Having problems with my computer's memory, Please Help!!!?

Question

I've had this gateway pentium 4 PC 500 GR for about 3 years that has had no problems with gaming, excel, or anything that I've asked of it, until now. I thought that ramping the memory with a 512 mg card would improve on the performance of the already 512 memory (2x256 mg cards) that is factory installed. I made sure that the speed matched (in this case 3200 & 400 mhz) and checked the most compatible memory for my computer on the Circuit city website. Well to make a long story short, the performance sucks and games that I had before upgrading that were not framing are suddenly preforming terribly and are locking up the computer. Is there something that I did wrong, or is there a driver that I'm missing, or what? Any suggestions?

Answer 1

First thing I thought of and no one has mentioned is dual channel mode. Dual channel mode effectively doubles the speed of the memory. It is enabled automatically when your RAM is installed in matching pairs. When you had the 2x256, it was enabled, but adding the single 512 stick automatically disabled it. So while you now have twice as much memory, it is now running effectively half the speed. This is probably what is causing the noticealbe performance decrease. I would suggest you get a second stick of the 512 you bought, and then take out the original 2 256 sticks, so then you will have a total of 1GB, but in dual channel mode.

Answer 2

Crappy ram, it happens man, the bottom dollar is rarely a good product. Kingston makes 1 gig sims that start at $40 and go to $180 and there's damn good reason for that. Issues like access time play a major roll in preformance and reliability. Sounds like you've got some junk on your hands there, I'd try and return and get better stuff.

PS- No way you where gaming well at 512 mg. You should be running atleast 2 gig these days.

Answer 3

First, make sure that the new cards are properly and securely inserted into the slots. If they are not fully inserted, they won't work.

It may also be that your system needs certified, matched memory cards or some other specification that was overlooked. Make sure the voltage rating is the same as your original. Take an original card with you when buying additional ones. Just don't handle the socket leads with your bare hands.

It is also quite possible that you just bought a bad memory card. Over the years I have run into this situation. I exchanged it out for the exact same brand and everything. One worked, one did not. Return to the store where you bought it and have them check it out or exchange it.

Answer 4

Could be the memory cards are not compatible. Or you could have exceeded the amount of memory the computer is able to handle (I didn't know there was a limit until recently). Take the new memory out, then go to a site like kingston or crucial. They can tell you how much you can put in and exactly what kind you need.

Answer 5

You may have your Virtual Memory set wrong....

Check your virtual memory's paging file. Keep in mind when re-setting this, is that your Virtual Memory-Paging file should be NO larger then 1.5 times the amount of Memory you have installed.

You have 512mb of memory, so your Virtual Memory should be 768mb

You have 1gig of memory, so your virtual memory should be about 1500 (mine is 1535 exact).

To check your virtual memory paging file size. Go to My Computer , right click on it with your mouse,
chose Properties. Go to the Advanced (tab). On the Advanced (tab) click the Performance Settings button.

Under the Performance / Settings Button, Chose the Advanced (tab) . On this Advanced (tab) you should see your
Virtual Memory Paging file size.

If it is not set at 1.5 times the amount of your Memory. Then I suggest you change it. So click the Change
Button. And put the dot on "System Managed Size" . Click the SET button, then click the OK button, then the
APPLY button if you can , then the OK button. Restart your computer. Go back there to see if the size was
reset. Make sure it reset to an amount no larger then 1.5 x (times) the amount of Memory you have installed.

Good Luck

Answer 6

you need 2-256 or2-512 you dont mix.

Answer 7

I'd tell you but I'm having trouble with my memory.