RAM issues - new RAM installed playing silly buggers

Discussion in 'Site & Server Administration' started by relixx, Nov 24, 2005.

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  1. #1
    I can't find the best place to ask it, so I decided to ask it here :)

    A friend of mine (who is completely pc-illiterate) got some new RAM installed (by a person in the PC store, thank goodness, hate to have seen what she would ahve tried :eek: ) I've no clue about her motherboard (other than that it is rather crap), and the only thing she can tell me is that the PC keeps rebooting every so often (especially when trying to play games).

    My list of probable suspects (but I'm not a hardware expert) are:
    a) the RAM is too slow for the motherboard (eg, plonking 233 speed RAM in a 400 motherboard)
    b) new RAM stick is faulty
    c) running at a different voltage to the motherboard (or something like that)
    d) the motherboard got damaged (!!)
    e) PSU not able to supply enough juice
    f) RAM chip in wrong way (if possible? wouldn't that prevent it from starting at all?)
     
    relixx, Nov 24, 2005 IP
  2. just-4-teens

    just-4-teens Peon

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    #2
    have u got another machine u can try the ram in, then you know if it is the ram to blame or not.
     
    just-4-teens, Nov 24, 2005 IP
  3. relixx

    relixx Active Member

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    #3
    I do, but I'm at work right now (hell, I'm going to get into trouble for posting this thread and replying... :( ) and I'm too busy after work to get to her house with my machine *sighs* I can go tomorrow after work, but she needs it on saturday for a LAN, so if she waits for me to try and fix it, and i can't, she's screwed :( I've told her to go take the machine back, but I don't know if she will be able to, due to lift problems (she can't drive and her mom's taken the car for the day).

    She's in a bit of a pickle, PC-wise
     
    relixx, Nov 24, 2005 IP
  4. J.D.

    J.D. Peon

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    #4
    Run SiSoft Sandra (http://www.sisoftware.net/) or something equivalent to exercise RAM. If it reboots during these tests, take it back to the store. You can also check timing settings in BIOS - sometimes increasing some of the RAM-related values (depends on the BIOS) fixes problems like these.

    J.D.
     
    J.D., Nov 24, 2005 IP
  5. blinxdk

    blinxdk Peon

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    #5
    http://www.memtest86.com/ will also help verify if the ram is faulty.

    f) not possible without lots of force and stupidity
     
    blinxdk, Nov 29, 2005 IP
  6. relixx

    relixx Active Member

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    #6
    You don't know the level of incompetence displayed by the hardware monkeys in some of the smaller stores. College drop-out, self-styled "hardware gurus" and the like :mad:

    anyway, the problem got solved, turns out the sales guy had some old, faulty stock he was trying to get rid of. As my friend was a complete n00b... well, ya. Anyway, it was funny, I organised for one of my friends to go with her when she took it back for repairs (as I was unable to). This guy is what we call an IT Ninja, an expert in the Way of the Hardware. He sorted the sales guy out very quickly :)
     
    relixx, Nov 29, 2005 IP