Computer powering off and can't use 2 RAM sticks at once

[John]

I could use some help with a couple of problems, the first is that my
computer is turning itself off (it just loses power as if you had
unplugged it) roughly once per day. The other problem, which may be
linked, is that when I install 1 stick of RAM the computer works, but when
I put two in I get errors on the boot up and Windows won't load. Both
sticks off RAM work on their own.

The problems started when my PSU shorted out and killed my motherboard
(and probably damaged other components). I bought a new PSU and
motherboard and also repaired my Win XP instillation since my Hard Drive
had picked up some errors in the process. After that the power offs
started. I bought some new RAM to see if that was causing the power offs
but it didn't help, this is also when I found the two RAM sticks problem.

So in short:

What could cause a computer to work with 1 stick of RAM but not 2 (I tried
using different DIMM slots since my mother board can have the RAM in any
combination in them but it didn't help) is it just the motherboard or
could the CPU or other component cause it?

Could the RAM problem be related to what is causing the power offs (e.g.
could the CPU be damaged and causing the RAM issue as well as power offs)
and what would people suggest I try next to fix the power offs, buying a
new CPU or Hard Drive?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks,
John


648F Neo-L
AMI Version 07.00T (date: 07/03/02)
Intel Pentium 4, 2.26
Crucial PC2100 DDR-DIMM 512MB CL2.5
Generic Memory 184-P DDR-DIMM PC2100 512MB DDR CL2
MSI AGP GeForce4 Ti4400
Thermaltake Purepower 460W PSU ATX12v 2.0 (+3.3V, 30A : +5V, 30A : +12V,
15A : +12V, 15A : -12V, 0.3A : +5VSB, 2.0A)
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 160GB (IDE 1)
Plextor CD recorder IDE 40x/12x/40x (IDE 2)
DVD drive, not sure what make
Win XP Professional, SP 2

 

[jaster]

I could use some help with a couple of problems, the first is that my
computer is turning itself off (it just loses power as if you had
unplugged it) roughly once per day. The other problem, which may be
linked, is that when I install 1 stick of RAM the computer works, but when
I put two in I get errors on the boot up and Windows won't load. Both
sticks off RAM work on their own.

The problems started when my PSU shorted out and killed my motherboard
(and probably damaged other components). I bought a new PSU and
motherboard and also repaired my Win XP instillation since my Hard Drive
had picked up some errors in the process. After that the power offs
started. I bought some new RAM to see if that was causing the power offs
but it didn't help, this is also when I found the two RAM sticks problem.

So in short:

What could cause a computer to work with 1 stick of RAM but not 2 (I tried
using different DIMM slots since my mother board can have the RAM in any
combination in them but it didn't help) is it just the motherboard or
could the CPU or other component cause it?

Could the RAM problem be related to what is causing the power offs (e.g.
could the CPU be damaged and causing the RAM issue as well as power offs)
and what would people suggest I try next to fix the power offs, buying a
new CPU or Hard Drive?

Yeah, I'd say slot 1crucial & slot 3 generic but you say you've tried that
and you have a new psu and m/b.

Any messages in the XP system events logs around the time of shutdown?
Did you try both sticks with the bios set to optimal or default settings?
Do the power offs occur at all with just one stick?
Everything (pci, agp, memory, hsf) seated properly and grounded?
Did you MemTest the memory especially the generic? Because sometimes
memory does fail and looks like a psu problem.

 

[John]

Thanks for the reply!

I forgot to say in my first post that the two memory sticks I have been
trying are identical: KingMax PC2700 SuperRam 333mhz 512mb ddr oem. I've
done some more tests, first I tried both sticks on their own, they both
worked. Then I tried them both together, windows didn't load (blue screen
of death), then both together with the cas set to 2.5 in the bios, the
same thing happened. I also tried installing a single stick in the second
DIMM slot to see if that was faulty, but it works fine.

The RAM I have in my spec list was what I was using before the PSU fried,
it worked fine but when I installed the new motherboard one stopped
working (or so I thought), but I am starting to think it was fine but it
was just this error with the computer not working with more then one ram
stick.

I think I have ruled out the RAM being faulty since I have tried all 3 on
their own and with each other in various combinations (all work on their
own and all combinations fail when together). Could this be anything other
then the motherboard being faulty?

Thanks again!
John

 

[jaster]

Thanks for the reply!

I forgot to say in my first post that the two memory sticks I have been
trying are identical: KingMax PC2700 SuperRam 333mhz 512mb ddr oem. I've
done some more tests, first I tried both sticks on their own, they both
worked. Then I tried them both together, windows didn't load (blue screen
of death), then both together with the cas set to 2.5 in the bios, the
same thing happened. I also tried installing a single stick in the second
DIMM slot to see if that was faulty, but it works fine.

The RAM I have in my spec list was what I was using before the PSU fried,
it worked fine but when I installed the new motherboard one stopped
working (or so I thought), but I am starting to think it was fine but it
was just this error with the computer not working with more then one ram
stick.

I think I have ruled out the RAM being faulty since I have tried all 3 on
their own and with each other in various combinations (all work on their
own and all combinations fail when together). Could this be anything other
then the motherboard being faulty?

Thanks again!
John

Sorry not really. About time to exchange the motherboard and/or psu
before the exchange period expires. Assuming no faulty wiring, the wife
or kid pulling a plug, ups battery dying.

BTW, any messages in the XP system events logs around the time of
shutdown? Did you try both sticks with the bios set to optimal or default
settings? Do the power offs occur at all with just one stick? Everything
(pci, agp, memory, hsf) seated properly and grounded?