If I remove an old RAM chip, my PC freaks.

okay i have

Intel P4 1.6 Ghz
VIA VT8753 Apollo P4X266-8233 Chipset
544 megs of SDRAM
WIN XP Pro
Svc. Pack 2
2 x HD's , primary is Maxtor 40Gig 7200

The problem is this...I have 3 memory slots.
1. 256 megs 133mhz
2. 256megs 133mhz
3. 32megs 60 mhz

If I pull out the 32, then my computer will not reboot properly. If I remove the 32 and rearrange the other two, it will not. If I take any of the other two it will run, as long as I leave this 32 in. Its nuts.....can you help?

PS. I also tried refilling that space with new and other chips to fill that void to see if that works. I just ordered a new 256 chip, but nothing works if I pull that old 32 chip.

 

whats the manufacturer of the ram?

 

The old ram i want to remove is Dell. The other two are 1. Precision, and 2. Kingston. I just bought a Generic too, to try and fill that third space. I now have three 256 chips, and one Dell 32.

 

which one of the pictures does your memory look like?

 

More like this one http://forums.majorgeeks.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12889 if you are asking about the old dell 32...well none of them are blue. They look like regular SDram.......

 

what about the other 2?

 

does any of them have a casing around them like in the first pic or can you see the black chips like on the second pic?

 

Yes, one of my new 256's has "heat sink", but I dont think has anything to do with it. errrrrr....does it?

 

im not sure but one conclusion i can come up with is that one of your ram sticks is a rimm. when u have rimm you have to have a stick of memory in all the slots or you can buy fake memory called c-rimm (which probably doesnt cost much at all) and fill in the slots your not going to use.

I would wait and get a second opinion on it though

 

Rimm, ......I dont understand. I have one SDRAM, that has a heat sink on it yes. As far as I know they are all dimms. But the thing is this. I leave it in, the comp works fine, I can pull it and the comp works fine. I can pull the other one (256), and the comp works fine, but If I pull that ole 32 meg stick out, then she Craps on me. No matter how I slice em, she runs with them in any slot, or even if just a 256 with the ole 32 by themselves, but I pull the 32, she dumps a load on me. HELPPPP

 

Okay i just double checked using AIDA32, and all three sticks show up as DIMMs, so what now?

 

This is only an observation and guess on my part and could be totally wrong! You said that your system would run fine as long as the original 32 meg memory chip was left in, but wouldn't, if it wasn't, but all memory was recognized. From the best of my own memory, all memory on a MB will only run as fast as the slowest chip, and in this case, must be your 32 meg chip. Are all three memory chips the same type, speed, etc.?

 

In addition to my previous post, I just searched VIA's site and couldn't find any information about your particular chipset, but I may have been using wrong search parameters. Have you checked your bios to see what memory type, speed, etc. that you have supported. I have seen boards that supported 66 mhz and 100 mhz memory, but wouldn't boot with 133 mhz installed. What bothers me is the 66 mhz memory and the fact that it won't boot without it, but will with it. This makes me think that it may be a bios setting. I'm sure that more knowledgable members will jump in and help correct your problem.

 

why do you want to remove the 32 anyway?
are you gonna put another 256?

 

have you tried resetting the bios by pulling the battery?

 

just my view on this

it sounds as if your motherboard FSB will only handle speeds upto 100 mhz
as novice says all the other 133mhz chips will run as 66mhz when you have the 32mb in
download EVEREST from here and recheck your motherboard model no then go to VIA,s site and download THE manual for it ,there are probally jumpers or dip switch settings for the FSB setting on your motherboard and all it could mean is a BIOS update to allow the FSB speed update but anyway check those firstly

 

I agree with SimonK. It looks like your mobo will not handle, or is not set up to handle, greater than 60mhz RAM. Bazza

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Hmm, okay, I dont KNOW anything when it comes to the BIOS...other than setting simple things. The Chip info I sent you is the correct info. P4X266-8233 Chipset from VIA technologies and that comes from both my XP sys info but you know what, your right.......my board is PC100, not 133, so thats probably why it wont run without the 32. Its 66mhz. I think you guys hit the NAIL. Thats my next try. A 100mhz should down the other two to 100 as well. Okay, kewl. I'll let you guys know. Thanks..

 

First off, Thank you Ironman for sticking with me on this one. Now, Novice and Ace thank you for joining in the battle and for you ideas. SimonK, and bigbazza, you's da MAN's. Sure enough I had overlooked the most obvious thing. I really feel like an idiot, and yes, you may call me such. Problem: If i pulled the 32meg, 60mhz out of my machine, it wouldnt run. Solution: I went next door to my neighbor and traded my brand new 256meg @133mhz for his 128meg @ 100 mhz and now my machine runs with all three sticks. 256@133 x2, and the 128 @100. Wow......I'm sucha glutimous maximus. Thank you all for your help. Im runnin smooth now.

 

Guess you call that a WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN solution. SimonK and I, the neighbour next door, and you , for solving your problem. Glad it now works a lot better.
Bazza (and thanks to SimonK)
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