I have 3 slots in my old computer for RAM. It currently has a single 512mb in it. My brother gave me 3 more 512's so I thought id speed this baby up. We put them in and when all 3 were in, my computer stayed on the black screen with no boot up. Pulled one out and it kept re-booting over and over. Pulled that one out and with my original one in, my computer started back up, but my AVAST got corrupted and I couldn't fix it. Put the 3rd one back in (with my original one) and it started up but when I clicked a program, it kept crashing. Pulled that one out and re-installed Avast using my original 512 ram and I'm back to normal... Any ideas why the new ram won't work? Is there something in the re-setting bios's ?

I'm not an expert but I think that it may be that your computer cannot take that amount of memory. My PC has the same problem. We had a technician try to add extra memory and the computer couldn't take it. Unfortunately I don't think that there is a way of solving this.

If your computer is slow, have you tried having your operating system (E.g. Windows) reinstalled? That solved the issues on my computer and now it runs quite fast after a few years of dragging and running at 100% most of the time.

What is your Operating System?

Was the additional RAM you inserted the correct type? Just because it fit in the slot doesn't mean it's the right kind!

What numbers are on the current stick?
Numbers on the new sticks?

You can use a free program called SIW (system information windows) to see the model of your motherboard, and then look it up on the manufacturers site to find out what the total limit of memory is, and also what's compatible. Besides size (512), memory sticks also have a speed ratting and usually its OK to use different speeds but the system will default to the lowest stick speed for all sticks. There is also a chip rating (70ns or 60ns) and the two don't like to mix.

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Originally Posted by Appzalien

You can use a free program called SIW (system information windows) to see the model of your motherboard, and then look it up on the manufacturers site to find out what the total limit of memory is, and also whats compatible. Besides size (512), memory sticks also have a speed ratting and usually its ok to use different speeds but the system will default to the lowest stick speed for all sticks. There is also a chip rating (70ns or 60ns) and the two don't like to mix.

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RAM limit is dependent on either being 32-bit or 64-bit. There is no need to look up the model number of your MOBO and search and search to find the answer.

If you're running a 32-bit OS then your limit is 4GB. If you're running a 64-bit then it's dependent on OS (8GB-192GB).

Since your OS complies with MOBO (and other specs) you can't have a 32-bit MOBO running a 64-bit OS.

There's no need to send the OP all over to find something he/she can find in 10seconds on their PC.

I have this Belarc results I ran, I will pop the stick out after work today and read the numbers of it as well as the new ones I have and post the results. Thanks for helping me sort this out.

http://i73.servimg.com/u/f73/13/13/62/34/belarc10.jpg

It's hard to read but I can see that your running XP Pro 32-bit, with 3 available slots and 1 slot taken by 512mb. Your max allowable RAM is 4GB. I am attempting to read the MOBO # to get a read on compatible RAM but I think it's too small to read ;)

http://i73.servimg.com/u/f73/13/13/62/34/belarc11.jpg

I believe this is your board. I couldn't really read it so I took an educated guess.

VIA P4X400 Chipset - VIA Technologies, Inc.

If you take the existing RAM stick and put in slot A0 does your desktop bootup? How about A1?

I remember, when we tried on Friday, my original 512 stick , worked in all 3 slots by itself. When I added another, it booted up, said I was running 1 gig, but everything went crazy, my avast got corrupt, my windows live mail crashed, and it would re-boot all by itself

I would agree with calidad0f3 about a conflict in RAM types... when you get a chance give us the numbers on all sticks and we can pinpoint whether this was the case!

Again, just because they physcially fit doesn't mean it belongs!

http://i73.servimg.com/u/f73/13/13/62/34/belarc12.jpg

Here's the 3 sticks my brother gave me

http://i73.servimg.com/u/f73/13/13/62/34/p1000212.jpg

You realize you only have 3 slots right? You have 4 sticks... can you post a pic of the current stick?

Here is s direct link to the belarc, those smaller ones will be deleted , sorry for the confusion.

http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?I=175&u=13136234

Yes, I realize that. He gave me 3 so, I tried to put 2 in with my old one...

I will admit up front hardware is not my specialty. So califdad0f3 (or others) will correct me if I am wrong but...

I see nothing wrong with the type of memory in the pics above. The PC3200u are DDR400 sticks... which; according to the MOBO manual, 400mhz bus frequencies are supported.

