Memory problem, advice please.

Hi. Wonder if anyone can help me.

I brought 256MB of DDR400 3200 memory off ebay, so I could add more to my pc but I'm a bit confused.

All my existing memory works at 200mhz but when I put in this 256MB, it drops to about 166mhz. Can anyone tell me why it drops to 166mhz when it is DDR400?.

I have got some pictures for you to look at, I used CPU-Z.

This is memory slot 1
[IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o199/Noname150/th_DDRslot1.jpg[/IMG]


This is memory slot 3
[IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o199/Noname150/th_DDRslot3.jpg[/IMG]


These two work fine but when I add the DDR 400 256MB Ram on slot 2, it drops.

Memory slot 3 with the 256MB memory.
[IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o199/Noname150/th_DDRslot2.jpg[/IMG]


This is the main memory page with my total and spec is, this is without the 256MB memory stick.
[IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o199/Noname150/th_mainmemory.jpg[/IMG]


And this is the main memory page, with the 256MB memory stick
[IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o199/Noname150/th_mainmemory2.jpg[/IMG]


As you can see, it is not 200MHZ anymore, can anyone explian why and would it make a difference on my system's performance?

Thank you, David

It looks like you're using matched pairs of memory in slots 1+3. You would therefore need to again use matched pairs (IE: the memory has to be 2x256Mb, 2x512Mb, etc) in slots 2+4 otherwise you will see a performance hit.

I *could* be wrong on this, but that's what it looks like to me..

Hi, thank you for your reply, I have had a look in my motherboard manual and it does not say anything about using pairs of memory.

The two memory sticks I have are both different and work ok, it's just this 256MB one that does not.

David

Im not expert and I havent looked at your links so I maybe barking up the wrong tree but Im sure one of my old mobos which had three ram slots worked at a faster speed if only two slots where used. Using the 3rd slot slowed it all down regardless of the speed of the ram used. check your mobo instructions.

In reply to:

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Using the 3rd slot slowed it all down regardless of the speed of the ram used

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Yes, this was a common 'feature' on older Via chipset-based motherboards, as I recall.

Which motherboard is it? I had a similar problem adding a 1GB stick to an existing 2 512MB stick setup. When I then looked at the mobo manuals table for what memory could be in which slots and what combinations I could use I discovered my assumption that it would work was wrong. As you have found the memory is seen but the speed drops. Luckily I was about to build a PC for someone so they got my 2 512MB sticks and I bought another 1GB.
The motherboard I had the problem with was an ASUS K8V-SE Deluxe.

Hi, guess what, that is exactly my motherboard lol.
ASUS K8V-SE Deluxe, I alway thought that ASUS motherboards whas one of the best.

It just says max 3GB memory and an old list of compatible memory. It also says DDR Dimm's with more than 18 chips are not supported but my 256MB only has 8.

So is the motherboard the problem, not the memory?

David

In reply to:

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So is the motherboard the problem, not the memory?

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Afraid so.

In reply to:

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Yes, this was a common 'feature' on older Via chipset-based motherboards, as I recall.

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Which is why they had 3 rather than the more common/sensible 4 slots - adding the 4th caused the motherboard to stop working altogether.

Ok thanks. Can you recommend a, socket 754 amd 64 2GHZ or higher motherboard and where it does not have these memory problems.

Thank you David

Not me sorry. My solution was to just fit 2 1GB sticks instead and "sell" my 512 sticks to the person whos computer I was building. Ebuyer returned 36 matches to socket 754 mobos so there are more available than I imagined so maybe pick the top few that have all you want and download their manuals to check memory configurations?