Win98se and 512 DDR ram

[FrozenYak]

Well heres my problem, Im running win 98 se with 256 m of ddr ram right now. I just bought another stick today, but when i try adding it in my computer wont really start up. Sure, the case turns on, but my monitor wont respond. As soon as i use just one of the sticks of ram it runs fine though. Whats up?

 

[Slikkster]

What motherboard is it? And you titled this "Win98se and 512 DDR ram", but it appears your problems occur long before Win98 ever gets a chance to boot.

 

[John]

This is a hardware issue, not a Win98 one.

[*]Try the memory in different slots
[*]Try to set the memory timings to SPD in the bios

 

[FrozenYak]

I titled it win 98 se because i remember hearing how win 98 only supports 512 ram, and i was wondering if i had misunderstood that...i just forgot to mention it later

its an asus a7v8x-x mobo

I already switched around the memory slots a fair bit, so thats likely not the problem.

Im not sure what you want me to change, but it wont even let me select the "256m" part in my bios much less alter it.

 

[Slikkster]

Exactly what kind of memory did you buy (speed, ECC?, etc.)

 

[Unforgiven]

yeah this issue is all about the ram. try one stick at a time and see if they work individually. sometimes motherboards dont like a certain brand of ram and that could be the issue.

here is the issue you are thinking of with over 512 megs of ram on win 98: linkage

 

[John]

Originally posted by: FrozenYak
I titled it win 98 se because i remember hearing how win 98 only supports 512 ram, and i was wondering if i had misunderstood that...

IIRC Windows 98 will address up to 4GB of memory. If you use over 512MB you need to edit the the system.ini to add a VCACHE entry.

"Out of Memory" Error Messages with Large Amounts of RAM Installed

Optimizing the Vcache

 

[johnjkr1]

Did you try flashing the bios? Also, on many intel boards you must pull the power cable from the back of the system before adding new memory.

 

[FrozenYak]

well i tried pulling the power cable before puttin in the ram, no dice

Ive also tried each ram individually, and in different slots, so i know both work and the slots work

Im not sure what you mean by flash the bios, but I do have some EZ-Flash utility that shows up when i start my comp, but when i go into it it just refers to changing the bios (Award Bios)

The new stick is "Kingston ValueRam PC2100 Registered DDR SDRAM 256Mb" while I cant remember what the other stick is aside from Kingston Valueram 256m ddr. However the new stick of ram is larger than the other....so i didnt i found the exact same type when i was lookin on ebay. If one piece was 2100 and another piece a different speed would it affect it like that?

 

[Slikkster]

I'm pretty sure we've found your problem. Most SDRAM is not "registered". The most common is known as "unbuffered". I'm pretty sure your original DDR Chip is of the "unbuffered" type, and your new one is of the "registered" type. Problem is, you can't mix them together. Here's a blurb from Corsair Memory's site about this:

"Registered versus Unbuffered

Most systems that use SDRAM modules use standard Unbuffered SDRAM DIMMs. However, on some newer systems, the memory modules can be either Unbuffered or Registered SDRAM modules, and you CANNOT mix the two types of memory in the same system.

Registered memory modules are similar to Buffered memory modules. They have extra chips mounted onto the module which control the way the module memory bank is accessed. With unbuffered memory modules, the entire memory is accessed at the same time."

So, return that stick of registered DDR to Kingston and get an "unbuffered" non-ecc type.

Do this: pull out the new, Registered DDR module. Put in the original.

Download Aida32.exe. It's a free system information tool that gives you all kinds of great details about your system, including the memory. Install the program, of course. Run it, and click on the Memory icon and see what it says about your original RAM's specifications. It will even give you the serial number of the RAM. Post the results back here and we can help you, or go back to Kingston and try to find the same model number.

Here's Aida32.exe:


Aida32 Freeware System Information tool

 

[FrozenYak]

ok thanks, seeing as i bought it on ebay though, which ram would i be better off keeping?

 

[Luhny]

your motherboard might not even accept the registered ram

 

[Slikkster]

I'd put the Registered back on Ebay. Go to the AnandTech Hot Deals forum and you'll see that Kingston has a "sticky" post near the top for $29.99 after rebate with free shipping for 256mb of 2100 DDR ram. Try and find the original type you had (use Aida32). Take your losses on Ebay with the other Ram stick.

Kingston DDR Ram for 29.99 after rebate with free shipping

 

[FrozenYak]

It is

Kingston KVR266X64C25/256 DDR SDRAM

Serial - 04D5600h

pc 2100, unbuffered (so i found out

anyway, after checking the kingston site that aida pointed me too, I found the ram as

256MB 266MHz DDR PC2100 DIMM CL2.5

but none of that same type is listed on that sale, will any of that work with what i have though?

btw thanks for the help so far, its saved me a lot of time

 

[FrozenYak]

o ya i forgot, i live in canada, does kingston ship there (or does the sale apply there)? i thought i remembered hearing something about them being in alberta, but i cant remember if thats right

 

[johnjkr1]

Flash the bios, then try it again.

 

[Slikkster]

This is right out of this motherboard's manual:

1.9 System Memory

The motherboard has three Double Data Rate (DDR) DIMM sockets that supports up to 3GB unbuffered non-ECC PC3200/2700/2100/1600 DDR DIMMs.

PC3200 maximum to 2 banks only and PC2700 maximum to 4 banks only.

I didn't see anything in the bios revision notes pertaining to RAM, but it couldn't hurt to flash.

Yak, it doesn't look like the Kingston offer is good in Canada. The official notes say for USA only. They have their resellers in Canada, but don't sell direct. Computerland.ca is one reseller, but they don't have this deal there.

You don't need to get Kingston brand ram. Just about any PC2100 unbuffered non-ecc ddr ram will do. If 512mb sticks are cheaper than the 256, I'd do that and just go with one stick of 512 vs. 768, because of potential Win98 issues. The bottom line is that yes, you can certainly get Win98 to run with over 512mb of ram, but will it actually do any good?

Now, to totally muddy the waters, what CPU do you have in this board? Because some CPU's run at a 333mhz Front Side Bus, but won't do so if you have slower ram in the board.

 

[trevinom]

When he posted the type of ram it read:

256MB 266MHz DDR PC2100 DIMM CL2.5


Wha is the CL2.5, is that Cas latency?
How does that compare to CL2?
Which is better..worse, how does it affect your system and are they mixable if you have 2 sticks, say 128M and one is 2.5 and the other is 2

Thanks,
Martin

 

[FrozenYak]

i have an XP 1900+ cpu

 

[Slikkster]

Ok, you're A-OK with PC2100 DDR ram with that CPU, and not losing anything due to it.

 

[FrozenYak]

ok ty for the help

 

[Zepper]

If you use registered memory, all sticks must be registered that's why they don't work together. I'm surprised the one registered stick works at all. Registered is a bit slower, so keep the unbuffered and get another. If it wasn't listed as registered on ebay, then you have cause for a refund - registered normally works only on server mobos.
. If OTOH, the listing did specify registered and you bought anyway not aware of what registered meant, then PEBKAC... and you get to eat it.
.bh.