Why wont my system let me use more than 256mb Ram?

[ian2001uk]

FIC FB11 mobo
Intel 440BX/ZX Chipset
Award BIOS
P3 800/133
A link to my mobos site: http://www.fica.com/products/motherboard/Socket370/FB11.stm

I have just got 4x128mb PC133 sticks of Ram. All 4 sticks are from the same batch and manufacturer. I can use ANY 2 for a rock solid system, but when I add a 3rd OR a 4th stick, Windows falls over and 3D Mark locks up (I use 3D Mark to test my system for most my upgrades)

When my system boots the memory check finds all 512mb ok, if I can use Windows long enough that also finds all 512mb.

Ive tried my Ram in a friends machine with no problems. Ive tried his Ram in mine, same problem only any 2 sticks. I can run Windows and 3D mark with any 1 or 2 sticks but not 3 or 4.

Is there a setting in the BIOS? Ive looked but cant find one, although I probably wouldnt reconise it if I saw it! What about jumpers on my mobo? My manual doesnt say about any jumpers relating to my Ram but does tell my im allowed up to 1GB of Ram.

So the any ideas? I was always told upgrading your Ram was one of the easiest upgrades you could do. If you need more info let me know.
Thanks Ian
ian2001@btinternet.com

[Nighthawk]

Must be a motherboard problem. I had a P3V4X that _wouldn't_ use more than 256mb of RAM, though the POST and windows would find all of it. I RMA'd it.

If it's still under warranty, get it fixed. If not, try different slots (which I am sure you have tried already).

[Hellmund]

Try <FONT COLOR="ffffff">www.simmtester.com</FONT c> in your machine and in you friends with the 4 sticks in.Maybe one of your slots is damaged.

[Bovon]

Hello ian2001uk. In my opinion this is a Windows issue, but may not be. I have looked thru my bookmarks for ram issues, and to tell you the truth, I didn't realize there were so many different types of problems associated with ram. I could not find a specific answer to your query, probably because it would take days of reading eveywhere to track it down.

Tell me this. 1) what version of Windows are you using, and 2) what kind of ram do you have specifically. single sided, double sided sdram, ecc, registered, eeprom or what. There are some issues with using ram over 64 chips due to the northbridge that drives the ram will overheat driving too much ram, this is where registered ram comes in. Registered ram has extra chips that are drivers, so now the northbridge is only driving the 'drivers' on the registered modules. This is a very long shot in the dark to be sure...but sence bios sees the ram, and windows sees it (sometimes before the crash) the ram is being recognized by bios & OS.

There are some version of Windows that will not run properly with too much ram.

After I get your answers to these questions, I have one place that you may be able to go to and ask for an answer...but, we need to get a better handle on what exactly you have so that I may be better able to advise you what to ask.

[OuTpaTienT]

I doubt very seriously this is a Windoze problem. It sounds like a motherboard issue.

When you use only two sticks and it works ok, have you tried placing those two sticks in all the various slots to see if one of the slots is bad?

[AuraEdge]

The Intel ZX chipset can only address 4 banks of RAM. (if each of your 128's are 2 sided DIMM's then 2 sticks are 4 banks).

That may be part of the problem.
There is also a rumor that BX boards with 1/4 PCI Multipliers are actually ZX boards, but thats been yet to be verified.
Just take a look on the northbridge chip of your motherboard (biggest chip near the upper middle). It should say 440BX or 440ZX on it.

[ian2001uk]

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to reply.

Im using Win Me and all my Ram are single sided I cant tell you if they are registered or not. Sandra tells me all my sticks are DIMM SDRAM 128MB/64.

Earlier today I placed one stick in slot 3 and everything was ok, so then another in slot 4 still no problem. Correct me if im wrong, but I thought slot 1 and 2 had to be used before 3 and 4?

Dont give up on me yet.
Thanks Ian
ian2001@btinternet.com