HAVE ANYONE USED "CRUCIAL.COM" ?

[daeeki]

I'm gonna order 256mb ram in "Crucial.com"
but I don't know how to order
I know how to choose manufacture(is this for mother board or the ram I want to buy?)
but after that when it asks me the system
model I don't know what to put
my spec is this:

P 3 600
Intel 440BX AGPset
PCI 100 64mb RAM x 2 = 128mb ram
Asus V7700 Geforce 2 gts 32mb

plz tell me what kind of RAM I should get
I'm looking for 256mb ram
I NEED TO ORDER TODAY OTHERWISE SHIPPING WILL BE DELAY...HELP ME OUT

[bobcat]

You need to know who made your motherboard and the model.

So if the MB is by Asus & it is a P2B then:
Choose Manaufacture: Asus
Choose A SYstem model: Motherboards
Choose A System Model: P2B

[Bovon]

TR440BX takes this, CT32M72S4D8E 256MB SDRAM, PC100 • CL=2 • Unbuffered • ECC • 8ns • 3.3V • 32Meg x 72

WS440BX takes this, CT16M64S4D8E 128MB SDRAM, PC100 • CL=2 • Unbuffered • Non-parity • 8ns • 3.3V • 16Meg x 64 (no 256 mb available for this one)

T440BX takes this, CT32M72S4R8E 256MB SDRAM, PC100 • CL=2 • Registered • ECC • 8ns • 3.3V • 32Meg x 72

And so on. There are several different 440BX chipsets, and many take a different type of ram.

Best you call Crucial and explain to them what you have.

1-800-336-8916

[Fingers]

Yup... I've bought RAM from Crucial 3 times so far this year... most recently just Sunday evening, and I had it at my doorstep on Wednesday. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Question #5 from Wim's Bios (http://www.wimsbios.com/) 5. What if you don't know the name of your motherboard?

The part number of each Award & AMI BIOS usually contains information identifying the chipset it supports, and the manufacturer. This information appears at the bottom of your screen after power on, during memory count up.

Copy down your BIOS id string <FONT COLOR="red">EXACTLY</FONT c> when it appears on your screen. Better yet, dump it to the printer (Print screen key). The PAUSE key should work at that point, allowing you to read the part number, the BIOS date, and the version.

Unfortunately, in some cases, the manufacturer removes that information. Then your only recourse is to contact the board manufacturer.

Check either the Award (http://www.wimsbios.com/numbers.shtml) or AMI (http://www.wimsbios.com/numbersami.shtml) BIOS Numbers page and search for your BIOS number. Partial searches work best, ie: 2A5LDH09C.

Either use the Bios ID String to identify your motherboard at Wim's, or post the number here.

BTW, Please don't start a 4th thread dealing with your memory problems. We're all perfectly happy to help, but keeping questions that deal with the same problem in only ONE thread helps members understand the history of the problem.

Thanks. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[daeeki]

sorry for multi posting
but I figure something out
my mobo is
GYGABYTE GA-6BXC (intel 440BX AGPset)
and since price in Crucial.com is so cheap
I just decided to take out my 2 old pc100 64mb ram and buy new pc133 128ram and 256ram
but i have question
is all the pc133 sdram has same size for all mobo?
and also for 64mb is 8meg x 64 better or
8meg x 72 better?


[This message has been edited by daeeki (edited 07-26-2001).]

[Bovon]

PC100 SDRAM and PC133 SDRAM is the same physical size...but, not all boards made for PC100 will support PC133. My FIC 503+ will not. I would still call Crucial to be sure.

[Bovon]

Ok, I just rechecked at Crucial for your board. Here is what you can order...and, it looks like you are in luck for using the PC133 SDRAM:


Manufacturer Giga-Byte
Model GA-6BXC
Chipset Intel 440BX
Notes: The 256MB registered parts cannot be installed with the lower density parts.


RAM modules you can order:

168-pin DIMM
Size Specs Part No. Price (ea.)
256MB SDRAM, PC100 • CL=2 • Unbuffered • Non-parity • 8ns • 3.3V • 32Meg x 64 CT32M64S4D8E $39.59

256MB SDRAM, PC133 • CL=3 • Unbuffered • Non-parity • 7.5ns • 3.3V • 32Meg x 64 CT32M64S4D75 $39.59

256MB SDRAM, PC133 • CL=2 • Unbuffered • Non-parity • 7.5ns • 3.3V • 32Meg x 64 - --&gt;CT32M64S4D7E&lt;-- $41.39

The above is probably what you want to order.

