Memory upgrade problem

**Ccarro63** · 04-02-2005, 12:46 AM

Hey everyone,
I got a wierd problem. I upgraded my computer's memory from 512mb to 1gig. I had two sticks of 256mb DDR-SDRAM PC 3200/400mhz (non-parity unbuffered) and replaced them with two sticks of 512mb DDR 3200/2700 PC400/333.

Now the computer boots fine and the memory shows up in all the system info as it should but I am having problems running some games and misc computer programs. So, I ran microsofts memory diagnostic tool and the memory failed ALL tests.

I checked the computers bios to make sure it didn't need me to make changes manually but it had the proper info.

Is the memory bad or am I doing something totally screwed up?

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks,

--CC

**James** · 04-02-2005, 01:10 AM

Give the LISTING
Motherboard
CPU
OSYSTEM and any other fact"s

**Ccarro63** · 04-02-2005, 01:16 AM

System Info:

Dell Dimension 3000 series
Intel P4 w/ 3GHz/800 FSB
Windows XP w/ sp 2
80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200rpm HD
2gig memory capacity w/ 2 dimm modules
originally had two 256mb dual channel DDR-SDRAM @ 400mhz
replaced w/ K-Byte memory

Just purchased the new memory today. Windows seems to run fine but other programs crash.

--CC

**James** · 04-02-2005, 01:23 AM

Motherboard ?

**Ccarro63** · 04-02-2005, 02:07 AM

Hmm...

I can't find anything that says something besides Dell Dimension 3000 for the MB type. Even in bios it says Dimension 3000 for MB type w/ Bios version A01.

Any place else I could look to see what brand they used for this machine?

Thanks,

--CC

**Ccarro63** · 04-02-2005, 02:37 AM

The motherboard seems like it is manufactured by Intel for Dell.

As far as the memory issue goes, I took the 512mb sticks out and put the 256mb stick back in and performed microsofts memory test again and everything passed. So, the problem lies w/ the 512mb sticks somehow. I have noticed that the 512mb sticks don't say non-parity or unbuffered anywhere on the packages, although they still may be. Could this be a problem?

--CC

**Ccarro63** · 04-02-2005, 04:03 AM

I may have just figured this out...

The old memory was dual-channel and unbuffered, the new memory does not say dual-channel OR unbuffered anywhere.
Maybe it is registered???

Does that sound like it could be the problem?

--CC

**Furton** · 04-02-2005, 05:51 AM

You could have bought ECC memory, but I don't think your PC would boot if it had that sort of memory.

Try one stick at a time and run memtest(http://www.memtest86.com/) to see if you have a bad stick.

**Jizzy** · 04-02-2005, 06:05 AM

I second the memtest.

**floppybootstomp** · 04-02-2005, 07:51 AM

replaced them with two sticks of 512mb DDR 3200/2700 PC400/333.

What exactly is the memory you have there?

Type and make? Are they both the same?

Them being dual channel or not should make no difference.

And I'll agree with the memtest, one stick at a time.

**Ccarro63** · 04-02-2005, 08:49 AM

Here is what the package says for the new memory:
(they are both the same)

KByte
512MB DDR 3200/2700
PC400/333
184 Pin DIMM

Thats it, nothing more except marketing crap.

If it had ECC or was registered (for server type computers) I think it would say on the package.

--CC

**floppybootstomp** · 04-02-2005, 09:31 AM

Best try that memtest then

No idea of the manufacturer?

**TJM4FUN** · 04-02-2005, 10:29 AM

It could be a compatibility problem. Most memory now states if it is i bufferred or ecc.
It has been known to happen that certain sticks just don;t work with some motherboards. If memtest fails, then look to retunr the memory as either defective or incompatible.
I know there are certain dimm types that won;t work on certain motherboards due to the chiparchetecture of the dimm.

**Ccarro63** · 04-02-2005, 12:17 PM

I found the problem.

The memory I had wasn't dual-channel (doesn't say on package if it is or isn't so that was kinda confusing). I took it back as being incompatible and bought some Kingston dual-channel DDR 400 PC3200. Works great and speeds the system up a lot.

Thanks for the help everyone!

--CC

**Furton** · 04-03-2005, 08:41 AM

Glad it works, but dual channel memory simply means two sticks tested together before being packaged. It's basacilly marketing so they can charge higher prices for the privelage of pre-tested memory.

**floppybootstomp** · 04-03-2005, 09:47 AM

Originally posted by Furton
Glad it works, but dual channel memory simply means two sticks tested together before being packaged. It's basacilly marketing so they can charge higher prices for the privelage of pre-tested memory.

Absolutely. I had to post this to justify my earlier comment about dual memory

It's similar to using a matched pair of transistors for an audio amplifier output stage. In theory they will work better but in reality it seems to make not a jot of difference.

**Ccarro63** · 04-03-2005, 09:58 AM

Originally posted by Furton
Glad it works, but dual channel memory simply means two sticks tested together before being packaged. It's basacilly marketing so they can charge higher prices for the privelage of pre-tested memory.

That's what I thought. But after talking with a few others they said that some motherboards required dual-channel memory. I had never heard of this and that is why I bought the other memory to begin with. I didn't think it made any difference as well.

I bet one of those sticks was bad (or both)
Oh well, It works good now!

Thanks for all the info!

--CC

**Alakazam** · 04-03-2005, 11:54 AM

Just some info for future reference Ccarro63, if you find yourself in a similar situation with ram and not sure what you've got, download a little program called cpu-z, you can get it Here. The latest version is 1.28 and it's located a bit down the page and totally free. Once you have it up, just click on the 'spd' tab and it will give you some info about the ram.

**Ccarro63** · 04-03-2005, 02:27 PM

Downloading now!

Looks like a great program, Thanks

--CC

**Zema Bus** · 04-03-2005, 05:38 PM

Originally posted by floppybootstomp

Type and make? Are they both the same?

Them being dual channel or not should make no difference.

Actually, that's not always true. I recently discovered that the hard way. I had two separately purchased PC3200 sticks that seemed to be the same, and the system ran great at stock speeds dual channel. But it became very unstable with even minor OCing. I ran CPU-z and found that the tlmings were just slightly off between the two sticks. When running them single channel all was well OCing. I haven't gotten around to matching the timings to see if I could run them dual channel. I guess it just depends on the board as to whether it makes a difference.

EDIT: just reread Flopps post & see I misinterpreted what he was saying. Sorry Flopps

**Ccarro63** · 04-03-2005, 08:18 PM

Originally posted by Zema Bus
Actually, that's not always true. I recently discovered that the hard way. I had two separately purchased PC3200 sticks that seemed to be the same, and the system ran great at stock speeds dual channel. But it became very unstable with even minor OCing.

This sounds similar to the problem I had. The system ran fine with the memory installed, however, was very unstable and certain programs would crash a different times. The memory would show as 1024mb in the system info but things were just to unstable.

I had never heard of memory that wasn't dual-channel causing a problem, but after someone told me that was what was causing my problem I immediately exchanged it. Even if that wasn't the actual problem I probably would have returned it anyway due to one of the sticks not working right. Oh well, it's fixed now!

--CC