Author Topic: Got new RAM, Now AH Won't work. (Read 452 times)

Denholm · « **on:** December 26, 2006, 10:57:01 AM »

Hey all, I got some new RAM for Christmas. I got two "PQ1 DDR Dual Channel Performance Memory". Here is a link to the company that made the RAM:
http://www.pqimemory.com

Well, I installed the RAM into my system. No problems on the first start up. The only problem came today when I started hosting AH. I'm not sure if it's a Virus, a mad player, or simply a problem with the combination of the RAM and the game. Yet today I was hosting, and 8 minutes into hosting had to eject a player for refusing to re-log because he was warping. 2 minutes after ejecting him I got an error screen telling me that a dump of my physical memory had started and that I needed to force-shutdown.

After restart I decided to host again, after the arena had loaded and I was about to switch to the Knight's side my computer froze for 2 seconds and restarted automatically. Now, whenever I host I open my TS (Team Speak) server and Client. I also shut down any unnecessary programs including Explorer.exe (Desktop, this helps prevent memory loss from an accidental hit on the "windows key"). Hosting this way has NEVER caused any problems for me until today when I was hosting for the first time with my new RAM.

Now, I'm not sure what all you need, but I gave you the whole story. I'm gonna run a few virus and spyware scans now to determine if it was indeed a virus or something of that nature. If it was I will alert you here and hopefully be done with this problem.

Thanks in advance!

Skuzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** December 26, 2006, 02:28:29 PM »

If the problems started after the RAM change, I would go back to the original RAM and see if the problem goes away. If it does, then you have your culprit.

Then again, if you installed this RAM in conjuntin with your old RAM, that could be problem as well. Take out the old and run only the new. or vice-versa to determine where the fault lies.

Denholm · « **Reply #2 on:** December 26, 2006, 03:05:28 PM »

I will try once I get a response from the maker of the product. Considering it has a lifetime warranty I don't want to do something to jeopardise that. One other thing I wanted to mention. This problem has continued and only appearing when my Physical memory usage reaches the 3/4 point or beyond. It seems one of the sticks is being registered, yet is not somehow capable of being used causing the system to crash cause it thinks something got disconnected.

Either way, one of the three sticks in my system is un-accessible. One more thing, if I had to remove my old stick of RAM, how would I be able to use it along with the two sticks I just installed? Cause Removing the old stick would pretty much put me in the same seat I had before, 330 MB of RAM.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 26, 2006, 03:29:00 PM »

Wait a minute. You have 3 sticks of RAM in that computer? Some motherboards, which support dual-channel, cannot have an odd number of sticks in them.

For instance. It might be ok to only have one stick of RAM in the motherabord, but once you have 2 sticks, you can only add 2 more sticks.

Also, if the stick is different enough in specs, it could have problems working with the two new new ones.

AKDogg · « **Reply #4 on:** December 26, 2006, 04:07:10 PM »

post your dxdiag for us. It will help us determine what u got and give us a better way to help ya.

Denholm · « **Reply #5 on:** December 26, 2006, 04:33:48 PM »

Okay skuzzy, I understand what your saying. I guess its time to buy another stick of RAM.

AKDogg · « **Reply #6 on:** December 26, 2006, 05:06:10 PM »

that doesn't help us. See that button called save all information. Click on that. It will compile a dxdiag.txt file. after it does that open that file and copy/paste that info here. BTW, u only need the first 50% of that list. I believe up to and including system devices.

Denholm · « **Reply #7 on:** December 26, 2006, 06:38:40 PM »

It's quite a lot to paste, so I'll just send you the download link to the file:
http://603sqdrn.collectivelyspaced.com/DxDiag.zip

EDIT: Skuzzy, I'll use your method when I shutdown tonight. The manufacturer of the product replied only with the details of how to send back the product and get my money back. Cheap way of saying "We can't help you!"

AKDogg · « **Reply #8 on:** December 26, 2006, 10:50:48 PM »

Well, according to the manuel I downloaded for your MB, it says u can't use both sdram and DDR ram together. Aparently your motherboard supports 2 slots for sdram and 2 slots for DDR ram and can't exceed 1 gig worth total of ram. Your computer will not boot with both sdram and ddr ram together. They use 2 different memory clock speeds. The DDR ram will be faster then the SDRAM. This is right out of the manuel for your MB.

Processor
   • Supports AMD Athlon XP/Athlon/Duron processors
   • Supports 200/266 MHz Front-Side Bus

Note: Processors are automatically configured using firmware and a synchronous Host/DRAM Clock Scheme.
Memory
   • Two 168-pin DIMM slots for SDRAM memory modules
   • Two 184-pin DIMM slots for DDR memory modules
   • Support SDRAM up to 133 MHz /DDR up to 266 MHz memory bus
   • Maximum installed memory is 1GB

Note: You cannot use SDRAM and DDR simultane-ously.
Expansion Slots
   • One AMR slot for a special audio/modem riser card
   • One AGP4X slot for AGP 2.0-compliant interface
   • Five 32-bit PCI slots for PCI 2.2-compliant bus interface

Denholm · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2006, 09:45:14 AM »

Well, I built the computer with my neighbor, he took all my manuals. So your telling me I can't use my old RAM (SDRAM) with 1 stick of my new RAM (DDR)? That just plain stinks.

AKDogg · « **Reply #10 on:** December 27, 2006, 10:06:31 AM »

sry but that is how your MB manufacture designed the board. Like I said earlier though, use the DDR ram as it has a faster throughput then sdram.

Denholm · « **Reply #11 on:** December 27, 2006, 10:10:03 AM »

I will shut down and do that now, thanks again SO MUCH for the assistance. I learned so much in these 2 days.

AKDogg · « **Reply #12 on:** December 27, 2006, 10:21:37 AM »

BTW, if u still have problems with the memory dump, do a search for memtest86. U will have to create a bootable floopy for this program. What it does is boots off the floppy disk and runs a seriers of test on your ram. U have to run the program for like 20-30 mins to get a accurate reading of what your ram is doing. It will tell u if u getting errors from your ram. If u are then your ram is bad and needs to be replaced.

Godd luck.

Denholm · « **Reply #13 on:** December 27, 2006, 10:25:57 AM »

Alright, I took out my SDRAM, inserted both my my DDR RAM sticks. Now the readings are even BETTER. Before I was getting an NVRAM memory test on boot up that only went to about 700,000 KB. Now the test goes to over 1,000,000 KB. Plus my "MEM Usage" statistics in the Task Manager are even better than when I had all 3 sticks in my Motherboard.

Thanks again, I'll keep what you said in mind if it occurs again while I'm hosting.

AKDogg · « **Reply #14 on:** December 27, 2006, 10:31:20 AM »

Anytime, also note that u are at your max in the amount of memory your MB can handle. 1 gig is max for your motherboard.