RAM not cooperating.

[kilkraze]

Hi

I have a moderately old system (3 years) and it has been working fine, untill recently. About two weeks ago my Graphics card Ati X300 blew up (literaly) some FET (fire emmitting transister) went bad. So I replaced with a Nvidia 7300 GT. It worked for like 3 hours, untill the real problems started. The computer wouldn't boot and I got serious system errors. I narrowed it down to a memory error. I have two PC 3200U 512 MB DDR-1 modules. One is a Samsung part and the other a Hynix. When I insert them both, the PC craps out, Memtest reports like a billion errors, and windows/linux won't boot. When I insert them seperately, no problem. Memtest reports no errors and my OS's boots correctly, but alas, with only 512 MB Ram. I have seen numerous threads on numerous forums, where the solution comes down to incompatible RAM, and seeing that I do have chips from two different manufacturers, this could be a problem, but it has been working fine for about 2 years, so I think I can rule that out as primary cause. I checked the voltage levels on my PSU and I don't think it is that. The only culprit I can still suspect is the mainboard. This would be a tragedy. Is it the likely cause?

Another interesting thing that would happen is, when I swap the memory modules around in the slots, I get memory error tones and obvously nothing else, which could point out some incompatibility.

I am not using dual channel memory. The mainboard is a Gigabyte GA K8NF-9 with a AMD 3GHz 64bit processor. When I replace the gfx card with a old PCI card I still get the same problems, so I don't think it is the new card.

Any help/pointers would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Turiko]

The only culprit I can still suspect is the mainboard. This would be a tragedy. Is it the likely cause?

Yes something has in all likelihood died on the motherboard. Probably one of the regulators feeding the AGP slot.

 

[howardb]

Sounds like something on the board - pop it through to Rectron, and they can check the warranty - if still within the 3-year warranty, they'll test it and swop it out immediately for you... if out of warranty, talk to them nicely and they can still swop out at a minor fee...

 

[sn3rd]

Hi

I have a moderately old system (3 years) and it has been working fine, untill recently. About two weeks ago my Graphics card Ati X300 blew up (literaly) some FET (fire emmitting transister) went bad.

Please tell me that was a joke... ?

So I replaced with a Nvidia 7300 GT. It worked for like 3 hours, untill the real problems started. The computer wouldn't boot and I got serious system errors. I narrowed it down to a memory error. I have two PC 3200U 512 MB DDR-1 modules. One is a Samsung part and the other a Hynix. When I insert them both, the PC craps out, Memtest reports like a billion errors, and windows/linux won't boot. When I insert them seperately, no problem. Memtest reports no errors and my OS's boots correctly, but alas, with only 512 MB Ram. I have seen numerous threads on numerous forums, where the solution comes down to incompatible RAM, and seeing that I do have chips from two different manufacturers, this could be a problem, but it has been working fine for about 2 years, so I think I can rule that out as primary cause. I checked the voltage levels on my PSU and I don't think it is that. The only culprit I can still suspect is the mainboard. This would be a tragedy. Is it the likely cause?

Another interesting thing that would happen is, when I swap the memory modules around in the slots, I get memory error tones and obvously nothing else, which could point out some incompatibility.

I am not using dual channel memory. The mainboard is a Gigabyte GA K8NF-9 with a AMD 3GHz 64bit processor. When I replace the gfx card with a old PCI card I still get the same problems, so I don't think it is the new card.

Any help/pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Sounds like it's a board issue. Have a look for physical signs of damage: bulging/leaky caps, black spots, lifted tracks, etc.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Get a goatherd for your ram

 

[kilkraze]

Thanks for all the replies. I should probably kick it out the door, but i'll check into that warranty. It never occurred to me. As a matter of fact, I kinda remember a big 3year warranty sticker on the box, now that you mention it.