Hi,
I have P4VXASD2 V1.1 motherboard which is working perfectly with 256MB SDR RAM. I'm trying to upgrade my RAM to 1GB DDR-400 PC3200.

I'm not able to get my PC working with 1GB RAM. After changing the jumper settings and clearing the CMOS and loading Optimal settings, it boots up properly but my win2000 does not load successfully. It keeps giving me blue screen. I could load windows in safe mode but when I load windows normally, it gives me blue screen.

Everytime I try to load windows normally, there is a different error message in blue screen and it happens at random moments while loading windows.

I spoke to tech support of the motherboard and they said that Max speed supported by motherboard is 266Mhz. I also spoke to tech support of my memory manufacturer (Crucial Technology) and they said that the RAM that I have is backward compatible meaning it can run at a lower speed.

I'm stuck at this point not knowing what to do.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance

You board supports either SDR-SDRAM (PC100 or PC133) or DDR-SDRAM (PC2100, PC2700, etc). Since you've apparently been running SDR-SDRAM (3.3v), you have to reconfigure the motherboard jumpers to accept DDR-SDRAM (2.5v). This is clearly shown in the manual.

Thank you for the response.

Yes, I've done that successfully. I've read the manual and taken all the steps required to activate DDR module on the motherboard.
(J1 - Open and J2A/B/C/D , J3A/B/C/D - Short) That is why the system is booting up.
As I mentioned in my previous post, the system is booting up properly but win2000 does load successfully. It load properly in safe mode.

What can be done?

Thanks in advance.
Minesh

I'm not sure if your CPU runs at 100MHz (400FSB) or 133MHz (533FSB), but the RAM should be configured to run at the same speed...in other words, DDR200 with a 400FSB CPU or DDR266 with a 533FSB CPU.

Loading BIOS defaults is NEVER the way to go...all that should be used for is a starting point (or a fall back point if you mess up). The BIOS should ALWAYS be manually configured to best match the hardware you have.

That being said, Win2000 & XP are not very tolerant of RAM errors. If you haven't already done so, download memtest86 or memtest86+ & create a diagnostic boot floppy. Boot off the floppy & let the program run for at least one complete series of tests (it may take 30 min or more). If any errors are reported, replace the RAM.

"I also spoke to tech support of my memory manufacturer (Crucial Technology) and they said that the RAM that I have is backward compatible meaning it can run at a lower speed."

There is no point in using ram that is faster than the maximum the mboard will support...
- it may cost more
- it can run no faster than the mboard will let it, and no faster than the slowest of all the ram modules, if applicable.
- ram is backwards compatible as far as speed goes, but other factors may make it not work in your mboard properly, or it or other ram may not work properly when certain other ram modules are installed.
- it is usually quite easy to find out which ram modules will work in your mboard for sure if you don't get ones that are faster than the mboard will support, but if you do get faster ones, there is no information available about whether they will work in your mboard for sure.

Since it appears you are having problems, you are much better off to return the ram if you can and get modules that will work properly for sure.
See response 5 in this for some info about ram compatibilty, and some places where you can find out what will work in your mboard for sure:
http://www.computing.net/hardware/w...
Correction to that:
Mushkin www.mushkin.com

If you would like to try some things first....
See response 2 in this - try cleaning the contacts on the ram modules.
http://www.computing.net/hardware/w...

THEN run a ram test. If the ram test fails then you know for sure you bought ram that is not 100% compatible with the mboard.

Hi,
Thanks a lot for your input. Really appreciated.

I checked the jumper setting for the CPU speed. Its running at 100MHz. I configured RAM to run at the same speed in BIOS.

As suggested, I ran Memtest86 v3.2. I let it run for about 1hr 30min. No errors reported. I tried loading windows again and same problem. Everytime, it shows the windows startup screen with the progress bar(blue colour) and after that it crashes anytime. Not at a specific moment.

Do I have to re-install win2000 again?

Thanks again for your time.
Minesh

"I ran Memtest86 v3.2. I let it run for about 1hr 30min. No errors reported. "

If memtest86 finds no memory errors after a couple of complete test passes, there is no point in running it any longer, especially if you have cleaned the ram contacts. Any errors you would get after running the test for longer than that would probably be due to electrically dirty contacts, whether you can see anything on the contacts or not.

