Your Assistance With Memory Purchase

IanB001

IanB001

IanB001

Associate
Joined
21 Dec 2004
Posts
141
Location
Bristol, UK
I built my PC in December 2004 but recently it's been playing up. Random crashes all over the place. Anyway, after running simmtester it seems that my ram is slowly dying after failing many of the tests. Guess I've worn it out. Overuse I expect :)

I've currently got 2 x 512MB PC4000 Crucial Ballistix CL2.5 Non-Parity DDR500, Part No.: BL6464Z505 that I bought from Overclockers in December 2004. To be honest I think this is the wrong RAM for my motherboard anyway. The manual for my ABit AV8 3rd Eye states DDR400/333/266, but don't tell anybody :)

What I am after is recommendations for replacement RAM. I am a keen gamer and the computer is used everyday by the family and I. I'm not really into overclocking but I wouldn't like to limit my options. I suppose, this time, I ought to fit the correct RAM (DDR400 - That's PC3200 right? I get all these numbers muddled up you know).

Thank you

Ian.

Here are my specs:
Akasa Eclipse-62 case Part No.: AK-BKCSE-01
Tagan 480W PSU Model No.: TG480-U01, Serial No.: T442 01064
ABit AV8-3rd eye motherboard, Serial No.: AV83EC4J001197
AMD Athlon 64FX Processor FX-55, ADAFX55DEI5AS, CAA2C 0448RPMW Serial No.: 1153172K40056
1 x Arctic Freezer 64 Cooler Pro (AMD64)
2 x 512MB PC4000 Crucial Ballistix CL2.5 Non-Parity DDR500, Part No.: BL6464Z505
Pioneer DVD/CD Re-writer Model No.: DVR-108BK, Serial No.: DKDL174416WL
Sony floppy disc drive black, Model No.: MPF920 Serial No.: 92636080
2 x Vantec Thermal Technologies inc Thermoflow temperature controlled 120 x 120 x 25mm case fans, Model No.: TF12025
2 x Akasa IDE ATA-133 Round cable 45cm black, Part No.: ATA-45-B
1 x Akasa floppy cable black
1 x Vantex slot protector kit, Part No.: ***-08UV-BK

XFX GeForce 6800GT 256MB DDR3 Dual DVI/TV Part No.: PV-T40A-UDF7 Serial No.: FIH066125
1 x Samsung SpinPoint P SP2014N 200GB ATA-133 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-019-SA)
1 x Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 Hard Disk Drive 200GB IDE133 <9.0 7200rpm – OEM Manufacturers Part No.: 6Y200P0
Microsoft Internet Keyboard Serial No.: 5167710096358
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158 (Service Pack 2)
Netgear Cable/DSL ProSafe Firewall/Print Server FR114P
WebStar DPX100 Series Cable Modem
Blueyonder 1.5Megabit Broadband Internet Connection
Viewsonic E790 19” CRT Monitor
Logitech MX510 Optical Mouse
 
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There's a lifetime warranty on your memory so contact Crucial who will arrange a replacement. Your pc will run this memory ok. BY all accounts see if they will exchange it for non ballistic stuff as they are having issues at present.
 
Thank you Wiiliamw11.

Didn't expect a reply that quickley. If this option fails, what RAM would you recommend?

Cheers

Ian.
 
abit has problems with memory compatability, i would change that mobo before you get your ram rma'd or replaced.

if you cant rma, then 1/2gb gskill zx is a good buy.
 
Thank you lay-z-boy. I wish you could have told me about ABit's motherboards in December 2004 ;)

Alas money is tight so replacing the motherboard at the moment is out of the question. New motherboard means new graphics card and hard drives etc. It's pointless me getting a new motherboard with AGP and IDE slots now.

If Crucial won't take this RAM back I'll take a look at the gskills RAM.

Thank you

Ian.
 
Abits aren't intrinsicly bad, they've just had a few issues with the A64 boards, try a BIOS update.

You don't need to use DDR400, a board rated for 400 will run anything above 400, so the 500 will be fine. Better in fact as you will be able to overclock it or tighten the timings.
 
Thank you all for your assistance.

I have contacted Crucial who said that they will replace the RAM. Woohoo!!

Alas they will not replace it until they receive the faulty RAM. This could mean I'm without my 'precious' for a week+. Can't do that :)

This is what I thought: If I bought some new RAM. Perhaps some of lay-z-boy's gskill zx. 2Gig would be nice eh? Then when I get the replacement RAM from crucial I could throw that in as well to make a total of 3Gig.

So? Come on?? What do ya think???

Alternatively I could keep the replacement crucial RAM as a backup in case this happens again.

Atheus; Thanks for rubbing it in about the motherboard. Now I'm really depressed. I'll swing by the ABit web site and look at the BIOS updates. Don't like doing BIOS upadtes much. Always a chance it could go wrong.

Cheers

Ian.
 
I wouldnt advise a bios flash if your system already works, the new version might make your computer unstable.

The mixing ram idea to get a total of 2 or 3 gb is fine, however you will need to set memory timmings to '2T' in the bios for stability and compatability. :)
 
Did you ask Crucial if they would replace it with other stuff ie you could but a 1 gig 3200 stick and get them to replace your faulty stuff with an identical stick. Or would they exchange it for a 2 gig kit if you paid the difference.
 
lay-z-boy; There is a BIOS update available. I have downloaded it but haven't flashed the BIOS yet. Guess I'll hold off for the time being.

Thanks for the timing tip. I would never have known to do that. Thought I may go for the G.Skill 2GB DDR HZ PC4000 (2x1GB) CAS3 Dual Channel Kit (F1-4000USU2-2GBHZ) (MY-008-GS)

If I can get another 2Gigs from Crucial that would make 4Gigs of RAM, hehe. The only problem I can foresee is that I will get a speed penalty for fitting this RAM. It will drop from DDR400 to DDR333 speeds according to the motherboard manual.

Williamw11; No I didn't ask if they would exchange it for something else, I just asked if the would replace it. I thought I read somewhere here that there were problems with the 2Gig crucial RAM. I maybe wrong of course, but I'm almost sure I seen something.

Cheers

Ian.
 
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