Again, I am not even sure my MOBO link is for the correct MOBO. I will have to see your current stick to compare. Again, others will be around to help! (It's Monday so a lot of us are working) (I'm at work, just bored :D)

UH OH, Check this out!

Haha, thanks a lot, I have to "go" to work , paint a condo :( Here is my existing stick, I put it back in the farthest slot this time, and now my avast won't work again. It has a red x over it and I can't get it going . I think I have more problems...

http://i73.servimg.com/u/f73/13/13/62/34/p1000213.jpg

Well that link I posted was saying that the MOBO was iffish and didn't always work with DDR400 RAM but your original stick is DDR400 so that isn't the issue. Your additional sticks are DDR400 as well. I would wait for califdadof3 to come around because I think it's more then a RAM issue!

Sounds good... I will try and take a peak at lunch time to see if I can answer some more questions to help you guys solve this...

Your VIA Chipset P4X400-8235 only supports memory modules made with a specific type of chip. Should you find what seems to be the same memory modules elsewhere for a lower price, it is very possible that the cheaper memory modules will not work in your system. By using Memory-Up's Memory Finder,

Ref:

VIA Chipset P4X400-8235 184pin Desktop RAM Memory Upgrade


VIA Chipset P4X400-8235 Specification Memory Type: DDR
Memory Speed: PC2700, PC3200
Chipset: VIA Apollo P4X400 Chipset :
A group of chips that together make up a complete computer processing unit, usually on one circuit board (the motherboard). It may include the main central processor, graphics processors, secondary cache memory, and input-output controllers. Memory is one component controlled by the chipset.


Memory Type: Non-ECC Non-Registered,
Memory Slot(s): 3
Max. Memory Per System: 3072MB (3GB)
Max. Memory Per Slot: 1024MB (1GB)
Dual Channel Memory Support: Not Supported Dual Channel :
A development in motherboard and chipset design that allows for increased bandwidth transfer when using two or more memory modules in separate transfer channels. These separate channels allow each module access to the memory controller, increasing throughput bandwidth. It is a good idea to use matched pairs of modules to ensure the best compatibility for dual channel operation.


Tri-Channel Memory Support: Not Support Tri-Channel :
A development in motherboard and chipset design that allows for increased bandwidth transfer when using three or more memory modules in separate transfer channels. These separate channels allow each module access to the memory controller, increasing throughput bandwidth. It is a good idea to use matched three modules to ensure the best compatibility for tri-channel operation.


Install Memory in Pairs: Not Required




There is all the specs you need. If you try mixing non ecc with ecc they have a conflict.

Max memory for that board is 3 gig.

"RAM limit is dependant on either being 32-bit or 64-bit. There is no need to look up the model number of your MOBO and search and search to find the answer. "

That's for the Operating System (x64 vs x86) not hardware. Every motherboard has a stick size and speed limit as well as a max capacity. If a Mobo has 4 slots and its max capacity is 2 gig, you can only fill the slots with four 512's. If your link is correct, that mobo can take 16gig, or four 4gig sticks max.

Come to think of it, if his motherboard has 3 slots, there's no way the max memory would be 16gig since its not divisible by three. So your guess at his board is most likely incorrect.

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Originally Posted by Appzalien

Come to think of it, if his motherboard has 3 slots, there's no way the max memory would be 16gig since its not divisible by three. So your guess at his board is most likely incorrect.

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My guess at the board was semi-correct. That link is for the Px400 genrealized chipset. The exact chipset for the OP is P4x400-8235. It does have 3 slots with a max of 3GB being supported (1GB max per slot) by that MOBO. I mispoke in my earlier post and corrected myself with the OP & califdadof3 via PM earlier...

Thanks for the clarification though... (the specs for the P4x400-8235 are below) as posted by califdadof3

Memory Type: Non-ECC Non-Registered,
Memory Slot(s): 3
Max. Memory Per System: 3072MB (3GB)
Max. Memory Per Slot: 1024MB (1GB)
Dual Channel Memory Support: Not Supported Dual Channel :
A development in motherboard and chipset design that allows for increased bandwidth transfer when using two or more memory modules in separate transfer channels. These separate channels allow each module access to the memory controller, increasing throughput bandwidth. It is a good idea to use matched pairs of modules to ensure the best compatibility for dual channel operation.

http://www.memory-up.com/Memory/VIAChipset14347.html

How to indent a desktop memory module?

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Originally Posted by raj0143

How to indent a desktop memory module?

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Can you explain what your trying to do?