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  • #1

    RAM problem

    I am trying to help my dad install some RAM on my brother's computer. My bro has an old P3 system running on an ASUS P3B-F mobo. First dad tried to put in two 256MB PC100 DIMMs. Only 256MB total is recognized by the system. So he calls me in and I recomend that he update the BIOS. He does to the latest BIOS, but no dice, the memory is only half there. He then assumes that the memory is bad and sends it back and get a stick of corsair PC100. Again, same problem, only 1/2 of the mem is showing up. The mobo is supposed to support 256MB DIMMs. Any ideas what the problem is? From what he tells me, it seems as if he is installing the memory correctly, but if anyone has any ideas what the prob is, that would be a huge help!

    MadScot
    Asus P2B-LS, Celeron Tualatin 1.3Ghz (PowerLeap adapter), 256Mb PC100 CAS 2, Matrox Millenium G400 DualHead AGP, RainbowRunner G-series, Creative PC-DVD Dxr2, HP CD-RW 9200i, Quantum V 9Gb SCSI HD, Maxtor 20Gb Ultra-66 HD (52049U4), Soundblaster Audigy, ViewSonic PS790 19", Win2k (SP2)
    Tags: None
  • #2
    What happens when he puts one DIMM in? Are they double-sided DIMMs?

    First thing to figure out is if it's recognizing only one DIMM, 1 side of each DIMM, or something else.
    Gigabyte P35-DS3L with a Q6600, 2GB Kingston HyperX (after *3* bad pairs of Crucial Ballistix 1066), Galaxy 8800GT 512MB, SB X-Fi, some drives, and a Dell 2005fpw. Running WinXP.

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    • #3
      When he puts in one DIMM, it shows half capacity on both double-sided and single-sided DIMMs. I just tried the memory on my computer and it works fine. Is there a reason the computer would only see half a bank?

      MadScot
      Asus P2B-LS, Celeron Tualatin 1.3Ghz (PowerLeap adapter), 256Mb PC100 CAS 2, Matrox Millenium G400 DualHead AGP, RainbowRunner G-series, Creative PC-DVD Dxr2, HP CD-RW 9200i, Quantum V 9Gb SCSI HD, Maxtor 20Gb Ultra-66 HD (52049U4), Soundblaster Audigy, ViewSonic PS790 19", Win2k (SP2)

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      • #4
        Half a bank? No. Have you tried every DIMM socket on the board?

        My best guess (and it's not a good one) is that maybe you've lost an address line on the motherboard. You wouldn't happen to have a 128MB DIMM that you can try?
        Gigabyte P35-DS3L with a Q6600, 2GB Kingston HyperX (after *3* bad pairs of Crucial Ballistix 1066), Galaxy 8800GT 512MB, SB X-Fi, some drives, and a Dell 2005fpw. Running WinXP.

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        • #5
          Yeah, I tried a 128MB DIMM that worked fine. Could the mobo be limited to a specific memory density?

          MadScot
          Asus P2B-LS, Celeron Tualatin 1.3Ghz (PowerLeap adapter), 256Mb PC100 CAS 2, Matrox Millenium G400 DualHead AGP, RainbowRunner G-series, Creative PC-DVD Dxr2, HP CD-RW 9200i, Quantum V 9Gb SCSI HD, Maxtor 20Gb Ultra-66 HD (52049U4), Soundblaster Audigy, ViewSonic PS790 19", Win2k (SP2)

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          • #6
            I don't know if this will help, but I had an
            Asus P2B-L (fantastic MB!) that didn't like it
            when I put 2x 256MB RAM sticks next to each other.
            All was fine when I had the two separated.
            (I put one in socket 0 and the other in socket 2.)
            ...perhaps, one of the RAM sockets is the trouble?

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            • #7
              It seems like either the MB was limited by design, or a trace or pin went bad. You said it's "supposed" to support 256MB DIMMs -- what does that mean? Are you sure your revision of that board supports them?

