I'm needing the approved ram list for the ASUS motherboard model
A7N8X-X

The asus website doesn't seem to have this for such an old board.

Also, the MB has [3] ram slots. 2 slots already have two 256mb's in
them. Can I add another as 512mb? Is it ok to mix n match like that?

"Robert Blass" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm needing the approved ram list for the ASUS motherboard model
> A7N8X-X
>
> The asus website doesn't seem to have this for such an old board.
>
> Also, the MB has [3] ram slots. 2 slots already have two 256mb's in
> them. Can I add another as 512mb? Is it ok to mix n match like that?

It's an nvidia chipset board. Having an approved RAM list would be
redundant. Nvidia chipset boards aren't going to be that picky. You can
mix and match RAM. However, it's best to use as few total RAM boards as
possible. RAM is so cheap right now, I'd suggest you buy one stick of
DDR400 1GB RAM and throw that in there (one suggestion below). If it's
unstable, remove the two (256MB) boards and sell them on craigslist. -Dave

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820609049

Dave wrote:
>
> "Robert Blass" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I'm needing the approved ram list for the ASUS motherboard model
>> A7N8X-X
>>
>> The asus website doesn't seem to have this for such an old board.
>>
>> Also, the MB has [3] ram slots. 2 slots already have two 256mb's in
>> them. Can I add another as 512mb? Is it ok to mix n match like that?
>
> It's an nvidia chipset board. Having an approved RAM list would be
> redundant. Nvidia chipset boards aren't going to be that picky. You
> can mix and match RAM. However, it's best to use as few total RAM
> boards as possible. RAM is so cheap right now, I'd suggest you buy one
> stick of DDR400 1GB RAM and throw that in there (one suggestion below).
> If it's unstable, remove the two (256MB) boards and sell them on
> craigslist. -Dave
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820609049
>

In case the OP was tempted, stay away from Ebay for 1GB sized DDR
RAM. Ebay tends to have high density 1GB sticks, using 128Mx4 chips.
Branded RAM tends to use 64Mx8 chips. The Ebay adverts may not
describe the composition, and instead tell you of a "restricted
chipset list". When Nforce2 sees 128Mx4 chips on the 1GB DIMM,
my understanding is it only sees half the RAM. Stuff bought at
Newegg might be a bit safer (but always check the customer reviews,
because some amazing things are discovered by actual users).

The A7N8X-X is "single channel", according to the documentation.
Which means, in theory, the population of the slots doesn't matter.
What is funny though, is the layout of the board is still suggestive
of a dual channel interface. It is just the operation of the board
doesn't claim to be dual channel. I've never seen an explanation
of the details, for the chipset used.

You could also use a QVL from one of the other Asus Nforce2 boards,
to get some hints on the RAM. Comparing these two lists, they look
almost randomly assembled by the folks at Asus.

http://www.asus.com/999/download/pro...217/217_10.pdf
ftp://ftp.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socka...N8X-VM_QVL.pdf

I use some CAS2 memory on my own board, an A7N8X-E Deluxe, because I
got errors with the CAS3 I already owned. The errors only show up
at DDR400, in dual channel mode. The CAS2 DDR400, by comparison, have
worked well (Crucial Ballistix PC3200). So Nforce2 can be a bit picky
about RAM. Since Nforce2 was popular, there are lots of stories about
what works or doesn't work, out there.

http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/
http://vip.asus.com/forum/topic.aspx...Language=en-us

As for using three sticks of RAM, I've used 3x512MB on my board, with
no errors reported. (I own a total of four sticks of the CAS2 RAM,
and normally, two sticks are used in each of two computers.) There
is no reason to fear using all three slots, if the RAM is good
quality. A 2x256 + 1x512MB configuration should work. The controllers
for the memory, are independent for each slot, which is why the
sticks don't all have to match. For boards which support dual channel
operation, all that is needed, is to match the quantity of RAM in
each channel. Since the A7N8X-X is "single channel", even that
should not matter.

Like any computer, test with memtest86+ first, when the new RAM
is added. When in Windows, the Prime95 "torture test" program can
be used to spot errors as well. Both tests are recommended.

Paul

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, Robert Blass
says...
> I'm needing the approved ram list for the ASUS motherboard model
> A7N8X-X
>
> The asus website doesn't seem to have this for such an old board.
>
> Also, the MB has [3] ram slots. 2 slots already have two 256mb's in
> them. Can I add another as 512mb? Is it ok to mix n match like that?
>
www.crucial.com and use their memory selector tool.


--
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
looking good either. - Scott Adams

I like the fast and correct answers guys, thanks!

On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:05:28 -0500, Robert Blass <(E-Mail Removed)>
sayd the following:

>I'm needing the approved ram list for the ASUS motherboard model
>A7N8X-X
>
>The asus website doesn't seem to have this for such an old board.
>
>Also, the MB has [3] ram slots. 2 slots already have two 256mb's in
>them. Can I add another as 512mb? Is it ok to mix n match like that?
>


I installed that 512mb stick of ram in that computer, now it refuses
to load xp even in safe mode?

help?

