Computer being anal about 4GB of RAM

Greenlizard0 · 24 Nov 2007 at 15:03

Ok I'm not sure what kind of problem area this belongs to. But I have changed from 2GB of DDR2 667MHz and am trying to install 4GB of DDR2 800MHz. I can put three sticks in for 3GB of ram, however when putting in the forth one, the computer doesn't appear to boot up properly.

I can hear everything whirr up, yet there doesn't appear to be feed to the monitor for 4GB.

Anybody have any suggestions as to what is going on? I'm currently playing around with different slots and sticks atm.

semi-pro waster · 24 Nov 2007 at 15:05

I'm not sure what is going on but it might help to list both the motherboard and type of Ram as there may be a known problem with either.

Greenlizard0 · 24 Nov 2007 at 15:09

Thank you for a quick reply

AMD 6000+ 3.0GHz
3GB (ish...well) or 4GB Geil Ultra http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-058-GL&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=813
Asus M2N-E

chaosophy · 24 Nov 2007 at 15:11

Sounds like you're doing it but first thing is to rule out a duff stick, try booting with all four sticks one at a time. next is to try the different sticks in different slots to make sure there's not a duff slot on the mobo. Next to try setting the mem timings etc back to defaults/SPD, just to see if you can boot at defaults. last would be the mem voltage, try at recommended volts and then one setting below and then at one setting above.

Greenlizard0 · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:56

I've shuffled everything around, very bizarre since it appears the RAM slot is buggered :/

mattyrigby00 · 24 Nov 2007 at 17:26

on vista? if yes:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929777

ins0mn1ac · 24 Nov 2007 at 18:27

mattyrigby00 said:
on vista? if yes:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929777

The problem he gets sounds as if its before Windows even loads :confused:

schumi84 · 24 Nov 2007 at 18:37

What voltage is the RAM set to? That particular stuff is the same as i have and it should be 2.1v.

Greenlizard0 · 24 Nov 2007 at 20:06

deleted - that's correct - nothing posts to the screen (e.g. loadup bios screens), this is before windows XP starts to load up.

schumi84 - The voltage atm is 2.05V....I think I have a faulty RAM slot, as all my modules work in 3 of my slots, not the forth one :/ Very bizarre, though I'm upgrading early next year so I'm not too bothered atm. Edit - at first it was 1.8!! Oops!

Add to that I'm still on XP32, so ~200MB of ram isn't really going to make that much differnce

Thank you for your replies guys.

EagleOC · 24 Nov 2007 at 20:17

I thought XP didn't support 4Gb?...

Greenlizard0 · 24 Nov 2007 at 20:25

EagleOC said:
I thought XP didn't support 4Gb?...

It does, but that's its maximum (bubble the maths down and I think it's 2^32). However the "forth" module is mostly totally "unuseable" for the user so in total he/she gets around 3.2GB.

My computer is a fiddly git to get into with it being arranged in a corner of my room, so when I do go in I usually do three or four things at once. I was hoping to just shove the stick of RAM in and forget about it but alas I couldn't

EagleOC · 24 Nov 2007 at 20:39

Isn't it always the way!

Greenlizard0 · 24 Nov 2007 at 20:45

EagleOC said:
Isn't it always the way!

Lol was there a sexual inuendo in your last post?

EagleOC · 24 Nov 2007 at 20:55

Now that you mention it...