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pc stalls after ram upgrade...

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9 replies

by guydaniel

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I am trying to upgrade to 1gb of memory using
2 kingston 512mb 133mhz NON-ecc cl3 168pin dimms

apparently these work on my motherboard: 'http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator_new/models.asp?System=&Distributor=0&OriginalSysPN=&Manufacturer=&KTCPartNo=KVR133X64C3%2F512&root=&LinkBack=&submit1=Click+Here'...

this is found on the MSI website :
Main Memory
? Supports four memory banks using two 168-pin unbuffered DIMM.
? Supports a maximum memory size of 1GB (256MB DRAM technology). {<--this part is my only cause for concern}
? Supports 3.3v SDRAM DIMM.
? NO support ECC Function.

HOWEVER!..on the test reports 'http://global.msi.com.tw/uploads/test_report/TR10_283.htm' .....my mainboard does work with 512 dimms!

I have upgraded my BIOS, Chipsets, graphics card..as recommended

I have also read this thread 'https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=101&threadID=242655&messageID=2348982'

and have considered the possibility that my board is just too old for the ram as suggested in the above thread ..But I am trying every possible option before returning the ram..

here is my system;
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name EXPERI-HA3J2T64
System Manufacturer MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
System Model MS-6378
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 4 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1132 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Award Software International, Inc. 6.00 PG, 02/05/2001
SMBIOS Version 2.2
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United Kingdom
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"
User Name EXPERI-HA3J2T64\experi
Time Zone GMT Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 256.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 59.45 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 606.34 MB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

any suggestions?....

anything would be much appreciated.

9 replies

by thevirtualone

if the manufacturer of the mobo says that you can't do it...

why are you trying to make it work?

by guydaniel

The manufacturer of the mobo has not said it can't be done, according to the MSI site (who make my mobo) 512 dimms have been tested and work..it is most annoying

by mayhem1969

I can't see or find any reason why this memory won't work in your computer. That being said, did you upgrade both sticks at the same time? Or did you add a 512mb to an existing 512mb stick? Believe it or not I have had experience in the past where XP acts crazy by placing both sticks in at the same time during an upgrade.

I had to put one stick in boot up let it register and then shut down, put the other stick in, and boot up before it worked properly. Everything else is updated and looks good. The chipset supports the 100/133 SDRAM as does your MB, so I don't think the that is your problem.

by guydaniel

Dear Mayhem

Have followed your suggestions.

Here are the tests, after each insertion of the memory module I restart the pc 3 times to ensure that the memory has been accepted.

test 1 Dimm 1:512mb
Dimm 2:Empty
Result=pc hangs

test 2 Dimm 1:512mb
Dimm 2:128mb
Result=pc hangs

test 3 Dimm 1:empty
Dimm 2:512mb
Result=pc hangs

test 4 Dimm 1:128mb
Dimm 2:512mb
Result=Stable at present

test 5 Dimm 1:512mb
Dimm 2:512mb
Result=pc hangs

So on conclusion it appear that Dimm 1 will not accept the 512mb memory module or accept being empty.

I don't really know the reason for this.

I have been onto 'kingston' the memory manufacturers and they have suggested a replacement, but how will I know if 256mb won't make the pc hang...its most annoying to not know the cause....

All suggestions greatfully recieved

by mayhem1969

Good job narrowing it down. That must have been some frustrating and tedious work, so I congratulate you.

I know with intel mbs memory works from inside out, so you can't run it with memory in the second slot without being in the first one too. I don't think MSI would be any different.

Your result is strange. I don't see any reason why the 512 stick should work in the second slot, not in the first, and not with another 512 stick. The only conclusion is bad memory stick or bad dimm slot.

Pay no attention to the 256mb dram technology, that has nothing to do with capacity but with the cell size and not total memor. Besides how could you upgrade to 1gb using two 256mb ram sticks? I note your bios is listed current as 2001. Are you sure this is the latest? What version of the MS6378 are you using? This bios seems awful old given the information I see on MSI's website re: current bios.

I have checked the specs on that memory again and it is correct.

by guydaniel

I am using MS6378 ver 1, I've used the live update facility on the msi site and as far as I can tell the bios is as up to date as it gets for my motherboard...I have run memtest on both sticks of ram and that application reports that there is nothing wrong with the memory..However one of the modules was in dimm 1, for about 7 hours (I let it run over night) and memtest runs in dos(or whatever underlies winxp). What I did find odd was the system didn't hang whilst memtest was running...I noted that the system hangs whilst in windows xp or whilst installing windows xp.

How would I go about checking the Dimm1 slot?

by mayhem1969

You've already pretty much tested the dimm slot by swapping the memory. 128mb works in it and the memtest sees it so its not faulty. It has too be some problem with the bios registering it, xp seeing it, or the memory stick working.

It looks like live update is the only way to flash a bios in that version of the board. You have the latest bios for that board.

Have you tried putting both sticks in and looking in your bios to see if it is registering? If it shows up in your bios, then the problem would appear to be windows XP. If it doesn't there is a problem between the bios and the memory.

by guydaniel

Sorry for the HUGE amount of time its taken to reply..I have since moved house, had many problems with the pc etc etc ...

Anyway, thus far the two dimms work when not in an operating system environment. I have tried them with linux and the system hangs...

I have placed the memory modules in the slots when there has been no operating system, the bios registered the upgrade..Gparted and memtest86 runs without any hangs up...but as soon as I install an operating system the screen freezes up and i have to restart, which of course does not clear up the problem ...so I am back to having one 512mb and one 128mb memory module..

I cannot think of any possible reason bar the
possibility that my mainboard is so old that it doesn't like ubuntu 7.10 or winXP..

I live in hope

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