msp1

I'm currently running a 1Ghz AMD athlon with 128MB of PC133 Ram. Thought I'd speed things up by throwing another 256Mb into one of the spare slots. Programmes crashed and I got memory low messages. Ran memory check through Norton utilities and it said that there was an address error.

Removed my original 128Mb Ram and it works fine.

Question - why can't I have 2 lots of memory or is there some sort of conflict going on that I don't know about? Can I overcome this problem?

Your help much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Mike

AndiThompson

Never heard of anything like this beforee personally, are the two memory sticks the same type/speed (PC133 etc)? f so, then try swapping the slots they're in around and see what happens.

msp1

Yes, their both PC133 and I've tried swapping slots over but I still get the same problem.

Thanks anyway

bruce

iTrader: (5)

What happens if you put in only the 256? also what os are you running?

InvisibleMan

it worked ok with just the new 256mb chip right?

It was a design a few years ago that each chip you put in had to be of the same size eg both 128mb didnt think it was supposed to be an issue these days.

do they both have ECC? when booting up you can see the memory figure counting up. Is the final figure correct & do you get a different answer if you ESC while it is counting?

InvisibleMan

p.s.

what was the address error?

Try this:

Start>Settings>ControlPanel>System>Dev iceManager>SystemDevices

Is there any nasty yellow/red ! marks?

[Edited by InvisibleMan - 10/26/2001 8:52:12 PM]

msp1

Dear Mr Man or may I call you Invisible?

What is ECC?
On startup memory adds up to 393Mb (9 meg out?). If I hit the escape key while booting it displays the same figure.
In the system devices there are no 'orrible signs

The address error is 38762.... the last 4 digits vary on each test.

Glad of any help
Mike

msp1

Bruce
256 works fine. I'm running Windows ME
Cheers
Mike

InvisibleMan

ECC Error Correction Code - it double checks data passing thru & corrects any slight inaccuracy. Again if there are differences in chips sometimes it goes titsup...

It is saying you have 9mb more than you should - this is quite normal, mine quotes 27mb over!

Check the new chip hasnt melted - if it looks wet = take it back

Havent really looked at Norton Utilites. If it said it had an address clash it surely must of said what was conflicting?

[Edited by InvisibleMan - 10/26/2001 10:39:02 PM]

msp1

On its own the 256 is working fine.
Norton utilities does the following "Testing memory using pattern with all bits cleared", this is the point at which it fails. If it had got past this point it would have set bits to 1, 2,3,4....and should give a memory test OK message.

InvisibleMan

the "bits" its testing is something to do with ECC. can u test it on another computer?

InvisibleMan

sorry forget that. If its working ok on its own then its ok...