ASUS's Approved Ram List?

[Robert Blass]

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?

 

[Dave]

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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820609049

 

[Paul]

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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820609049

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/products/217/217_10.pdf
ftp://ftp.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socka/nforce2/a7n8x-vm/A7N8X-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?board_id=1&model=A7N8X-X&SLanguage=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

 

[Conor]

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.

 

[Robert Blass]

I like the fast and correct answers guys, thanks!

 

[Robert Blass]

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?

 

[meerkat]

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..

 

[Paul]

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

 

[Robert Blass]

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 :-(

 

[Robert Blass]

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.

 

[Paul]

Robert Blass wrote:
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.

I don't want to be a nag, but can we work on one problem at a time ?

You changed memory, and had a problem. Your options at this point in
time are:

1) Go back to 2x256MB and work on your OS problem.

or

2) Test the RAM methodically, before booting into ANY OS. How can
an OS function, if the RAM corrupts everything ? Running on
bad RAM is lunacy. If the motherboard has a Vdimm setting in the
BIOS, set it to 2.7V. (See "Advanced" and "DDR Reference Voltage".)
A little extra voltage helps if the RAM is throwing errors. You
can also adjust memory timing, but I'll address that, only
if you provide feedback that you need it. The Asus "Auto" setting
for RAM, does a good job most of the time.

If you don't want to use the CDROM for memtest86+, you can also
prepare a floppy.

Once *some* RAM configuration is tested/trustworthy, then
go back to the other problems.

(Ref to Setupdd.sys - could be bad RAM or whatever...)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=330181

You *don't* want to do a repair install, if the RAM is bad.
Imagine all those corrupted files you'll be writing to the
disk, and messing up. Imagine how hard that'll be to fix!

Paul

 

[Robert Blass]

Fixed it.


I decided to re-do the ram. THIS TIME I ordered it from highest
density to lowest density from the lowest to the highest channel.

It worked the 1st time I booted.


I however still cannot get MEMTEST86 to boot and run from a cd/dvd
drive.

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?

 

[Paul]

Fixed it.


I decided to re-do the ram. THIS TIME I ordered it from highest
density to lowest density from the lowest to the highest channel.

It worked the 1st time I booted.


I however still cannot get MEMTEST86 to boot and run from a cd/dvd
drive.

A possible problem with the CD, is how you handle an ISO9660.

The ISO9660 has to be burned with a special program. I used
Nero to transfer the contents of the ISO9660 file, to a CD.
(And, of course, Nero is a pig, and it took me quite a while
to figure out how to do it the first time. And if I haven't
done it for a while, it takes me a long time again to figure
it out )

The ISO9660 file has to be read and torn apart, into its
bits and pieces, and then burned to the CD. A program like
Nero knows how to do that.

You cannot just transfer "memtest86+-2.01.iso" to the CD
and have it work. If you can see "memtest86+-2.01.iso" on
the CD in Explorer right now, then you'll need to burn
another CD. And with a tool that knows how to burn an
ISO. The built-in burner that comes with WinXP, doesn't
know how to do that (handle an ISO).

Paul

 

[Robert Blass]

A possible problem with the CD, is how you handle an ISO9660.

The ISO9660 has to be burned with a special program. I used
Nero to transfer the contents of the ISO9660 file, to a CD.
(And, of course, Nero is a pig, and it took me quite a while
to figure out how to do it the first time. And if I haven't
done it for a while, it takes me a long time again to figure
it out )

The ISO9660 file has to be read and torn apart, into its
bits and pieces, and then burned to the CD. A program like
Nero knows how to do that.

You cannot just transfer "memtest86+-2.01.iso" to the CD
and have it work. If you can see "memtest86+-2.01.iso" on
the CD in Explorer right now, then you'll need to burn
another CD. And with a tool that knows how to burn an
ISO. The built-in burner that comes with WinXP, doesn't
know how to do that (handle an ISO).

Paul

Do you know of a program or the method that can burn an ISO?

I'd sure like to use memtest..

 

[Sjouke Burry]

A possible problem with the CD, is how you handle an ISO9660.

The ISO9660 has to be burned with a special program. I used
Nero to transfer the contents of the ISO9660 file, to a CD.
(And, of course, Nero is a pig, and it took me quite a while
to figure out how to do it the first time. And if I haven't
done it for a while, it takes me a long time again to figure
it out )

The ISO9660 file has to be read and torn apart, into its
bits and pieces, and then burned to the CD. A program like
Nero knows how to do that.

You cannot just transfer "memtest86+-2.01.iso" to the CD
and have it work. If you can see "memtest86+-2.01.iso" on
the CD in Explorer right now, then you'll need to burn
another CD. And with a tool that knows how to burn an
ISO. The built-in burner that comes with WinXP, doesn't
know how to do that (handle an ISO).

Paul

Well... I drop an .ISO file onto my NERO icon, and end up with
a bootable cd.(Of course the ISO file must be a bootable one )

 

[Paul]

Do you know of a program or the method that can burn an ISO?

I'd sure like to use memtest..

There are some examples of ISO burning tools here.
Nero is the one I used, because it was bundled with
my CDRW. And I purchased that particular CDRW, because
it came with Nero, and I didn't have to buy anything
else.

http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm

Good sites for getting more info on CD/DVD are cdfreaks.com
(forums + reviews) and cdrinfo.com . There are always now
applications, some free, which are announced on the forums,
and you don't hear about them elsewhere. So it is possible
there are some good ones, not mentioned in the above
article.

Paul