Issue with Ram Compatability

[DavidDufton]

Hi all,

 

I've been making a few improvements to my parent's home PC that I built a few years back now and am currently having an issue with some new RAM.

 

I'm using a Kobian kvt600xl mainboard which can handle 3200/2700/2300 DDR.

 

Before upgrading I had my original 512Mb 3200 and a 256Mb 2700 installed.

 

I bought a 1Gb 3200 to replace the 256Mb. Doing so creates an endless reboot cycle. I have then tried the 1Gb by itself, which works and am currently using the 1Gb with the 256Mb and that is working too.

 

Any ideas how I can get the 1Gb and 512MB 3200s working together, help would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks

David

[snow]

Hi David, welcome to FPCH

 

Place the 1Gb stick in the first slot closest to the CPU, and the 512 beside it. Try to start the computer.

 

Do you get past the POST screen at all? Does windows start to load?

 

Enter the BIOS if you can and check to see how much RAM it is seeing.

 

Are there any beeping sounds from the motherboard?

[DavidDufton]

Ok snow,

 

First try, got as far as loading Xp then restarted, same on next run through. Third time gets to windows, where I managed to login.

When logged in I had the classic start menu displayed (normally have xp one) and in settings Xp menu was still selected. Before I could check anything else it rebooted again, getting through to Windows loading before another reboot.

 

In bios I can find no mention of the ram (tried every option, maybe I'm missing it in an obvious spot).

No bios beeps on start up or at any other point.

 

Other info that might be helpful:

400 psu

pny geforce 6200 agp graphics card (newly installed and can run quite hot).

 

Any other info needed I'll find it out, any more ideas?

 

Thanks

David

[snow]

Since the computer gets past POST with the RAM in, I don't think this is a compatability issue.

 

It's starting to sound like either a power issue or maybe a dodgey RAM stick.

 

I think running a memory test with both the 1Gb and 512 sticks in should be the next step. Download memtest from here:

ISO image for creating bootable CD (Windows - zip)

 

Extract the zip file, and burn the .iso to a CD. Insert it into the computer, and then re-start. If it doesn't ask you to boot from CD, then enter the BIOS and change the boot order so that the CD drive is above the hard drive.

[DavidDufton]

Running Memtest, got 30min with no errors. Now on test 5 and all of sudden I've got a continuous stream of errors, over 230000 now and still counting. Should I leave it to run for a lot longer or abort it?

 

Thanks

David

[Tony D]

If you're getting errors, no reason to continue. Remove a RAM stick and run the test again. Try to determine which module is bad.

[DavidDufton]

Ran both modules independently, both for over an hour each and no errors on either one.

 

Any ideas as to the next course of action would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

[Dalo Harkin]

You have to be aware that if you have mixed speeds of RAM in the slots that the whole capacity of both sticks run at the slowest speed.

 

1GB of 3200 is better than 1.25GB of 2700