memory

Hi, just wondering if anyone knows why I keep going through memory sticks. I am currently working on my 5th stick in as many years. I have an Asus A7V MB with 3 slots supposedly capable of handling 512mb, pc133 each, Athlon 807mhz T-bird. I have 2 physical HD's with a dual boot setup, Win98 on my C: drive and XP Pro on D:. At first, I bought 128mb Kingston when memory was really expensive, I paid $175 for the damn thing. Then less than a year later, the prices came down, so I bought 2 sticks of 256mb no brand for $45 each and added them to the 128mb that was already in there. This setup worked fine on XP, but when I booted to 98, I had all sorts of memory errors and in referencing this I found that was too much memory for 98, so I pulled the 128mb stick to get down to the recommended 512mb max for 98 to run well. So after awhile of that, I started having all kinds of problems with XP that pointed to memory, so I pulled the remaining sticks one by one and swapped around and found that one of the sticks was "bad". So I chucked that one and stuck the 128mb Kingston back in and that ran fine for awhile and then started having problems with XP again and went through the same process and ended up chucking the other 256mb stick. So I went and bought 2 more 256mb Kingston sticks and put them in and took the 128mb stick out to stay under 98's 512mb max. Again one of my new 256 sticks went "bad", but only have problems while running XP, all worked fine with 98 as long as I stay under 512mb. It seems as though the stick that is in the first slot is the one that keeps going bad. I only have 1 256mb stick in there now. I still have my original 128mb, but want to see if the remaining stick goes bad by itself without a second or third stick in the PC. I have looked around on the net for problems with MB and memory but to no avail???

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm..............I know it's old junk, but it works for what I need it for. Someone could at least cut me down

 

First comment, I believe all Kingston memory has Life Time warranty.
Did you run memory test, or how did you decide your memory was bad?
You posted ya had all sorts of memory errors, was that in windows?
Are you running at stock speeds or overclocking?

This mobo is Known to run best with Cas 2 pc133 memory.
You might try to up your memory voltage.
What bios version are you running? I believe that last or latest version provides additional options for Cpu/Memory settings.

It's very possible you have a bad memory slot, or just bad settings.

Last, I find it odd that all seems fine running 98, but Xp has memory problems???

 

I tried to run several different memory testing programs, can't remember which ones off top of head, but they came from CNET, ZDNET, D/L.com, all found on PC World mag. site, so I figured safe. Anyway, most of them froze or took literally hours to run and the one or two that actually completed gave me all sorts of 0000X0000000 and FF00X00000000, type errors, forgive the lack of specifics, I did this all on the first round of trials probably 2 to 3 years ago.

The errors were not always in Windows, some at startup and shutdown while Windows was loading and saving settings...etc, except for the 98 errors which were all while using apps. but I got that problem figured out and stayed under 512mb and all was well w/ 98

I am running stock speeds, never had the nads to try overclocking, or playing w/ voltage settings, can't afford to screw things up $$$wise.

Funny you ask about BIOS settings, that was going to be my next question for you. I have heard mixed opinions as to updating BIOS. Some say if it works don't fix it, others say update, update, update. I updated a couple of times when I was having the problems way back, but haven't done it in some time so they are probably a couple of years old. I have ASUS Update installed, but have never known if it runs, if it does, I have never had to interact with it.

Odd as it may seem, as long as I stay under the 512mb mark, 98 is flawless, that is what I use for 3D games as XP likes to freeze when I am driving and that really p!$$#$ me off. I've tried all kinds of video cards with updated and older drivers for them and XP just don't like my driving games. That's pretty much the only reason I still use 98, except for my occaisional meddling in XP that gets me into trouble anyway, helps for those times as well

 

Just a note to continue from last post, I just checked BIOS version; 1009 - 10/3/2001, SMBIOS version 2.3.

 

Error's usually = Bad memory, but bad timmings can also cause errors.
Could be conflick between memory, different sticks, different brands, Are all your sticks supporting the same spec's?
Can test each stick by it's self, test each in all slots.

Bios updates, There are risks when updating bios/firmware, a failed update, could result in a dead MOBO.
If your not having issues dont, but you do have some memory issues there may be an update that may help.
I have never had problem updating Bios, I have use Asus update program worked great.

If you do update your bios, settings will return to default setting's.
Here's Bios guide:
http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?location=7&var1=18

 

ASUS, thanx alot for the info, and the link I am planning on building a new system sometime later this year and would like to stick with ASUS MoBo as I have had real good results with my old A7V. I would appreciate a recommendation for a MoBo, video card combo as I like to play 3D driving games and need something stable that work well together. I am kind of partial to NVidia graphics, but open to change. I hear ASUS makes graphics cards as well, any info on this would be good. Won't have tons of $$$ so within reason for the average working guy with kids!!! Also like Creative sound cards. I also like to have lots of USB ports, multiple cd devices and HD's and I would like to keep my floppy drive!!! Curious as to why alot of OEM comps don't have floppies these days??? Anyway thanx in advance for any info