Bad RAM (again) or Motherboard?

[mskalak]

Ok, I am very very pissed off at my computer right now. Long story short (long story here) my computer was having problems and had errors. I tested each stick of RAM, and found a problem in every slot with the one stick of RAM. So, I RMA'd the RAM back to Crucial, and got a new stick. I have the exact same problem as before (my previous thread), and I ask you this, could I have gotten another stick of bad RAM, or is my motherboard the problem here?? I find it hard to believe that the computer can run fine on 1 stick of RAM, and not on 2 sticks of RAM.

Specs

Abit at7 kt333
athlon xp 2100+
2x256 mb pc2700
Abit Siluro Geforce 4 Ti4200 64mb w/tvout and DVI
16x toshiba dvd
40x10x48x memorex cd-rw
WD 80 gb 7200 "se"
2 case fans
enlight 300w power supply

 

[JustinLerner]

Doesn't seem like the problem would be replicated twice, but it's possible.
I don't know if this will help, but try the following.

On your motherboard BIOS, set the DRAM clock to SPD, and DRAM timining to SPD. Check each DIMM individually (in the motherboard) by viewing the BIOS to see if the SPD settings match the manufacturer specs. --- Both DIMMS must be the same type and speed to work properly.

Try the memory with the BIOS Bank Interleave set to OFF.

Try the memory with BIOS MD Drive Strength and Command Drive Strength set to HIGH.

Follow the manuals other BIOS recommendations for memory or other settings.

Finally, if you still have problems, contact Crucial and ABIT. Crucial provides free support.

http://www.crucial.com/helpdesk/memory_guide.asp

 

[mskalak]

thanks, im doing that now, i will update soon

 

[mskalak]

I still get the same problems as before. Except now, as opposed to my old RAM, it doesnt happen nearly as often. I've tried different settings, updated the BIOS, tried different Dimm slots. I'm at a loss. And I really don't know how I can check to see if anything works or not. Capturing video, while running Musicmatch, AIM, and watching a movie all worked fine with no problems. After I'm done, it randomly decides that when I try to open JUST internet explorer, it goes into a blue screen error and restarts my computer. I don't get it. It's really frusterating and I've been working on this thing for way too long. GRR

 

[JustinLerner]

Just IE problems?

Have you installed anti-virus software or do you have any special ISP client or download accelerators?
They may be incompatible with IE and XP

Try resetting your IE cache and moving the location. Set the cache to a reasonable size, like 200MB.
In Internet Properties, check Temporary Internet Files, Settings and View Objects. Make sure each object is correct and not corrupt. Manually update each object (right click, update) if you need to. Maybe some other program overwrote or corrupted an object.

I also read recently that AIM is overriding the standard safety settings and modifying trusted security zones in IE when you install the AOL IM client or ICQ2000 and even Netscape 6.x.
http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/index.html

After you install an OS and update the drivers, inf files and other systems configurations, before you install any other program check to see how IE browses the Internet.

My guess is that another installed program is working to give you problems because of incompatibility with XP. On that note, check all your sound, modem, network and any other peripheral cards to ensure they are compatible with XP and are using the correct drivers for XP.

That's my guess.

 

[mskalak]

No, this isn't just IE issues. Any of my programs just randomly have errors and "end." Sometimes it wont happen for half an hour, then for the next 10 mintues, any program I run will shut down. I've tried updating the BIOS, I have all updated drivers, tried different settings in the BIOS, did a complete reinstall of everything on my computer, but nothing. The problem still is not fixed. My computer will run 100% fine, no problems, no errors, with 1 stick of RAM, but will have the errors with both sticks running. When I first had this problem, I thought I had it narrowed down to a stick of RAM that would cause my computer to not post. I RMA'd this stick back to Crucial, hopeing my problem would be fixed. I recieved the next stick and put it in. My motherboard has 4 DIMM spots, and I have the "good" RAM in #2. I tried the new RAM in #3 and #4, and the computer would not run, and in #4, it wouldnt load into Windows. I then tried #1, which I thought may have been a bad slot, and I had no problems for a few hours, but then the errors started to come again. After messing with the BIOS settings, (at your suggestions) the problem got worse. So then I consulted the mobo manual, and set every setting to "highest stability." The problems lessened, but even as I write this, Musicmatch just had an error and shut down. Not cool.

 

[JustinLerner]

Sounds like real problems and could even be hardware. Could be memory, motherboard or any other circuitry which is faulty. Remove all uneccesary devices like sound, modem and see if the problems continue.

If they do, then it's likely to be the memory, cpu/chipset/motherboard, video, PS or whatever is left. You name it. The easiest way to troubleshoot a board is to try the components in other known good boards. IF the devices don't work with the other good motherboard, there is some issue there.

 

[FluxCapacitor]

A lot of times you have to lower your memory performance settings when you use 2 or more sticks of RAM.

I don't know if you remember, but I posted a reply on your other thread stating that I had the same motherboard and a similar problem with reboots and lockups. (Acutally I said I had Crucial, but I meant to say Corsair... oops) Well, I'm happy to say my new stick of RAM works fine, so I guess it wasn't the AT7 after all.

I would suggest this though: Turn OFF the setting "Enhance DRAM performance" Change "Command Rate" to 2T (if it's set to 1T now). Leave the Drive Strength on "AUTO" You also might want to use settings of 3T, 6T, 3T (Trp, Tras, Trcd) instead of 2T, 5T, 2T (if the SPD settings aren't defaulting to that) and see how it works. Set your DRAM CAS Latency to 2.5 (instead of 2) also. Leave Bank Interleave on "4 Bank", otherwise you'll take a hefty performance hit.

Try using different banks for your 2 DIMMS. The Abit manual recommends filling the DIMM slots starting with 4-3-2-1, 4 being first. Funny thing is if you go to their website it says the opposite... start with 1-2-3-4. THEN, if you look at their memory tests for the AT7, shown here (click on MEMORY MODULES from the list), you can see the recommended slots to fill first is really screwy. I would use slots 1 and 2 and try the stuff I mentioned above. If that doesn't work, try moving the DIMMS to different slots, with the new settings.

By the way, on that same page under POWER SUPPLY, you can see that Abit tested the AT7 with an Enlight 300W power supply and it passed. Of course, they only tested it with 256MB of RAM but they did use Crucial RAM :Q

 

[mskalak]

I will try to do more with my comp later, but I'm leaving for college tomorrow, so my comp is all packed up, so when I get a chance, I'll mess around with the BIOS some more. And if I have any important papers or something to write, I'll just take out a stick of RAM and let it run stable =). Thanks for the suggestions guys. Hopefully I can find someone down at OSU who can help me out too. I really don't want to mess around with an RMA for my mobo, that would suck.

THANKS!!!!!

 

[eeut]

What's your mem voltage? Mostly I ask this question cause, all I have used was crucial mem for almost 2yrs w/c is b/c sometimes it's unstable below 2.7v and sometimes I leave it usually at 2.75v for ddr mem. Past experience from abit kg7-r, av7266e, my present rig. If you have an option of ratio mem to fsb, leave it first at 1:1.

 

[eeut]

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