Resolved Memory compatibility problems

I have an old PC which I use when testing unknown shareware before installing on my 'main' PC (this old PC used to be my 'main' PC until recently when I built a new (P Duo Core 2) PC.
The old PC has Gigabyte GA-8PE800 PRO motherboard and a P4 2.66Ghz CPU.
It current has a single HYNIX double sided 1GB DDR333 memory module.
I have for some time (possibly since I upgraded the memory from 2 X 256MB single sided DDR333 TO the single 1GB DDR333) seemed to have had slowness at times such as when opening a folder and having to wait for the contents to display and also when using the 'slider' to view contents which don't 'fit' in the window opened). When this slowness occurs I have noticed that the HD activity light does NOT flash. I have never wondered if the slowness was memory related but now wonder it it is for the following reasons (by the way I have just reformatted and reinstalled Windows XP and used all the 'defaults' during installation) -

I installed one of the single sided 256MB memory module in a spare DDR socket and then the PC would not start Windows (the startup POST runs ok).
The single sided 256MB DDR333 is a KINGSTON (KVR333X64C25/256).
When I remove this module Windows starts up ok.
The PC will run correctly with EITHER memory module installed but not both.

I installed the modules correctly according to the manual eg single sided DIMM in socket 1 and the double sided DIMM in socket 2 (or it can also be installed in socket 3 which I have also tried).

The manual states that the motherboard supports 64, 128, 256 and 512 MB DIMM sizes but no mention of 1024MB (1GB). Not sure if this is because 1GB was not available when the manual was printed. As far as I know I have the latest BIOS upgrade installed. During the POST the memory check goes to 1GB (can't remember the exact numbers displayed).

Firstly any ideas why the two DIMMS cannot be run together.
Secondly can RAM run slower than normal at times causing a slowness on the screen (this slowness also is noticeable when using Flight Simulator X)?

Thanks

 

G'Day "jparnold "

The current Motherboard Info for your system "GA-8PE800 Pro" suggests that you should be able to load 3 x 1Gb modules if you want to, however there is a problem with trying to load incompatible memory modules and I would not recommend loading mixed single and double sided modules.

The Spec however suggests that the max is 2GB for the motherboard, meaning that it would be 1 x 1GB and 2 x 512MB modules or only 2 x 1GB modules.

Check if a BIOS Flash is available which might fix the ability to load 3GB - 3 x 1GB modules.

You could also download a Memory Testing utility and use it. Try MemTest86 it's free, downloads are at the (toward the) bottom of the page.

A good idea is to download an ISO and boot from that CD to test the memory.

pcbugfixer

 

Have just used memtest and it didn't show any problems.

I wonder why this PC shows delays. Maybe the MB is on it's way out. The onboard LAN seems to have died a few weeks ago and even though device manager showed no problems I could not communicate with my network or the internet using it so I installed a NIC and that works ok.
The PC runs at times as if there is another process running in parallel and using up all the CPU power for brief periods of time.
As mentioned in my first post I reformatted and reinstalled Windows XP with minimal other applications which has made no real difference to the problem of the system grinding to a halt for a second or two every now and then.

 

G'Day "jparnold "

Can you complete your System Spec in your User CP please.

pcbugfixer

 

Adding System Specifications to your Profile
http://www.windowsbbs.com/adding_system_specifications.html

 

This is not the main PC that jparnold wants to put into the BBS profile.

 

Obviously "jparnold" needs to put the System Spec in for the new PC system and the motherboard, so we can re-check the parameters and memory abilities.

Unless the issue related to the Gigabyte GA-8PE800 PRO motherboard which we know about already, but should then be the system Spec to enter in the User CP

pcbugfixer

 

Do a web search for the motherboard's specifications. Find the maximum RAM that can be used/utilised.

 

We already did, check the first reply I posted "GA-8PE800 Pro"

pcbugfixer

 

Thanks for reminding me that I haven't updated my 'profile' with tyhe 'specs' of my latest PC - I have now done that.

Details of my older (previously in my profile) PC are (the one which is running slow at times) -
Gigabyte GA-8PE800 Pro M/B
Pentium 4 2.66Ghz CPU
1GB DDR333 Hynix ram (single module double sided)
Radeon 9550 video card with 256MB memory
First HDD - Western Digital WD800 (80Gb) master on IDE1
Second HDD - Western Digital WD1600 (160Gb) slave on IDE1
First Optical drive - Pioneer DVR-111D DVD master on IDE2
Second Optical drive - Matshita CR-594 CD slave on IDE2
Sound - onboard
LAN - Realtek PCI NIC (note that this was only added recently after the onboard LAN failed).
PSU - 400 watt
Windows XP Pro SP3 32 bit
Connected to (cable) internet through Netgear Router.
Monitor - CRT

Note the slowness was occurring before I recently changed the video card (to a Radeon 9550) and also before I installed the (Realtek) NIC.

 

OK "jparnold" - now open your user CP in this forum, then click on System Spec and enter these details in there - Thanks
It will then show up as "My System" in your Profile on every post you make - check mine out as an example in the left side of this post.

pcbugfixer

 

'pcbugfixer'
I hope that I have updated my system spec so that it shows correctly under 'my system' for this post. I went to 'User CP>system spec' from this forum and updated.

 

"jparnold" - did you save it (at the bottom of the entries) you may not have as otherwise it would show in the left margin under Profile: in all your posts. - do it again please.

pcbugfixer

 

Yes I did save it. I edited my system details from this post in this forum and clicked on save. When I go back to User CP > Edit System Specs it displays exactly how it was when I saved it. It should be showing -
Enter your PC Make & model here. Custom built
Your computer motherboard make & model. - Gigabyte GA-EG41MF-US2H
etc
If it's not I have no idea as I have edited from this forum and clicked on SAVE

 

"jparnold" before I could add the way to show your profile System spec, the forum dBase was being backedup or whatever and I could not complete the instructions, which are

To have your system specifications displayed in your profile, you have to click the link Edit Options, and under Thread Display Options > System Specifications select Yes from the dropdown menu.

Remember to save changes at the bottom.

pcbugfixer

 

Is it ok now?

By the way my original post (question) is NOT related to the PC in my 'profile'. It is related to my previous PC (which I described 2 or 3 posts ago) which used to be my 'main' PC.

 

and in one of my previous posts I did say,

"Obviously "jparnold" needs to put the System Spec in for the new PC system and the motherboard, so we can re-check the parameters and memory abilities.

Unless the issue related to the Gigabyte GA-8PE800 PRO motherboard which we know about already, but should then be the system Spec to enter in the User CP "

"mattman" also pointed this out to you "This is not the main PC that jparnold wants to put into the BBS profile." not sure which he meant?

never mind, the forum does not provide multiple system spec entries so the one you put in should be the one the post question referred to, as this is the one we look at to answer the question!

pcbugfixer

 

Ok I get the point
I have now changed my 'system specs' to that of the PC which this thread relates to.

Hoping for some insight into why this PC is slow in updating the display.