[SOLVED] Old RAM troubles

silent17 · 10-06-2009, 01:06 AM

Hello,
First up some specs of an older PC I'm upgrading;

Windows XP Professional SP3
MSI MS-6528 Pro2
Pentium 4 Northwood 1.8Ghz
Ati Radeon 9600 Pro 256MB
80Gb Western Digital IDE HDD

I purchased three brand new, all identical Samsung 512MB PC133 Ram modules. Double sided with 168pins.
The motherboard is an old MSI MS-6528 Pro2 which supports up to 3Gb in its 3 slots.

The problem is
If I use one module. It will work fine.
If I use two modules it will boot into Windows but is extremely unstable.
Using all three modules it's worse and only makes it a short time after POST before throwing a blue screen or freezing. But still POSTS fine.

Each Module checks out fine in Memtest by itself, in any slot. But when another one or two are added Memtest throws up hundreds of errors.

I can't figure out why they are not compatible together?
Please ask if you need any further information.

Kind Regards
Darcy

**manic** · 10-06-2009, 02:55 AM

Might be a compatibility issue. Might be a voltage thing. Some boards
dont like double sided ram..crapshoot on that.

silent17 · 10-06-2009, 05:01 PM

Hi Manic,

Yes I've tried increasing the voltage to no avail. The RAM that came out was originally double sided and completely miss-matched.

Thanks

silent17 · 10-06-2009, 08:00 PM

Wasn't sure how to edit my last post.

But after playing around some more I found that I can get two of the new 512Mb modules to work with each other if I place an older 256Mb module in the middle slot between them. Better than what I had to begin with.

**manic** · 10-07-2009, 01:21 AM

Ram issues can be a hair puller. On todays system its not as bad as the
old days, population rules, compatibility etc. But its still a issue from time
to time. Kind of confusing to...glad youve had some success.

silent17 · 10-07-2009, 03:18 AM

Thanks Manic,

Guess it's down to luck. Thanks for your help tho. Appreciate it.

Kind Regards
Darcy

10-06-2009, 01:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
silent17 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Zealand Posts: 12 OS: XP SP3	[SOLVED] Old RAM troubles Hello, First up some specs of an older PC I'm upgrading; Windows XP Professional SP3 MSI MS-6528 Pro2 Pentium 4 Northwood 1.8Ghz Ati Radeon 9600 Pro 256MB 80Gb Western Digital IDE HDD I purchased three brand new, all identical Samsung 512MB PC133 Ram modules. Double sided with 168pins. The motherboard is an old MSI MS-6528 Pro2 which supports up to 3Gb in its 3 slots. The problem is If I use one module. It will work fine. If I use two modules it will boot into Windows but is extremely unstable. Using all three modules it's worse and only makes it a short time after POST before throwing a blue screen or freezing. But still POSTS fine. Each Module checks out fine in Memtest by itself, in any slot. But when another one or two are added Memtest throws up hundreds of errors. I can't figure out why they are not compatible together? Please ask if you need any further information. Kind Regards Darcy

10-06-2009, 02:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,238 OS: xp	Re: Old RAM troubles Might be a compatibility issue. Might be a voltage thing. Some boards dont like double sided ram..crapshoot on that. __________________

10-06-2009, 05:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
silent17 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Zealand Posts: 12 OS: XP SP3	Re: Old RAM troubles Hi Manic, Yes I've tried increasing the voltage to no avail. The RAM that came out was originally double sided and completely miss-matched. Thanks

10-06-2009, 08:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
silent17 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Zealand Posts: 12 OS: XP SP3	Re: Old RAM troubles Wasn't sure how to edit my last post. But after playing around some more I found that I can get two of the new 512Mb modules to work with each other if I place an older 256Mb module in the middle slot between them. Better than what I had to begin with.

10-07-2009, 01:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,238 OS: xp	Re: Old RAM troubles Ram issues can be a hair puller. On todays system its not as bad as the old days, population rules, compatibility etc. But its still a issue from time to time. Kind of confusing to...glad youve had some success. __________________

10-07-2009, 03:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
silent17 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Zealand Posts: 12 OS: XP SP3	Re: Old RAM troubles Thanks Manic, Guess it's down to luck. Thanks for your help tho. Appreciate it. Kind Regards Darcy