed.

Any ideas why putting it in would cause such a catastrophic failure in my machine?

 

[Malak]

Just a wild guess, shoot me down if I'm wrong. I really don't know much about mobos. But my friend's mobo wouldn't work with 3 sticks of registered DDR ram, only if it was 2 or 4, and the same amount. It's all greek to me though.

 

[imported_MetalMarine]

im having same problem geting more than 2 sticks to work. only the green slots work.

i have 4 x 512 ocz pc3700eb


all the sticks will boot in the green slots. as soon as they hit the purple slots its a no go. no post. error beep every 4 seconds. d-led says memory problem. but the still will work in the green slots.

maybe the pruple ones are burned out for me.

 

[amish]

Originally posted by: MetalMarine
im having same problem geting more than 2 sticks to work. only the green slots work.

i have 4 x 512 ocz pc3700eb


all the sticks will boot in the green slots. as soon as they hit the purple slots its a no go. no post. error beep every 4 seconds. d-led says memory problem. but the still will work in the green slots.

maybe the pruple ones are burned out for me.

same mobo? you guys might try the MSI forums to see if there is something there about this problem. sorry that i can't help.

 

[Winjer23]

Different mobo... mine only has 3 slots. Mine posts, but then corrupts the system files requiring re-format and re-install of XP.

Sadly, I'm not sure what to tell MetalMarine... could be bad slots... could be something like my problem where you aren't supposed to use all slots except under certain specific conditions?

 

[imported_MetalMarine]

i messed with mine a little more. still cant get more than two sticks to work. i have one in the green and one in the purple to use the dual channel. but i still cant get more than two sticks to work.

3oo bucks in ram i cant even use

 

[imported_MetalMarine]

ok i got it working!!!


MSI just called me back. said sometimes when u put in more that 2 sticks you will need to adjust the voltage. i set it at 2.8 and poof., its boots up with all four sticks in.

i am happy now. woooooo

boot up screen says its in dual channel mode