Having some memory problems, old 866mhz

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OmicroN

OmicroN

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I am working on a friend's computer. It is a Asus motherboard, with a Pentium 3 866mhz. I just installed a single 512MB memory chip with the aluminum heat sink. He is running windows 98, just as an extra fact. When I installed the memory, in Slot 1, it only recognized 1/2 the memory. It is running around 260mb of ram at the moment. What i'm thinking, is the problem is windows 98, I don't think that it can recognize the full memory.

I need some help pretty quick, thanks to anyone who helps.
 
Update the bios. If that doesn't help, there might be a patch for it in windows. Run windows update
 
If its Win98SE, then Windows most likely isn't the problem. My dad is running Win98SE and has 512MB ram and it recognizes it all no problem.
 
Does he have a single 512 disk, or does he have a few to make up 512 total? The thing is, he just has a single 512.

Thanks integra for that tid-bit.

Emad, I just updated the bios from 1009 to 1014.001. The only thing it did was recognize 2 more MB of ram, it's at 262mb of ram now. I am taking his other blank hard drive, and putting windows xp pro on it. I don't know what will happen, it's probably a wasted effort. Maybe his Asus motherboard is just crap, lol.

thanks for trying though. :)
 
What type of ram is it and what type does the motherboard accept? It will be marked either ddr### or pc####. I was thinking the ram might be too recent for a motherboard that would be running a slow speeded chip like that. You said yourself the motherboard is crap, and hetasinks usually come on the latest and greatest ram sticks. Compatibility error between the two.
 
antihero
What type of ram is it and what type does the motherboard accept? It will be marked either ddr### or pc####. I was thinking the ram might be too recent for a motherboard that would be running a slow speeded chip like that. You said yourself the motherboard is crap, and hetasinks usually come on the latest and greatest ram sticks. Compatibility error between the two.
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I think that if this was the case, it wouldn't recognize any of it. It did recognize some of it.
 
Old motherboard + dual side memory modules.. Match made in hell.... Won't work.. Sorry...
 
Flerbizky
Old motherboard + dual side memory modules.. Match made in hell.... Won't work.. Sorry...
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Is that the final diagnostic?

The motherboard is set for PC133, 168pin dimm. I bought that exact thing. Here is the shipping info, minus a few small details.

512MB PC-133 (64X4) 64X64 MM-SD13512H
Cooling Option = High Grade Aluminum
Generic High Density
heat spreader (+$4.00)
Standard SDRAM
Processing = Normal processing
(Shipped)
USPS Tracking Number:
Option = Standard 1 year
replacement
Subtotal 47.00
Coupon discount (sdram) -7.95
Subtotal 39.05
Shipping 7.95
Tax 0.00
Total 47.00

This completes your order. Thank you for shopping with us.
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The motherboard is an Asus CUSL2-C. The processor is a Pentium 3 866mhz. 133mhz FSB, 133 memory speed.

In the book, it reads that each slot recognizes 512 max. I loaded the single 512 chip into slot 1, and let it go from there. Can't exceed 512 either.

Another thing, I heard you shouldn't do this, but i'll ask from another source. Can you mix and match brands of ram and have it work fine? Since he had 256 in there before, and it only recognizes 256 of the new one, could I possibly add the older 256 in there with that?

I'm thinking that kind of move would be a little risky.

Thank you all for your feedback. :sly:
 
OmicroN
Is that the final diagnostic?
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Yes... Unfortunately...

In the book, it reads that each slot recognizes 512 max. I loaded the single 512 chip into slot 1, and let it go from there. Can't exceed 512 either.
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It probably can. But newer dual side memory modules requires more power. And finding a single side 512Mb stick... Good luck !..

Another thing, I heard you should do this, but i'll ask from another source. Can you mix and match brands of ram and have it work fine? Since he had 256 in there before, and it only recognizes 256 of the new one, could I possibly add the older 256 in there with that?
Click to expand...
You can easily get away with 2 diff. brand sticks of 256Mb. Since the SDRAM timings are a lot slower than todays high speed, this won't be a problem. My server (which is a 800Mhz Sellery, 133Mhz FSB) is running 3 diff. sticks of 256Mb...

I'm thinking that kind of move would be a little risky.
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Not risky whatsoever !...
 

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