Memory Upgrade and BSOD

[teriyaki]

Recently bought two sticks of Corsair 512MB DDR400 memory to go with the two sticks of 512MB DDR400 memory I already have installed on my Abit AV8 motherboard. When I booted up it was reported that memory was running at DDR333. PC booted up as far as windows and then got the BSOD.
I removed the new memory and booted normally. Everything was fine. Reinstalled new memory and booted up. Windows came up and everything looked to be ok. I decided to run PC Pitstop memory check which immediately showed errors. Open a few applications and games which seemed to run ok. In fact I played BF2142 for several hours. Rebooted my PC and manually changed the memory speed from DDR333 to DDR400. PC and Windows booted up ok again yet PC Pitstop memory test still found errors.
The next day when I booted the PC up I again got BSOD. I thought that it might be fauly DIMM slots so I moved the known working memory to the other two DIMM slots. Everything worked fine and PC Pitstop found no errors. Installed the new memory and everything booted up ok but PC Pitstop again found memory errors.
I now need to try installing the new memory sticks on their own and see what happens. If this comes up with the same problems as before what else can I try?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Kamrooz]

mixing different types of memory is a big no no. Always try to make sure they are all the same exact model which is a very big thing.

Overall test each of the pairs by themselves...If they both work fine by themselves but bring errors when paired up then it's probably incompatibility. If you test the new pair by them selves and they actually show errors then RMA them for a new set. I haven't heard of the software you use but I use memtest86+....Very efficient. I actually just rma'ed my ram and got memtest running on my new sticks next to me...

Also make sure you check your memory manufacturers specifications on the ram you've purchased. Should say a voltage that they should run at. I always disable the auto setting via bios on voltages for memory and set them to the specifications given...

But yea...you didn't clarify that your memory were the same model but you also didn't say they were...But if they both work by them selves it's 100% incompatibility.

 

[teriyaki]

Thanks for that. The memory is definitely not the same make. I will try to install new memory on its own. If it works looks like I am forking out more money to buy some more. Whoopee. Should have thaought about differences in models when I was buying it.

 

[Mondoman]

mixing different types of memory is a big no no. Always try to make sure they are all the same exact model which is a very big thing.

This is a common misconception. In practice, it's pretty much impossible to use the "same" DIMMs, since even a given brand/model number is frequently updated with design/component changes (as often as weekly).
That said, using higher-quality modules lessens the chances of incompatibility problems. Also, using modules from a brand known for compatibility (like Corsair's non-value lines, Kingston, or Crucial's non-Ballistix lines) lessens the chances of problems.
Also, the MB chipset (which contains the memory controller) makes a big difference. Intel chipsets have the fewest compatiblity problems. nVidia are also decent, but third-tier chipsets like VIA and Uli often have compatibility problems. I suspect this may be the root of your problem. Having 4 DIMMs installed at the same time is pushing the limits of any system; with your VIA chipset, you may have to manually loosen the latency timings (to bigger numbers) and/or drop the memory bus speed to DDR-266 to get all 4 DIMMs working together properly.

Thus, having each pair of DIMMs work fine on its own, but getting errors with all 4 installed, is more likely to be an issue with the MB chipset than with the DIMMs.