[HELP] BSOD after memory upgrade

James Morgen

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Apr 26, 2014
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Hello everyone!
I recently bought a new ram stick to upgrade my pc.
Primarily I had 1GB of DDR2 desktop memory with the new one now I have together 3GB of DDR2 memory.

System spec:


  • OS: Windows XP Professional SP3
    CPU: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3500+
    MB: ASUS M2N-MX SE Plus
    RAM(s):
    KINGMAX 1GB DDR2-800MHz (old one)
    Nanya Technology M2Y2G64TU8HD5B-AC 2GB DDR2-800MHz (new one)
    Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 4300/4500 Series

The Problem:
When I install every stick (1GB+2GB) my computer sometimes won't boot, sometimes it does.
So when it boots normally I get random BSOD crashes after few minutes. Most error type is "PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA" or "PFN_LIST_CORRUPT". Or if no BSOD appers my system becames unstalbe. I mean lot of program/services crashes or stopes working etc.
When only the old ram are in the machine everything works fine like before.
When only the new ram are in something crashes (programs, services) and sometimes the BSOD again.
So as summary old ram works fine, new ram has problems. But what problems?
And when they are in together the possiblity of BSOD becames so high. This is my trouble.
PC detects all of the memory (3GB) and uses it too.
Sometimes the BSOD won't apper for few hours. Sometimes appers when the ram usage is goes higher than 45%. So I really don't understand what's the problem.
The stick are totally same except their names and sizes.

I have tried:

  • Using the stick alone and together too.
    Loading the default settings of BIOS.
    Updating, downgrading the bios.
    Changing the voltage of the stick to higher and to lower too.
I ran memtest86+ and all of the stick are passed 3 times, BUT the new stick are passed at the frist time, second time it failed with over 650.000 erros (LOL) 3th time it passed again without any error. All of my drivers are the lastest version. All windows update are installed.
I didn't overclock anything so another CPU frequency can't cause the problem.
So guys I need your help to slove this problem because the PC with 1GB ram is so slow and I can't play games or use visual studio because everything is lag. :(

I hope someone with better knowledge can help me out.
Thanks in advance. :)
 

EdwardElric

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Apr 21, 2014
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1.The first thing to do is reinstall the original RAM. If the BSOD's go away, the new RAM is the problem. If the BSOD's continue, you have something else wrong.
2.Maybe check if the ram timings are slightly different between modules.
solution - set timings manually for the slowest timed ram.

3 - the ram is actually faulty. (the fact that everthing work fine with the old RAM)

4 - this ram is not on your motherboard manufacturers supported list and may not work.
5) Rebooted Windows to install updates
 

James Morgen

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Apr 26, 2014
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Yes BSOD goes away if only the original ram are in use.
But the new ram stick is a brand new from the shop.
Yes I can find it on motherboard manufacturers supported list so it can't cause the problem.
But something about the timings.. They are not the same. I mean the last value of the new higher than the old's.
How can I manually change the timing? There is no option or menu in the bios to do it.. Any ideas? :(
 

EdwardElric

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Apr 21, 2014
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their should be an option in the Bios, try again
Navigate to the "Advanced" menu using the arrow keys on your keyboard, and then press "Enter." Select the "DRAM" or "Memory" sub-menu (the name varies by manufacturer) to view the RAM timings.

or check you mobo manual
 

Hazza G

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Apr 14, 2014
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I'm afraid that extending ram capacity is not as simple as just adding any old ram. You need to have checked the ram timings and speeds before purchasing. It is usually a good idea to purchase the exact same ram.

Changing the ram timings may not help, since the ram may not be able to accommodate the timings that you set for it.

Also, I notice that one is 1gb and the other is 2gb. This is unusual, and I am unsure how windows reacts to this. You should keep memory expansion to powers of 2. 1gb is actually 1024mb, and 2gb is 2048mb which are both powers of 2, but together (3gb or 3072mb) they are not a power of 2. This is usually simplified to keeping your ram as a MULTIPLE of 2. So 2, 4, 8, 16 etc
 

James Morgen

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Apr 26, 2014
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thank you for your quick reply guys. Tomorrow I will check these things and yes now I know: buying ram without meansuring the timmings was a bad idea.. I will post the result tomorrow :)
 

James Morgen

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Apr 26, 2014
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OKay guys, I changed the timings. Now everything is same except the RFC. what is it? xD
Just the rfc is the difference nothing more.

Here are the timings table for Everest:
Old (1GB) : @ 200 MHz 3-3-3-9 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 12-21-2-3-2-2 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)
@ 266 MHz 4-4-4-12 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 16-28-2-4-2-2 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)
@ 400 MHz 5-5-5-18 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 23-42-3-6-3-3 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)

New (2GB) : @ 200 MHz 3-3-3-9 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 12-26-2-3-2-2 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)
@ 266 MHz 4-4-4-12 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 16-34-2-4-2-2 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)
@ 400 MHz 5-5-5-18 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 23-51-3-6-3-3 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)

So the question: Can this only one value cause BSOD? All value except RFC now the same.
What now guys?
btw 25 mins without BSOD after using memset :D THis is a very big inprovment now :D
 

EdwardElric

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Apr 21, 2014
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in the future if their is a problem you can download AIDA64 (extreme edition the trial version) to check compatiblity between RAM and run memory Benchmarks. timings dont have to always be the same, even any of the values , depending on the RAM you have. If you have any problems let us know.:)
 

James Morgen

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Apr 26, 2014
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Okay guys. I am so sad now, I got BSOD again after 1 hour. PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA again.
I really don't know what to do now, I hope above all I can make them to work togehter :( any ideas now?