Can't run more than one stick of Memory - Help

[Waterskier1]

Hello all,
I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this. I can't get any of my boxes to run more than one stick of 256Meg memmory at a time. I've tried this on 4 different motherboards. With only one stick, all is good. But, when I put in more than one, it POSTS fine, but Nortons Diagnostics and other memeory diagnostic software finds bad addresses. With just one stick, the same diagnostic software(s) don't find any problems. I have bought "good" RAM (crucial from Compuwiz) PC133, CAS 2 and just plain old Kindston, or PNY. No difference. Even "matched" sets won't work. Now, I've got 5-6 extra sticks laying around, since I kept buying more thinking it was the RAM, or compatability issues. I thougth maybe my older M/Bs couldn't handle the fast RAM, so ultimately upgraded M/B & CPU so I could take advangage of the RAM. But none will work with more than one stick at a time (All run thru the basic POST fine though). When I switch modules around, and back, the same address errors occur. I don't believe the errors are random. They are always the same error with the same modules in the same sockets, but do change if you change the sockets or modules. I've tried these under Win95, Win95OSR2, Win98SE, and now Win2000 (which, I just found out is NOT supported by Norton Utilities Diagnostics,so had to download another program, the only one I can find that works with 2000, since most require DOS to boot to). If you need the M/B name/model or the marking on the RAM, let me know, and I'll look them up (at work now). I think it is not dependent on M/B or O/S or RAM, since the same fault address occurs on different M/B with the same modules in the same socket configurations. Also, I've tried all possible configurations of RAM speed, CAS, etc, available in BIOS, and none makes any difference, at least with the Boot Memory Diagnostics results. Some Combos do cause problems booting to Windows. Also, I'm sure there really is a problem, because since put only one module in the puters, I have SIGNIFICANTLY reduced the "blue screen of death" occurances. In fact, I can't remember the last one (that I didn't cause ).

 

[WarCon]

I am wondering have you adjusted the I/O voltage ever? More than one stick sometimes requires you to bump the voltage some. Can I ask you a question? Was you using the same powersupply the whole time? If so then maybe you might be looking at a weak or dirty 3.3v line that is unable to meet the needs of two sticks of memory. Just a thought...........

Good luck figuring it out.

 

[Waterskier1]

No. I haven't adjusted IO voltage. Not really sure what that is. All 4 M/B that I tried it on were all in differerent computers, each with it's own power supply. I think it's doubtful that the power supply is bad in all 4 computers. The only thing common in the 4 systems was one of two monitors, keyboards, and mice. And the RAM. I know the EP-7KXA M/B has some voltages with are adjustable via BIOS, for overclocking purposes, but I have everything at default.

 

[WarCon]

Man with no real common denominator, I have no real solution for ya. Only time that I have seen that it didn't matter what computer we placed in this workstation, it had problems. (Not the same as yours though). This was because in the same area as the workstation was the central air and heater system. When the motor would start up or stop, I guess it was spiking the line bad enough to cause errors. A line conditioner solved that one.

Sorry I couldn't help ya.

 

[Waterskier1]

And that only effected memory when more than one stick was installed? Curious, I would have thought spikes would have effected the workstation with just one stick of RAM....but then, what do I know? I can't figure this out! Thanks for you help.

 

[Waterskier1]

Is it possible that there are more than one "kind" of 256 Megabyte, 133 MHz RAM that uses 168 pins and fits in the same sockets, but won't work in combo's on all M/Bs? It seems really odd that a singe stick works fine, but with more than one, in any combo of sockets, no 2 will work together on any of the 4 systems I've tried. Does anyone have any ideas?? I'm not going to buy more RAM until I figure this out. I already bought a new M/B & CPU hoping that was the problem. BTW, I can use 3 sticks of 128 MB RAM without problems, at least on some of the systems - didn't try it on all.
Thanks for any help or tips !!

 

[Leokor]

When you say "a single stick works," did you try EACH of your sticks separately? Maybe you just have bad sticks. I've had Crucial fail on me, Mushkin fail on me. Good brand is not necessarily a guarantee of good memory, it is a guarantee of prompt replacement. That, and it fails not as often, but it still can fail.

Leo

 

[Waterskier1]

I have run Memory Diagnostics on each individual stick, and all check out fine. But, when more than one is put into any of the 4 puters, I start getting memory errors. The POST doesn't detect anything wrong, but memory diagnostics (I've used several different programs) all do. And the errors occur at the same addresses, for the same chips, in the same sockets, on different motherboards. This leads me to believe that this is not a random occurrance, but rather some conflict when more than on stick (module) is in place at the same time. Maybe my logic is flawed, but this is driving me crazy!