Go here and supply the info for your system or mboard model to
determine which G.Skil module part numbers are listed as compatible with
your
system or
mboard:
http://www.gskill.com/configurator.phpIf your
system model or mboard model is not listed, or if it is listed but they
don't list the module part number(s) you have, there is no way of
knowing whether the ram will work properly in your mboard !!.
........
A
common thing that can happen with ram, even ram that worked fine
previously, is the ram has, or has developed, a poor connection in it's
slot(s).
This usually happens a long time after the ram was
installed, but it can happen with new ram, or after moving the computer
case from one place to another, and I've had even new modules that
needed to have their contacts cleaned.
See response 2 in this -
try cleaning the contacts on the ram modules, and making sure the
modules are properly seated:
http://www.computing.net/hardware/w............
If
your ram passes a ram test, it's working fine, even if you can't
determine whether it's listed for your mboard or system model anywhere
If
you do a ram test, do that AFTER having tried cleaning the contacts and
making sure the ram is seated properly - otherwise any errors found may
be FALSE.
If the ram is incompatible with the chipset, or on more
recent
computers,
incompatible with the memory controller built into the cpu, it will
likely FAIL a ram test - that is NOT a true indication of the ram being
faulty - there is probably nothing wrong with it, and it will pass the
test if installed in a mboard it is compatible with.
NOTE: Sometimes
incompatible modules (or matched pairs) won't work properly when more
than one is installed, but will pass when by itself.
........
If
you want to try a memory diagnostic utility that takes a lot less time
to run a full pass than memtest86 does, this one is pretty good -
Microsoft's
Windows Memory Diagnostic:
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag...It
can be toggled (press T) to do a standard or a more comprehensive set
of tests - use the default 6 test one first - if it passes one pass of
that, use the latter one. A few of the tests in the latter set are
intentionally slower.
If you don't have a floppy drive, see the Quick
Start Information at that Microsoft link for how to make a bootable CD
of the Windows Memory Diagnostic (you need Windiag.iso - you don't
necessarily need to use the program they mention to add it to the CD).
.......
If
the part numbers of the ram modules you have ARE listed for you model,
and/or in any case. if you STILL get ram errors.....
Some ram
manufacturer's modules do not strictly adhere to the JEDEC standards
that most mboards bioses use to determine ram settings.
In that
case, the ram settings in the bios Setup that the bios has automatically
chosen may not be correct.
Check the ram settings in your bios -
the ram voltage, and the ram timing numbers - those should be the same
as for the specs for the modules themselves. Often the ram voltage and
timing numbers are printed on the label on the modules.
If the
voltage setting or timings settings in the bios are different from the
specs for the ram, change them in the
bios. The
timing numbers must be as close as you can get to the same, or slower
timings (higher numbers = slower) - you won't notice the difference the
slower settings make.
If you have a mix of different modules
-
don't mix ram that different voltages arespecified for - the bios will
force the ram to use the lowest voltage, if "by spd" or similar is used
(default settings) - ram that a higher voltage is specified for is more
likely to not work properly in that situation.
- the bios settings
must be those for the slowest timing settings of all the modules, or
slower (higher numbers = slower).
.......
G.Skil is one of the
"also ran" ram module manufacturers.
According to The Muskin web
site, some "also ran" ram module manufacturers test their ram modules
when they're by themselves in a mboard, to get the best (fastest)
timing ratings. When you install more than one of their modules, the
timing may not work properly with more than one module installed, but if
you change the timings in the bios Setup so that the timings are slower
(higher numbers) , the ram will work fine.
I have seen several
examples of people who posted on this site having to do that with G.Skil
ram.
"... on most machines the presence of
'Enhanced', even only once, means that all USB ports are USB 2.0 ports
..."
Note the highlighted line: "Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host
Controller". While the exact text may vary, the key is the word
"Enhanced".
