New RAM Added, Getting Errors, What Is My Play?

[g-bebe]

Howdy there,

Built my computer two years ago with 2x512MB of OCZ Gold RAM. Recently decided I just wanted to add a bit more punch until I did a bigger overhaul later in the future, so I ordered 2x512MB of Corsair RAM (all of this ram is pc3200).

Installed it, noticed the slight difference which has made me happy.

However, since I installed the RAM, I seem to be getting errors quite often, mostly when using IE7 (those Microsoft "Send Error Report/Don't Send" errors that just close your browser and you have to re-open it). Not to mention, also since I've installed the RAM, I've had a couple of blue-screens-of-death talking about memory usage and physical memory dump, and talking about removing/disabling any new hardware or software.

My friend who helped me purchase and install the RAM suggested I could try out Firefox to see if it gives me errors with that, or that I could try using my computer with only one of the Corsair pieces installed, and see if one of them alone causes me errors (thus finding the defunct memory piece).

Anyone encountered anything like this when installing RAM that's of a different brand or whatnot? Or have any problems like this with IE7? I'm just curious, since I'm very used to IE but it's not a huge huge deal if I can just switch to FF and it makes it all better.

[Bremen]

lookup memtest86, run it with each module separately. If they all check out fine it is quite possible the board just isn't stable with 4 modules :-\

EDIT: assuming it does dual channel that should be tested as well

[Beavis68]

it could also be that our PS cant power the extra memory.

[EscapePlan9]

With the BSoDs (blue screens of death), write down the memory address when they appear. If you get different memory addresses, the problem isn't likely the RAM.

[g-bebe]

what should i be looking for when you say memory address?

note: this morning I removed one of the new ram pieces and so far it's worked fine, up until I was writing this reply and it error'd on me! d'oh.

edit: just error'd me again. hmm. maybe ff will have more success...

[Meech]

System worked fine with 2 sticks of the old stuff.

Put the 2 new sticks in the 2 old slots and pull out the old memory. If it still crashes, one (or more) of the new sticks are not right. Mix and match to narrow it down.

[edit]
it could also be the slot(s) on the motherboard.

[g-bebe]

After repeating errors with just one dimm in one of the slots, I removed both and now am running what I originally ran, 1 GB of ocz gold. It's working just fine now. Grr. Something's got to be up with the ram or those slots.

Could it be my mobo giving me problems? If the BIOS isn't updated cmopletely, could that be the problem?

[Beavis68]

getting bad RAM isnt unheard of.

did you try running with just the new RAM?

[pa3lsvt]

Did you run memtest86? Until you do that, you won't know if it is the new sticks or the mobo.

[g-bebe]

No, not yet. I was under the impression that the thing takes a long time to run, which I haven't had time, not even overnight, to do.