256MB SDRAM, PC100 • CL=2 • Unbuffered • ECC • 8ns • 3.3V • 32Meg x 72 CT32M72S4D8E $42.29

256MB SDRAM, PC133 • CL=3 • Unbuffered • ECC • 7.5ns • 3.3V • 32Meg x 72 CT32M72S4D75 $42.29

256MB SDRAM, PC133 • CL=2 • Unbuffered • ECC • 7.5ns • 3.3V • 32Meg x 72 CT32M72S4D7E $43.19

256MB SDRAM, PC100 • CL=2 • Registered • ECC • 8ns • 3.3V • 32Meg x 72 CT32M72S4R8E $89.99




[This message has been edited by Bovon (edited 07-26-2001).]

[daeeki]

TXH ALOT
i just order 256mb ram
because with the tax and all that, i can't afford to buy another 128mb ram
how much difference in 3D game when I change from pc100 128mb ram to pc133 256mb ram?
thx guys and i won't bother u guys anymore
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Fingers]

Dang Nab It http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif ... If I'd have waited 4 more days, I could have saved $3 apiece on the 3 256MB modules that I just bought. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Seriously though, I simply cannot believe RAM prices. Just over a year ago I spent more for a single 128MB module than I spent this week for 768MB.

[Bovon]

daeeki...don't go away...stick around awhile..the guys here love to try to help others, we learn ourselves that way too.

The 133mhz cas2 won't help much unless you are overclocking. But, the 256 mb vs 128 mb should make a difference in games. Also..you can use the PC 133 AND the 128 mb PC100 at the same time. The PC133 will match the PC100 but unless you are overclocking you won't know the difference. Try it both ways..put the new module of 256 mb in the first slot..try that a day or two..get a feeling for how the games play...then put the 128 mb back in along side of the 256 mb module and give that a try...you might be surprised at the improvement.

[daeeki]

ah......that's nice Bovon thx
well I don't know what will happen
because I though I can pay the Crucial.com
by cash but maybe it's not
hmmmmm....what do I have to do?
and Bovon do u know what is the cause of the crash when I put 256mb pc133 ram and my old pc100 64mb ram(x2)?

p.s. I can overclock ram too?


[This message has been edited by daeeki (edited 07-26-2001).]

[Bovon]

Well, I am not an overclocker, but I read where ram can be overclocked. Some of the best brands (like Crucial cas 2) can be run at 160 mhz or higher. How to do this is not my bag...so, maybe someone else can tell you.

Some of the older mainboards will not work with the newer high density ram modules. I have one of these. Mine will work just fine with PC100, but gets real flaky if I try to use the new high density PC133 ram modules.

Most online stores only deal with credit cards. A few, that you can call the sales department on the telephone will allow a money order to pay for the parts, but these are getting fewer and fewer. It all comes down to hiring the staff to work at the place. This is why we can buy online cheaper than we can at a local store. The online business does not have the many people to pay every week, and the savings are pased along to the customers. Online sales are becoming very competive and they have to cut costs everywhere they can. Staff is the first to go, so we have to deal with credit cards instead of a live person at their end to take an order and process it and wait on a money order to arrive. There will always be the online stores that will take cash, checks and money orders, but these stores have a much higher price for the same product that you can buy using a credit card elsewhere.

There are some of the older motheboards that will not run with ram installed that is more than the board chipset will recognize and work with...back a few years ago, several mainboards I have had would only run with maybe 64 mb of ram. These were back when SIMM modules were the only ones we had to work with.

If you have a board that will run with either PC100 and PC133 ram DIMM modules, you can use either, or both...but the system will only run at 100 mhz or a bit higher depending on the fsb of the mainboard. The PC133 will match the PC100 and run at the same speed the PC100 does...so, in a case like this, you could use both a module of PC100 and a module of PC133 at the same time, provided you do not overclock the system over 100 mhz fsb

[daeeki]

oh my sweet jesus!!!
what the heck is wrong with my computer?
since Crucial.com didn't accept the cash
I bought quite good quality 256mb pc133 ram
from computer store. When I brought this home, I took out two 64mb pc100 ram and put the 256mb ram. I ran the bench mark with my videocard core and memory very low(so even computer locks up, it's not video card falut)
it seemed to be working okay but it stopped again!!!!!! WHY OH WHY!!!!!!!!!!
when I saw the list that is compatible with my motherboard(in crucial website) I saw pc133, which means the problem is not a compatible problem. Why is it keep locking up? and I don't see any improvement.
THIS IS MOST FRUSTRATING DAY OF MY LIFE....SOB...SOB

[Fingers]

It might be possible that your mobo won't support high density DIMM modules? Does your 256MB module have chips on both sides? Are the number of chips on one side divisible by 3?