"Robert Blass" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:05:28 -0500, Robert Blass <(E-Mail Removed)>
> sayd the following:
>
>>I'm needing the approved ram list for the ASUS motherboard model
>>A7N8X-X
>>
>>The asus website doesn't seem to have this for such an old board.
>>
>>Also, the MB has [3] ram slots. 2 slots already have two 256mb's in
>>them. Can I add another as 512mb? Is it ok to mix n match like that?
>>
>
Hi Robert.
Go to www.crucial.com and type in your Motherboard details.
It will tell you what type of RAM, and how much you can fit.

bw..

Robert Blass wrote:
> On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:05:28 -0500, Robert Blass <(E-Mail Removed)>
> sayd the following:
>
>> I'm needing the approved ram list for the ASUS motherboard model
>> A7N8X-X
>>
>> The asus website doesn't seem to have this for such an old board.
>>
>> Also, the MB has [3] ram slots. 2 slots already have two 256mb's in
>> them. Can I add another as 512mb? Is it ok to mix n match like that?
>>
>
>
> I installed that 512mb stick of ram in that computer, now it refuses
> to load xp even in safe mode?
>
> help?
>
>

Try the 512MB stick by itself. You can also test the 256MB sticks,
and see what a good stick looks like, when tested.

Use memtest86+ from memtest.org . It is available for floppy or
as an ISO for a CD. You boot the computer with the floppy or
CD, and the test starts right away.

This is what the test program looks like, while it is running.
No errors are acceptable. Errors will be posted in the bottom
half of the window. The "Pass" counter at the top of the
window, keeps track of completed test passes, and at least
two passes are recommended. That should take an hour or two.

http://memtest.org/pics/nf2-big.gif

Paul

On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:25:32 -0500, Paul <(E-Mail Removed)> sayd the
following:

>Robert Blass wrote:
>> On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:05:28 -0500, Robert Blass <(E-Mail Removed)>
>> sayd the following:
>>
>>> I'm needing the approved ram list for the ASUS motherboard model
>>> A7N8X-X
>>>
>>> The asus website doesn't seem to have this for such an old board.
>>>
>>> Also, the MB has [3] ram slots. 2 slots already have two 256mb's in
>>> them. Can I add another as 512mb? Is it ok to mix n match like that?
>>>
>>
>>
>> I installed that 512mb stick of ram in that computer, now it refuses
>> to load xp even in safe mode?
>>
>> help?
>>
>>
>
>Try the 512MB stick by itself. You can also test the 256MB sticks,
>and see what a good stick looks like, when tested.
>
>Use memtest86+ from memtest.org . It is available for floppy or
>as an ISO for a CD. You boot the computer with the floppy or
>CD, and the test starts right away.
>
>This is what the test program looks like, while it is running.
>No errors are acceptable. Errors will be posted in the bottom
>half of the window. The "Pass" counter at the top of the
>window, keeps track of completed test passes, and at least
>two passes are recommended. That should take an hour or two.
>
>http://memtest.org/pics/nf2-big.gif
>
> Paul

Even though I have hard drive as master and cd drive as slave I CANNOT
get this computer to boot from the cd drive. I even placed the xp
install cd in their and it's like it is ignoring the cd drive????

So, even if I wanted to I couldn't do a repair install which is what
it is suggesting I do.

Good god am I sorry I tried to upgrade that computer :-(

On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:08:20 -0500, Robert Blass <(E-Mail Removed)>
sayd the following:

>On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:25:32 -0500, Paul <(E-Mail Removed)> sayd the
>following:
>
>>Robert Blass wrote:
>>> On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:05:28 -0500, Robert Blass <(E-Mail Removed)>
>>> sayd the following:
>>>
>>>> I'm needing the approved ram list for the ASUS motherboard model
>>>> A7N8X-X
>>>>
>>>> The asus website doesn't seem to have this for such an old board.
>>>>
>>>> Also, the MB has [3] ram slots. 2 slots already have two 256mb's in
>>>> them. Can I add another as 512mb? Is it ok to mix n match like that?
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I installed that 512mb stick of ram in that computer, now it refuses
>>> to load xp even in safe mode?
>>>
>>> help?
>>>
>>>
>>
>>Try the 512MB stick by itself. You can also test the 256MB sticks,
>>and see what a good stick looks like, when tested.
>>
>>Use memtest86+ from memtest.org . It is available for floppy or
>>as an ISO for a CD. You boot the computer with the floppy or
>>CD, and the test starts right away.
>>
>>This is what the test program looks like, while it is running.
>>No errors are acceptable. Errors will be posted in the bottom
>>half of the window. The "Pass" counter at the top of the
>>window, keeps track of completed test passes, and at least
>>two passes are recommended. That should take an hour or two.
>>
>>http://memtest.org/pics/nf2-big.gif
>>
>> Paul
>
>Even though I have hard drive as master and cd drive as slave I CANNOT
>get this computer to boot from the cd drive. I even placed the xp
>install cd in their and it's like it is ignoring the cd drive????
>
>So, even if I wanted to I couldn't do a repair install which is what
>it is suggesting I do.
>
>Good god am I sorry I tried to upgrade that computer :-(
>


NOW I got the cd drive to work, and tried to do a repair install. I
never got that far. It says "error file SETUPDDs.sys, error code #4"
Then it says cannot continue with setup!

It's a freakin cd disc.

oh lord.