Windows XP Memory Restrictions?

[DenverBuc]

I just got a new stick of 512MB today and put it in my machine with 512 already in it. I am running XP Pro SP1 (rest of my vitals in my sig). (RAM is same spd and CAS)

My question is - anyone know of any issues with 1gig+ RAM on XP Pro machines? I haven't heard anything and am guessing my issues are because of a bad stick.

My specific issue is that after a random period of time (usually at least 10 minutes sometimes less) when playing battlefield 1942, it dumps to the desktop. This did not happen with just the 2 sticks of 256 in my pc and started happening right after I moved the stick from slot 1 to slot 3 and put the 512 stick in slot 1.

I finally took the stick out and started an RMA with NewEgg. I haven't played again, but am almost positive that is my issue since that was the ONLY thing that changed on my rig last night.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Jon]

Don't really know what your problem is... my system is Athlon XP 2400, Geforce 4 4600, Audigy 2, 1GB PC2100 Windows XP Pro SP 1 and I have never had any problems. Having said that, I read that if you have version 1.3 of the Battlefield 1942 patch installed then it causes crashes in the single player game and I think network play. They were supposed to fix it at some point. But my BF1942 was really unstable after patching to 1.3. Maybe when the new memory stick arrives you should test it on some other games too.

[The Baron]

is the ram the same brand?

and WinXP supports up to 4 gigs, AFAIK.

[DenverBuc]

Do you think brand would make a difference? I made very sure to get the same speed, CAS Latency, etc.

[The Baron]

Brand VERY often makes a difference.

[DenverBuc]

I could see brand making a difference in overall quality, but incompatability between modules of the same speed and CAS latency, etc?

[The Baron]

Yup. Just one of those goofy little things. If the two brands use the same kind of actual CHIPS, then no, there shouldn't be a problem. But I really doubt this is the case.

Of course, one of the memory slots could be bad, but I doubt it.

[madthumbs]

I've seen a lot of problems with Crucial (micron) ram lately. I've seen many times that it's the cause of the power supply that games crash to the desktop.

[Grechie]

ill look into it more, but im sure there was a incompatibility FIX for xp for peepz with 1GB ram, ill try finding it and posting but im sure ive seen it :)

EDIT: i was looking on http://www.ethan-c-allen.com/xpsp2/ and i thought i found wat i was talking bout but i must of got confused with the fix that fixes u a freeze if u have 1GIG in hibenation mode, sorry my bad.....

[Kruno]

Originally posted by The Baron
is the ram the same brand?

and WinXP supports up to 4 gigs, AFAIK.

32bit CPUs also support 4GB max, so anymore is fruitless. Hence the limit.

Wait until 64bit CPUs for support up to 18EB of RAM. :evil:

[The Baron]

32bit CPUs also support 4GB max, so anymore is fruitless. Hence the limit.

Kinda. Both Intel and AMD chips have workarounds so that they can address more than 4GB of RAM (you know, server machines.. but damn, I'd like an nForce2 with 4GB of RAM!), but these decrease performance overall.

Oh well. Hammer soon. :D

[Greg]

If you've got more than 1 stick of ram, how about you use MemTest86 and try 1 at a time, and rotate them in the slots to find out if they are working individually and as a pair/set.

[DenverBuc]

OK. So that really ... um ... sucks.

I RMA'd the RAM had them send a replacement, and WHAMMO - same problem :fu: . Doesn't work with the other 512 in my system.

So, return, pay gosh darned restocking fee, get my money back.

THEN....

Looked out on pricewatch by brand names. Found 2 sticks of OCSystems 512 MB DDR2400 (I know 2400 isn't a spec, but each stick is hand tested at that overclock). The sticks are CAS 2 and each was only $57! So, ordered those and will yank all the existing sticks out of my current rig. Will try to add them to secondary rig afterwards, and if I have the same problems, then I will look to sell the extra sticks to a bud for real cheap.

I'll post a wrap up to this whole stupid ordeal soon. Hopefully Monday or Tuesday.:fu:

[DenverBuc]

Finished.

OK. Cancelled the whole order with OCSystems. DON'T GO THERE! THEY SUCK!

Anyway, got two sticks of Crucial 512MB PC2100 CAS2. Shipped quick, good price, got her early and best of all.......THEY WORK PERFECT!

Put old 512 PC2100 CAS2 Nanya in secondary PC and have an old stick of cheap 256 MB PC2100 laying around now.

Everything worked out in the end. The new setup works great under WinXP with 1024 Megs RAM. Rock solid stable and memory to burn!

Anyway - moral of the story - stick with brand name memory and brand-name companies. It all works out to be worth it in the end.