ok i need new RAM too...what to do

[keanej6]

so after a good hour of talking and running tests with a microsoft rep, she concluded that my RAM is either no good, or the sticks are running at different speeds which is leading to my computer crashing when i play video games (wow)

so i was thinking of getting one stick of 1gb ram and maybe buying another one later if i want to, but a coworker advised me against that saying that i should get 2 sticks now because they 'have to be the same'. i still don't know why i can't just buy one now and another one later, but that's what he told me.

right now i have 2 512mb sticks, and if they are indeed running at different speeds as the rep suggested, how can tell which one is defected/broken? can i buy like a 1gb stick and use the other working 512mb stick to equate to 1.5gigs of RAM? should i just stop being such a bitch and buy 2 gigs of ram? what should i do?

[owkia]

First of all, your RAM won't run at different speeds. Your computer will automatically slow the fastest sticks down to the same speed as the slowest sticks. As for seeing if they're bad or not, just leave one stick installed and run Memtest86. After you run it for a while (try to get at least 8 hours in) pull that stick out, install the other on its own and run it again. That way you can see if each individual stick is good or not. I'd do that first and then go from there.

[keanej6]

wow thanks for the fast response. it's been 2 years since i upgraded any hardware so i'm thinking it's about time to add some RAM anyways.

what was my coworker saying about not being able to buy 1 stick now and another later? that doesn't make sense to me. i have 3 slots on my motherboard.

[Redo]

What type of ram? DDR or DDR2?


In any case, RAM is dirt cheap. Go for 2x1gb of RAM.

[owkia]

DDR RAM isn't as cheap due to the demand being lower for it, but DDR2 is insanely cheap right now.

You can add different RAM later and it shouldn't cause problems, but some motherboards can be picky about the RAM used in them. If you're still running an older system on DDR I'd probably recommend just saving your money until you can go for a larger upgrade for your whole system.

[Aevum]

the main issue with mixing different speed memory modules isnt the actually speed, its the access times and latency, if you´re gonna use dual channel DDR, both modules have to be identical, even if you manualy fix the latency and speeds, access times will be different, can cuase problems later on

[lordmozilla]

lol i love microsoft reps.... they seem about as stupid as dell reps from what you say ^^^

so basically, ram can only run at one speed. It can only run at one latency and CAS timing as well.

with 1gb of ram, are you running XP or vista? I'd say with vista that's short (you need 2gb) with xp it's probably fine.

Next thing to do is Memtest86. That will tell you if there is an error in your ram. if there is one, then take a stick out and try just one stick. You can then eliminate if its the ram or the motherboard/cpu. To get memtest 86 just download a ubuntu iso, and on the grub menu select memory test. It'll need at least 10hrs. Try do 4 passes.

You can then isolate wether the problem is windows or your hardware. Another thing worth checking is prime95 or orthos if you have a dual/quad core cpu. Load your cpu for 10hrs and if it crashes there is a problem, if not its your game.

And as for the guy one post up saying about latency and timings, its only ever really an issue at the start of production, for example DDR3 timings are only starting to be good, so its an issue with cheap DDR3, but even cheap DDR can get to 2.5CAS now and DDR2 timings are real low even on cheap stuff.

Work out what CPU you have, its pointless getting anything more than 800mhz DDR2 if you dont overclock, but remember that intel FSB is quad pumped so if you have a 1066FSB (like my Q6600) then 533 is really ideal cause thats quarter (it's DDR2, so half the frequency). I actually run 667mhz cause i overclock to a 1333FSB. But as you can see paying extra for 800mhz is kind of pointless and it has been proven that having weird multiplyers screws everything up. But at the price of DDR2, 800mhz is probably the best pick.

If your on DDR, that means you are on A64 most likely, DDR aint too bad still, there are porbably some cheap sticks on ebay from people who thing because its DDR and not DDR2 it'll be cheaper, which isnt true because production is slowing down to a halt.

Well i hope that helped.

[keanej6]

wow thanks guys

[patalp]

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[OverlordXenu]

Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

Why not make sure your ram is bad, first?