              Tom, I think he already said that he tried a 256MB DIMM by itself.
              Gigabyte P35-DS3L with a Q6600, 2GB Kingston HyperX (after *3* bad pairs of Crucial Ballistix 1066), Galaxy 8800GT 512MB, SB X-Fi, some drives, and a Dell 2005fpw. Running WinXP.

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: RAM problem

                Originally posted by MadScot
                I am trying to help my dad install some RAM on my brother's computer. My bro has an old P3 system running on an ASUS P3B-F mobo. First dad tried to put in two 256MB PC100 DIMMs. Only 256MB total is recognized by the system. So he calls me in and I recomend that he update the BIOS. He does to the latest BIOS, but no dice, the memory is only half there. He then assumes that the memory is bad and sends it back and get a stick of corsair PC100. Again, same problem, only 1/2 of the mem is showing up. The mobo is supposed to support 256MB DIMMs. Any ideas what the problem is? From what he tells me, it seems as if he is installing the memory correctly, but if anyone has any ideas what the prob is, that would be a huge help!

                MadScot

                I just went through the same experience a couple of weeks ago. I was in need of a 256 meg stick and bought some "generic" stuff. I have had good experiences with "generic" ram before (pc-100@133 for two years now) and figured I would have a similar experience this time-- boy, was I wrong. Some of the absolute crap ram that some stores buy is unbelieveable. I had one stick-- only half recognized (double-sided), I returned it for a completely different batch(single-sided)-- only half recognized. I finally got my money back and talked to somebody at a different shop-- selling similar crap. All of these ram types didn't even have any I.D. markings on the chips themselves.

                Finally, I found another shop and the guy had "generic" ram, but the actual chips were I.D. as Hyundai. The other generic ram I have also uses Hyundai chips, so I figured it would be worth a try-- no problem, recognized as 256 and runs solid at CAS 2.

                Not sure if it's the same problem since it choked on the Corsair, but it could just be that the Corsair stick was bad. This was also on a p3b-f, but that could just be coincidental. I was really starting to question my mobo like you, but as it turned out it was just poor quality components.

                EDIT: I just noticed you tried it in your machine and it worked fine. I wonder if there is some issue with p3b-f's where they are particularly picky about ram? I've never seen it discussed before, but that doesn't mean there's not an issue there. The guy at one store did say the sticks were recognized properly on his machines (I thought he was B.S'ing--maybe not), but he did have a number of returns from customers as well-- I wonder what boards those customers had? I had dismissed the idea of the p3b-f being picky after I had got the Hyundai stick, but maybe it is the case.
                Last edited by Heed; 12 June 2002, 02:47.
                Thought thinks itself.

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                • #9
                  Hmmm....I've used two dual sided DIMM's in my P3B-F's without a problem, BUT I made it a practice not to fill slot 1 because of posts I read that some boards had problems with it.

                  Dr. Mordrid
                  Dr. Mordrid
                  ----------------------------
                  An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                  I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

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                  • #10
                    I'm going to go over and see what I can do tomorrow. I'll take a stick I know is fine and give it a go. I think there is a chance the DIMMs were bad.

                    Doc, is that slot 0 or slot 1 you refer to?

                    MadScot
                    Asus P2B-LS, Celeron Tualatin 1.3Ghz (PowerLeap adapter), 256Mb PC100 CAS 2, Matrox Millenium G400 DualHead AGP, RainbowRunner G-series, Creative PC-DVD Dxr2, HP CD-RW 9200i, Quantum V 9Gb SCSI HD, Maxtor 20Gb Ultra-66 HD (52049U4), Soundblaster Audigy, ViewSonic PS790 19", Win2k (SP2)

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      The first slot, however it's numbered.

                      Dr. Mordrid
                      Dr. Mordrid
                      ----------------------------
                      An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

                      I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        I've only had such a problem with a registered 256 stick. Can't remember if it was Samsung or Hyundai

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