phil818

I have an HP N5425 laptop.

XP OS
Clock speed 495 MHz
mobile AMD Athon 4 Processor 900 Mhz
Maximum RAM is 512 MB

It comes with the PC100 256 MB RAM. Recently, I purchased the PC133 128 MB, additional RAM, for the laptop. Installation was OK. Theoretically, it is backward compatible with the PC100. Yet, when I watch You-Tube video or do mass processing, the system crashes, I get the black screen. Everything is dead.

I tried to swap the RAM locations. It did not work. I tried running memtest86 to test the RAM, and it crashes. Somehow, it only crashes when I am doing too much work.

A tool I used, Advanced WindowCare shows that both RAMs are running at 10 Mhz.

Any suggestions on how to stop the system crashes?

Thanks.

speedster123

welcome
IMPORTANT! Before You Buy Memory
scroll down to the crucial link to see what is advised.
even though the pc133 is supposed to be backwards compatible, certain older motherboards dont accept that concept. they require straight pc100.

download http://www.lavalys.com/ and see what the ram info reveals and post back.

do you have sp2 installed? and the latest bios?

phil818

I downloaded Everest. My RAM information is below:

Computer Summary:
DMMI1: SpecTek 128 MB PC133 SDRAM (3.0-3-3-6@133MHz) (2.0-2-2-5 @100 MHz)

Computer DMI Memory Modules JP28:
Socket Designation JP28
Type DIMM, SDRAM
Speed 60 ns
Installed Size 256 MB
Enabled Size 256 MB

Computer DMI Memory Modules JP27:
Socket Designation JP27
Type DIMM, SDRAM
Speed 60 ns
Installed Size 128 MB
Enabled Size 128 MB

Motherboard SPD:
DIMM1: SpecTek (128 MB PC133 SDRAM)
Module Name = SpecTek
Module Size 128 MB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type unbuffered
Memory Type SDRAM
Memory Speed PC133 (133 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage LVTTL
Error Detection Method none
Refresh Rate Normal (15.625us), Self-refresh
Memory Timing @133 MHz 3.0-3-3-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
Memory timing @100 MHz 2.0-2-2-5 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
Memory Module Manufacturer is Micron Technology, Inc

Motherboard Chipset Memory Slots:
DRAM Slot#1 256 MB (PC133 SDRAM)
DRAM Slot#2 128 MB (PC133 SDRAM)

I see some errors. For example, Motherboard Chipset Memory Slots show that the 256 MB is PC133. It is the original PC100.

I have SP2 and the latest BIOS.

Thanks

speedster123

Memory Timing @133 MHz 3.0-3-3-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
Memory timing @100 MHz 2.0-2-2-5 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

take the memory off of auto or spd in the bios and adjust both 3-3-3-6

if possible

also download http://www.memtest.org/ and check the sticks

phil818

I pressed F2 to enter the HP N5425 Phoenix BIOS Setup Utility. There is no way of setting the memory off of auto or spd or adjusting both RAMs to 3-3-3-6. BTW, shouldn’t I set it to 2.0-2-2-5, because the PC133 should be backward compatible, so both RAMs should run as PC100.

I know that I cannot run memtest86 as you suggested, because I tried earlier and my computer crashes around the 4th or 5th test.

Thanks

speedster123

http://www.edgetechcorp.com/memory/u....asp?cid=25399

you better use straight pc100 in the laptop

phil818

Thanks for your help. I think that it will solve my problem. Actually, I am a little surprised because many websites suggested using the PC133, which is cheaper and backward compatible with the PC100 for my laptop.

Thanks