My second suggestion is that you enter your bios and select the setting to "Load BIOS Setup Defaults". If you've been tweaking your BIOS, you may have done something that the new RAM doesn't like, and it's alot easier to start over with the "Safe default" settings.

Part of the reason that everyone was suggesting you go with Crucial, is because you don't have to understand the differences between PC100-vs-PC133, CL2-vs-CL3, high density-vs-low density, unbuffered-vs-registered, non-parity-vs-ECC, etc. when you buy from Crucial... they gaurantee the parts on the list will work.

[This message has been edited by Fingers (edited 07-27-2001).]

[blade_146]

Why dont you try setting it back to 64 and remove the old ram and see if you have lockups with just the new stick. Setting it to 128 isnt really gonna make a noticable difference anyway. If it runs fine with just the new stick then add the old ram 1 stick at a time and see if you get lockups. It may just as simple as switching the ram to different slots. How do you know you got "quality ram"? If your getting lockups with all the ram in then something isnt compatiable obviously.

[daeeki]

I removed the two of my 64mb ram in the first place, I'm just testing whether new 256mb ram works by it self. there were 3 slots which 2 slot failed and middle slot that i'm about to try.
I remember some member saying about lowereing the "override setting" in the
"dxdiag" which might be key to the solution but I couldn't find anything like that in there.

[This message has been edited by daeeki (edited 07-27-2001).]

[daeeki]

I tried everything, setting BIOS default and installing ram in different slot, but it keeps crashing. Maybe I should return the ram and change it to pc100. will this be 100% compatible no matter what?
and also where can I find "override setting" in dxdiag? BBA said lowering this value might be the key to the solution

[daeeki]

even after removing new ram and install the old ram way it was, 3D benchmark still freezes. any idea?
and I just overclocked my cpu, but strangely
i read manual and set fsb 112mhz x 5.5 on jumper but my total cpu speed is 675mhz.
I bought the fan(sucks out the hot air)for cpu but fan is blocked by video card, i don't know whether this will still keep the temp down.

[blade_146]

The reason your only getting 675 is because intel chips are multipier locked meaning you cant change the multiplier, only fsb. your 675 is coming form 112X6 not 112X5.5. If you get lockups like that when your oveclocking then it is probably your cpu and not your ram. Did you up the voltage to the cpu? You can change the multiplier all you want but it will still be 6 x whatever fsb. Your pretty mcuh gonna have to up the voltage to get it stable. WHat kind of heatsink/fan are you using? THe stock hetsink/fans pretty much suck for overclocking. Remember this: increased mhz+increased voltage=more heat. Sure your chip is faster but it is also hotter. Cooling becomes crucial when trying to maintain stability while overclocking.

[daeeki]

thx blade
all I needed was few more voltages but I just found out that my
mobo (gygabyte GA-6BXC) is auto volatge adjust.....sigh...
and blade how can i update my BIOS? I just downloaded the file but it's not installing like any other drivers or program....it pops up the ms-dos mode window....how can i update it?
thx alot for ur help

[blade_146]

You normally have to put the bios file on a bootdisk and do it from dos. I'll let someone else talk you through that. Remember a failed bios flash can leave your board practically dead. IS there not an option in your bios to adjust the voltage or a jumper on the board itself? You may have to check your manual

[daeeki]

no it's not in the bios or mobo
i bought fans for nothing...arrgh
and will the new bios improve the performance?

[blade_146]

most of the time a new bios offers some performance increases and bug fixes. most folks will tell ya, if your system works fine now, it may be best to just leave the bios alone. check out your mobo manufacturer's website. they will probably have detailed instructions on how to flash it.

[daeeki]

I'm really frustrated here
eventhough i gave up 256mb ram and put my old rams again, it still freezes, I even spend 3hours format everything and install everything but nothing work. dang dang dang