Strange system hangs, probably caused by memory

[paskuda]

I'm having strange problems with my computer. When I bought it, it had 3 256 DDR chips (all the same). Everything seemed to work fine, but after a while I encountered blue screens. After some investigation I decided RAM was the issue. I removed all chips but one and everything was fine.
My initial guesses were:
1. Bad RAM.
2. Bad motherboard.

I decided to check my memory sticks, one by one. Everything was fine as long as there was only one of them on the board, no matter which one. Also, it didn't matter which memory slot it was in. Problems occured when there were two or three together. The solution, which worked, was using just one 256 MB stick.
Anyway, 256 MB is not enough. I assumed it's poor quality of memory (noname) and ordered Kingston 512 MB stick, removed old stick and inserted new.
My problems returned. I'm getting BSOD at least twice a day, each time it's something like "IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL". I've read that it's hardware issue, yet memory is fine (tested on different computer with memtest), also motherboard worked fine with previous memory inserted in the same slot.
Hardware I'm using is:
P4 2,4 GHz
Asus P4 B533 E motherboard
Kingston DDR 400
Radeon 9500
Audigy sound card
2 HDDs - WD 80 GB and Samsung 120 GB
LG DVD

Any ideas ? I'm really sick about idea of returning to 256MB (which works, I've checked).

Mike

 

[micker377]

What is the source of all these memory sticks? Is there any difference between the one that works and the ones that don't? Go to Crucial.com and see what is recommended for your system. There may be compatibility problems between the different sticks.

 

[garebo]

He said in his first post that he had 3 sticks all the same and they were causing the problem, so its not compatibility between different sticks.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[Freestone]

It appears that any time 256MB is exceeded the memory fails, which leads me to suspect a timing issue.

http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socket478/p4b533-e/overview.htm

shows memory support speeds of PC2100/PC1600 and

http://www.ec.kingston.com/shop/modelsinfo.asp?SysID=11962&mfr=ASUS&model=P4B533/P4B533&SUBMIT1=Find

shows maximum PC2100.

I wonder if your DDR 400 is TOO FAST for your system? I know it's said that fast memory is backwards compatible, but perhaps not in this case? What is/was the speed of the original 256MB sticks?

 

[paskuda]

Freestone,
they were 400 MHz too. I thought speed would be the issue, but every single source says the same - it's not

 

[Freestone]

So in this system you've tried nothing but DDR 400. Can you get hold of some PC2100 to try, preferably > 256MB? At least that way you'll know for sure it's not a speed issue...

 

[paskuda]

Freestone,
I found two DDR 333 sticks, inserted them. All the same.

 

[garebo]

It may sound too easy or stupid, but why not go with one stick of ram and try setting your bios settings to default and go from there, see if all is well and then try adding more ram.

Also, have you checked logs in event viewer, may give you a hint of the problem by mention of a piece of hardware.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[garebo]

Also, stretching it some more, but you never know:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q311466

Good advice + great people = tek-tips