Wrong RAM or bad RAM?

[Dougmeister]

Motherboard (Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H)
Existing RAM (PNY XLR8 2GB (2x1GB) Dual Channel Kit DDR2 1066 MHz PC2-8500)
RAM I added (DDR2 2GB PC2-6400, 800MHz, non-ECC, 240-Pin, Unbuffered CL5 SINGLE Module, CORSAIR VS2GB800D2 G)

System worked fine for a few days then crapped out with an unknown hardware error. Has to be the RAM I guess. Did I goof or is it bad? I think I goofed.

Thanks.

Go easy on me. The more I read what I just typed, the more I realize I bought the wrong stuff... :-(...

 

[Blain]

Not really a good mix & match combo.
Is your BIOS memory set at 2.2v, 1.8v or something else?

 

[fffblackmage]

You could simply test the ram with memtest 86+ to see if there's problems.

If you're manually setting the ram to DDR2-1066 speeds in BIOS, then just run all memory sticks at DDR2-800 instead.

 

[Dougmeister]

Not really a good mix & match combo.
Is your BIOS memory set at 2.2v, 1.8v or something else?

Not sure. I know I chose "Reset to factory defaults" in the BIOS at one point, though.

You could simply test the ram with memtest 86+ to see if there's problems.

If you're manually setting the ram to DDR2-1066 speeds in BIOS, then just run all memory sticks at DDR2-800 instead.

Thanks. Will try it when I get home.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Mixing RAM is often bad JuJu.

Sometimes you can get away with it as long as the RAM has the same specs, as some mfgs use the same chip makers to make their modules. Other times, especially with different specs, it can be a compatibility nightmare.

 

[Dougmeister]

So how to know what RAM to get to upgrade?

 

[Blain]

So how to know what RAM to get to upgrade?

Ask me.

Allowing your BIOS to auto select could be causing you problems, since your memory is rated at different voltages.