which RAM??

Hi,

I have recently decided to up the RAM in my system from 512Mb to 1024Mb (the max for my system) by adding a second RAM card. I ran Everest Home 220 to get the info as to the card I need. The software told me the following:

Device Description
DIMM1: 512 MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM

Field Value
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)

I bought therefore a stick of PC3200 DDR400 RAM at 512Mb and fitted it this morning.

The problem is that I couldn't restart the system so I took out the new RAM and it rebooted fine. On entering the BIOS setup I was informed that the RAM I already had is actually 512Mb / 166MHz (DDR333).

Firstly, how is it possible for the 2 bits of information to be different? - I'm guessing I should be trusting the BIOS setup info.

Secondly, Is it a better idea to fit the new stick of DDR400 RAM and find another the same as that (since it theoretically has a higher transfer rate than the DDR333)?

Help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

Thanks for the response,

Just for your info the mobo specs are as follows can you tel from that if the board should accept DDR400?

Motherboard Name ASRock K7VT4A+

Front Side Bus Properties

Bus Type DEC Alpha EV6
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 200 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 400 MHz
Bandwidth 3200 MB/s

Memory Bus Properties

Bus Type DDR SDRAM
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 200 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 400 MHz
Bandwidth 3200 MB/s

I also noticed whilst in the BIOS that the Primary Graphics Adapter setting was set to PCI. I have a nVIDIA GeForce FX 5700LE Video Adapter installed which is AGP8x Bus Type according to Everest. My monitor is connected via the card and is working fine (and has for years). What would happen if this Primary Graphics Adapter setting was changed to AGP? Would I see better graphics performance? Would I be opening up a can of worms (If it ain't broke and all that...)? Is this setting bypassed anyway?

Thanks again for any help. I'll be changing the RAM stick shortly so I may be gone a while - hopefully not permanently though!

Cheers

 

I'm back with more questions/issues I'm afraid!

So, while I was gone (and before your last post) I tried the DDR400 in DIMM1 and the system booted up fine. I think I even noticed quicker response times to everything although that may just be me getting overexcited... The system did seem unstable though, with the screen freezing for about 20secs every minute or so. I got Firefox to not respond too and also had trouble shutting the system down.

The major issue is that this is still happening even though I have reverted to the original DDR333 stick.

What have I done to upset the system? Process Explorer is telling me I have Hardware Interrupts taking up high cpu i think - it's hard to see with the system coming out of freeze!

I'm going to shut down and reinsert the RAM in case I've done it badly but if you have any idea what I've messed up then could you let me know?

Could you also confirm that it's safe for me to change the PCI to AGP on the PGA without messing this up too???? rolleyes

Cheers

 

Problem resolved though I still don't understand how the problem came about...

Using Windows Event Viewer for the system I noticed a recurring atapi error (Event 9) indicating a faulty ide component. I changed the 40pin ide cable with no change so have figured that the optical drive connected must be faulty. I have disconnected it and the system is functioning well again.

As mentioned though I don't understand why the problem surfaced after changing the RAM and then back again. Any ideas appreciated.

Thanks