strange RAM problem

[stephen.odonnell]

OK, I have 3 memory sticks:-

1 256 MB PC133
1 128 MB PC100
1 512 MB PC133

The 256MB has been working fine in the PC for some time.

Today I tried to put the 512 in along with it - but it was not
recongised at all. So I take the 256 out, and the 512 is recognised as
128 - strange!

I put the 256 back in and now it is only picking up as 128 too!

So now, no matter which which combination of memory i put in the
machine i get a grand total of 128MB, which is well short of my hoped
750 odd!

I am at a loss as to what is wrong here - has anyone got any
suggestions? Are there any BIOS settings that could affect this (I
did change some, but nothing that seemed relevant).

The PC is a PIII 500 (Packard Bell) Platinum

 

[philo]

OK, I have 3 memory sticks:-

1 256 MB PC133
1 128 MB PC100
1 512 MB PC133

The 256MB has been working fine in the PC for some time.

Today I tried to put the 512 in along with it - but it was not
recongised at all. So I take the 256 out, and the 512 is recognised as
128 - strange!

I put the 256 back in and now it is only picking up as 128 too!

So now, no matter which which combination of memory i put in the
machine i get a grand total of 128MB, which is well short of my hoped
750 odd!

did you try diffrent slots with just one stick of memory at a time?

 

[kony]

OK, I have 3 memory sticks:-

1 256 MB PC133
1 128 MB PC100
1 512 MB PC133

The 256MB has been working fine in the PC for some time.

What chipset does your motherboard use?
That could explain why it wouldn't support the 512MB module
as it's probably high density, and further, the system might
only support 256MB per slot and even limited to only 512MB
total.

Today I tried to put the 512 in along with it - but it was not
recongised at all. So I take the 256 out, and the 512 is recognised as
128 - strange!

I put the 256 back in and now it is only picking up as 128 too!

Try clearing the CMOS. Afterwards, if it still only reports
128MB, I would suspect that it either never worked as 256MB
capacity, OR you have somehow damaged the motherboard,
perhaps through ESD or not unplugging the AC prior to
instaling the memory.

So now, no matter which which combination of memory i put in the
machine i get a grand total of 128MB, which is well short of my hoped
750 odd!

I am at a loss as to what is wrong here - has anyone got any
suggestions? Are there any BIOS settings that could affect this (I
did change some, but nothing that seemed relevant).

The PC is a PIII 500 (Packard Bell) Platinum

Forget about the 512MB module, get a refund on that one if
possible but leave it out of system and try only the
original memory, in the first slot.

 

[stephen.odonnell]

did you try diffrent slots with just one stick of memory at a time?

Yea, I have tried the original memory in each slot at a time - but it
is still no good, only 128MB registered!

 

[stephen.odonnell]

What chipset does your motherboard use?
That could explain why it wouldn't support the 512MB module
as it's probably high density, and further, the system might
only support 256MB per slot and even limited to only 512MB
total.



Try clearing the CMOS. Afterwards, if it still only reports
128MB, I would suspect that it either never worked as 256MB
capacity, OR you have somehow damaged the motherboard,
perhaps through ESD or not unplugging the AC prior to
instaling the memory.

The 256 definately worked as 256 before all this messing about - thats
why I am so confused! I would have thought that ESD would have caused
the PC to not work at all, as oppose to just registering a lower amount
of memory.

By clearing the CMOS do you just mean selecting 'load system defaults'
in the cmos menus?

Forget about the 512MB module, get a refund on that one if
possible but leave it out of system and try only the
original memory, in the first slot.

Unfortunately the 512MB was an ebay purchase - but I guess I can always
sell it again! Already tried the original in the first slot, and all I
get is 128MB.

 

[kony]

The 256 definately worked as 256 before all this messing about - thats
why I am so confused! I would have thought that ESD would have caused
the PC to not work at all, as oppose to just registering a lower amount
of memory.

Not necessarily, ESD can burn out individual paths that
aren't critical to other subsystems. It's a PITA to
troubleshoot (practically unplausible for equipment and cost
reasons).

By clearing the CMOS do you just mean selecting 'load system defaults'
in the cmos menus?

No, disconnect AC to PSU then use the clear CMOS jumper on
the board or pull the battery for 10 minutes.

Unfortunately the 512MB was an ebay purchase - but I guess I can always
sell it again! Already tried the original in the first slot, and all I
get is 128MB.

Sell it, or IF you think it's good (trust the seller) you
could consider getting a more modern motherboard that
supports it. For example, some slot 1 boards (assuming it's
slot 1 or is it socket 370?) had Via 694X, Apollo Pro
something-or-other (694 chipset is more reliable info to use
or the board model #), and would support high density
memory, and "maybe" newer features too.

I don't know whether your other system (Packard Bell)
uniqueness would be a problem or not, would need be checked
for standardization of power and motherboard, maybe software
too if you need ability to reload a factory software image
that relies on the bios identification as a Packard Bell
motherboard.

Anyway, it would be good to have access to other parts if
not another whole & compatible system to test each variable
(board & memory).

 

[stephen.odonnell]

Not necessarily, ESD can burn out individual paths that
aren't critical to other subsystems. It's a PITA to
troubleshoot (practically unplausible for equipment and cost
reasons).



No, disconnect AC to PSU then use the clear CMOS jumper on
the board or pull the battery for 10 minutes.



Sell it, or IF you think it's good (trust the seller) you
could consider getting a more modern motherboard that
supports it. For example, some slot 1 boards (assuming it's
slot 1 or is it socket 370?) had Via 694X, Apollo Pro
something-or-other (694 chipset is more reliable info to use
or the board model #), and would support high density
memory, and "maybe" newer features too.

I don't know whether your other system (Packard Bell)
uniqueness would be a problem or not, would need be checked
for standardization of power and motherboard, maybe software
too if you need ability to reload a factory software image
that relies on the bios identification as a Packard Bell
motherboard.

The PC seems to be working OK for a software point of view - infact its
got Linux installed on it (I use it as a webserver/server/router) so
that should be OK.

Anyway, it would be good to have access to other parts if
not another whole & compatible system to test each variable
(board & memory).

Thanks, some good info there - I should be able to get my hands on
another PC to try the memory out in and verify its integrity and I will
try the clear CMOS route too.

I am getting very tempted to just buy an new motherboard, CPU,
powersupply and memory and build a modernish system out of the
remainder of the parts of the old system (the disks and CD ROM etc in
it are pretty modern compared to the old PIII processor). Hopefully
can gain a few pounds back by selling my old memory on Ebay (provided
it is infact working!).

Thanks for the help.

 

[Manuel Marino]

Very old.... what about an upgrade?

 

[stephen O'D]

Very old.... what about an upgrade?

It is now a P4 3.0 with hyperthreading - i decided it was time ;-)