nf7s v2 1gb dual channel 2500 mobile cpu Was running my nf7s@210x11@3-4-4-8 All was ok for Years n Years. About 6 months ago replaced the ram to run@200x11@2-2-2-5 Over the last 3 days windows has been locking up which made me memtest the machine. I've reset bios,memtested then manipulated the figures until I'm@156x14@2-2-2-5 memtested good. I think it's most likely to be 1 of 3 things. 1-CPU 2-Chipset 3-Memory I Have a 9 week old Child to look after so time is an issue. I have a spare cpu.(it used to run 200x11 when I last used it) I have a spare machine to test the ram on. Lowering the FSB has worked in that it passes memtest and is,so far,stable in windows. I'm assuming the ram is ok as it runs tight timings(it's default timings are 200@2-2-2-5). I'm leaaning towards cpu failure? Should I go straight for a CPU swap or......maybe it's the PSU? Tt Lanfire MSI K8N Diamond X2 4600@225x12=2.7ghz 1:1 1GB PC3200/4400 OCZ Powerstream 520w 7900GTO Samsung 200gb sata2 WDCaviar 320gb sata2

I'm curious why you would replace the RAM on an older rig like that? You had a decent overclock working for you, all you really needed to do was adjust the timings on the RAM you already had. Generally, the minimum tRAS (last number in the timing sequence) should be the sum of the other 3 plus 2. So for your 2-2-2 RAM, the last number should be no less that 8. However, testing has determined that a tRAS of 11 is optimal for nForce2 based boards. Try the timings at 2-2-2-11 or 2-3-2-11. Your old 3-4-4 RAM would probably have worked well at 2.5-3-3-11. Read the section titled "What is tRAS and why is it backwards and important at the same time?": http://www.mushkin.com/doc/support/... Here's some tests showing that a tRAS of 11 works best: http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=ge... 14 x 156MHz is much slower than 11 x 210MHz...not just in overall clock speed but you're losing performance due to the slower FSB. Did you try putting the old RAM back in & returning the settings back to the way they were? I doubt there's a problem with the CPU, board or PSU. The problem is with the RAM settings or the RAM itself.

Hey jam :) long time no see. I upgraded my main machine to 2gb and thought it better to give the 1gb to the spare pc that only had 512mb. Yeah I know 200x11 is better than 156x14. "Generally, the minimum tRAS (last number in the timing sequence) should be the sum of the other 3 plus 2." I didn't know that,thanks :) I tried various FSB ratios,the higher the FSB the more it failed memtest. Anyway,got the old ram out,ran the same timings I did before,200x11@3-4-4-8,passed memtest :) Tried 1 stick at a time of the dual channel,200x11@2-2-2-11 and both passed memtest. When I replaced the dual channel kit it wouldn't boot. Pulled out replaced both sticks,nada,again and hey presto it booted. Into bios,change settings to 200x11@2-2-2-11 and it passes memtest :) I'll try it back@210x11=2300mhz again see how it goes. So it seems it was (hopefully) just a bad connection. ___________________________________________________ On a side note.............. I run/use the spare pc as my own server. I host my own website,forum and gaming servers. Do you know any 'changes' I need to make within xp pro that tells the os to be a server? The only 1 I know is..... right click my computer properties advanced performance settings advanced set memory usage to 'system cache' Tt Lanfire MSI K8N Diamond X2 4600@225x12=2.7ghz 1:1 1GB PC3200/4400 OCZ Powerstream 520w 7900GTO Samsung 200gb sata2 WDCaviar 320gb sata2