It sounds like you have your jumpers set correctly, but you could double check.

Jumpers -
http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/man...

JP1A1, JP1A2 must be as shown in the illustrations for 100mhz cpu speed.

JP1 must be opposite to what is shown in the illustration - jumper must be off both pins, or hanging off one pin.

J2A,B,C,D
J3A,B,C,D
must be opposite to what is shown in the illustrations .
All jumpers should be on the pins for DDR ram.
The illustration shows them in the SDRam positions.
........

According to the mboard manual the cpu always runs at a 100mhz fsb, but the ram can run at a 100mhz OR 133mhz fsb (if the ram supports 133mhz, which yours does).

In the Bios Setup - Advanced
There is no selection for DDR ram shown in the mboard manual, but the following should work anyway.

- SDRam by spd - enabled
- that will set the SDRam/DDR ram frequency to the max your ram is specified by the manufacturer to support, within the limits of what the mboard will support - 133mhz.

- SDram frequency - unchangable when SDRam by spd is enabled - 266mhz displayed

-SDRam Cas Latency - may be unchangable when SDRam by spd is enabled - if not it should be set no higher than the CAS for your ram - if it is set to a LOWER number than the ram will support, you WILL have memory errors.
It is possible the memory test may ignore what that is set to and run the test according to manufacturer's ratings on the SPD chips on the modules, so it could pass the memory test but have memory errors in Windows.

- SDRam bank interleave - should be enabled - may be unchangable when SDRam by spd is enabled

Corrections

- note the SYSTEM

According to the mboard manual the cpu always runs at a 100mhz SYSTEM bus, but the ram can run at a 100mhz OR 133mhz SYSTEM bus

(if the ram supports 133mhz or higher, which yours does - 200mhz).

This mboard supports up to a 400mhz fsb, but that applies only to the cpu internal speed.
For your 1.6 ghz cpu, the 100mhz SYSTEM bus is "quad pumped", as Intel terms it, to 400mhz for the cpu.

Hi,
I tried every settings that you suggested. I also tried running the FSB at a higher speed i.e removed the jumper for bus speed and still the same old "Blue Screen".

I think I'm going to get memory with lower speed and see if that works.

I'll post a response after I try the lower speed RAM.

Thanks again to all for your input.
Minesh

One other thing to try.
You said you loaded "Optimal Defaults" - that may have set something else to something your hardware pieces cannot do.
Try loading some lesser defaults, then check the things in response 5 in the bios.

If you do get ram, don't buy it at random.
See response 5 in this for some info about ram compatibilty, and some places where you can find out what will work in your mboard for sure:
http://www.computing.net/hardware/w...
Correction to that:
Mushkin www.mushkin.com

Well, the thing is even after loading optimal defaults, when I put the old ram back, everything works beautifully. (SDR 2x256MB PC133)

I went to the memory sites that you suggested. There, they say only 512MB DDR/slot MAX is guranteed compatible with my motherboard. They do not list 1GB module.

Does that means that the specification given by the motherboard company are wrong?

Anyways, I think I'm going to get 2 modules of 512MB RAM to check if that solves the problems.

Thanks again TubesandWires for all of your support!! I really appreciate.

Minesh

" They do not list 1GB module."

You should check more than one site. Sometimes some do not have all the possible types available.

1GB here:
http://www.memorygiant.com/index.cf...

Kingston doesn't list an exact match of your model, but they do list two very close models and they both use the same modules - 1GB here:

P4VXASD http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/con...

P4VXASD2+
http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/con...

Hello,
My motherboard model is P4VXASD2 (not P4VXASD or P4VXASD2+). I checked on some online memory supplier sites and they list DDR memory 1GB with PC2100 MAX. It does not list PC3200.
Looks like I'm going to have to get a replacement RAM with lower speed.

Thanks Tubesandwires again.
Minesh

"My motherboard model is P4VXASD2 (not P4VXASD or P4VXASD2+)"

I am very aware of that. Those two mboards use the same chipset and the same ram.

"It does not list PC3200."

Of course it doesn't. The mboard was not rated to use it. As I said in response 4, if you try to use ram that is faster than the mboard was designed to use, you will not find information about whether it will work in the mboard for sure. It MIGHT work, but why take the chance.