RAM compatability issue...

jlspeak · 10-21-2006, 05:09 AM

Had a quick search and couldn't find anything similar to the small problem I've had.

Recently went out and bought 2x1GB sticks of PC3200 RAM to upgrade from my 1 stick of 512MB PC2700. Running an Athlon64 3800+ on Gigabyte GA-K8U-939, the board supports 3200 RAM, so the compatability shouldn't be an issue. Seller said they are low density modules, which is what I need.

What happens is, with the new RAM installed, computer runs through the whole bootup just fine, gets to the XP login screen, and once I type the password and hit enter....XP hangs and restarts. Going in through safe mode, it prolonged it a little and I got to the desktop, but same thing happened shortly after. I tried it with each stick individually, different slots etc, same results.

So after a couple weeks of me being lazy and not doing anything about it, today I pulled back out the 512 and put one of the 1024s in...yep, hung again. So I ran Memtest86 on it - 0 errors. So the RAM should be fine after me believing it was the RAM itself that was dead.

So I guess in all that talk, I kind of come around to the point - would a format of XP make any difference? Could it actually still be a mobo compatability issue with the RAM?

(I'll admit, they are cheap Wintec sticks...not high-density price cheap, but cheap for low-density RAM)

Thanks for any help/advice you can provide

Changeling · 10-21-2006, 05:49 AM

Try this, start in safe mode if necessary.

Start/control panel/system

Adavanced (tab)

Startup and recovery settings

In the system failure box uncheck “automatically restart.”

Ok ok.

This will not fix the problem but will give an error code that we can work with.

jlspeak · 10-22-2006, 12:41 AM

Alrighty, ran it through this morning...and typical it took forever to hang this time, I was navigating around fine, but as soon as I went to load up a game, it happened.

Here's what we got on the blue stop screen (didnt copy down all the unnecessary crap):

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

and the tech info:

*** STOP: 0x0000000A (0x00000000, 0x00000002, 0x00000001, 0x804FF320).

When I put the old RAM back in and started up to post this, got all the "system has recovered from a serious error" stuff, which I didn't get before...I guess this is because I was forcing it to not restart itself?

Anyway...is it something like an IRQ conflict that is just happening with this new RAM?

Thanks again.

**twajetmech** · 10-23-2006, 01:24 AM

That error code usually means you have a memory error, however since you ran memtest and all was okay, you may need to either up the memory voltage up in the bios to say 2.65v or 2.7v since the new memory will require a bit more voltage than the previous 512 module. You can also try clearing the cmos....just remember to write down all your current bios settings if you don't know them by heart (clearing the cmos will reset all bios settings to default)

10-21-2006, 05:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
jlspeak Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Perth Posts: 2 OS: XP	RAM compatability issue... Had a quick search and couldn't find anything similar to the small problem I've had. Recently went out and bought 2x1GB sticks of PC3200 RAM to upgrade from my 1 stick of 512MB PC2700. Running an Athlon64 3800+ on Gigabyte GA-K8U-939, the board supports 3200 RAM, so the compatability shouldn't be an issue. Seller said they are low density modules, which is what I need. What happens is, with the new RAM installed, computer runs through the whole bootup just fine, gets to the XP login screen, and once I type the password and hit enter....XP hangs and restarts. Going in through safe mode, it prolonged it a little and I got to the desktop, but same thing happened shortly after. I tried it with each stick individually, different slots etc, same results. So after a couple weeks of me being lazy and not doing anything about it, today I pulled back out the 512 and put one of the 1024s in...yep, hung again. So I ran Memtest86 on it - 0 errors. So the RAM should be fine after me believing it was the RAM itself that was dead. So I guess in all that talk, I kind of come around to the point - would a format of XP make any difference? Could it actually still be a mobo compatability issue with the RAM? (I'll admit, they are cheap Wintec sticks...not high-density price cheap, but cheap for low-density RAM) Thanks for any help/advice you can provide

10-21-2006, 05:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
Changeling Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 423 OS: XP, Waiting for Vista serivce pack 1 before I commit.	Try this, start in safe mode if necessary. Start/control panel/system Adavanced (tab) Startup and recovery settings In the system failure box uncheck “automatically restart.” Ok ok. This will not fix the problem but will give an error code that we can work with. __________________ If it ain't broke don't fix it!

10-22-2006, 12:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
jlspeak Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Perth Posts: 2 OS: XP	Alrighty, ran it through this morning...and typical it took forever to hang this time, I was navigating around fine, but as soon as I went to load up a game, it happened. Here's what we got on the blue stop screen (didnt copy down all the unnecessary crap): IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL and the tech info: *** STOP: 0x0000000A (0x00000000, 0x00000002, 0x00000001, 0x804FF320). When I put the old RAM back in and started up to post this, got all the "system has recovered from a serious error" stuff, which I didn't get before...I guess this is because I was forcing it to not restart itself? Anyway...is it something like an IRQ conflict that is just happening with this new RAM? Thanks again. Last edited by jlspeak : 10-22-2006 at 12:43 AM.

10-23-2006, 01:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
twajetmech Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: LGA, NYC Posts: 2,364 OS: XP-Pro Sp2 & XP-Pro Sp2 Tablet Edition, Vista Ultimate My System	That error code usually means you have a memory error, however since you ran memtest and all was okay, you may need to either up the memory voltage up in the bios to say 2.65v or 2.7v since the new memory will require a bit more voltage than the previous 512 module. You can also try clearing the cmos....just remember to write down all your current bios settings if you don't know them by heart (clearing the cmos will reset all bios settings to default) __________________ PSU Selection/Info // Bench test // Thermal Paste // Memory Selection // Bios Beep Codes // CPU-Z// Posting System Specs