I can dimly remember reading in a forum about problems using 4 sticks of RAM as apposed to using two 2GB modules. Unfortunately I'm having real problems remembering where, what mobo was involved and the outcome. I'll see if my brains 'search' function eventually comes up with something and post back..

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Originally Posted by kemical

I can dimly remember reading in a forum about problems using 4 sticks of RAM as apposed to using two 2GB modules. Unfortunately I'm having real problems remembering where, what mobo was involved and the outcome. I'll see if my brains 'search' function eventually comes up with something and post back..

Yeap I confirm that. This implies that the problem was caused by faulted memory modules (the modules were changed) , or faulted mainboard ,or vista doesn't like 4x1gb modules , or the mainboard doesn't supply enough juice for 4 memory modules .

The problem with mem tests is that small chunks of memory are tested at a time while vista uses large amount of memory in an atomic time unit.
So , in theory , memtests does not replicate full load memory modules usage.
There is no guarantee that a memtest that does not stress all memory modules at a time can reveal if the modules are faulted.
Bottom line, test one memory stick at a time > 6hours to be sure if the module is faulted. If everthing is ok , place the stick to the ex-populated mainboard memory slots and test them one by one.

Mihai

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yeap I confirm that. This implies that the problem was caused by faulted memory modules (the modules were changed) , or faulted mainboard ,or vista doesn't like 4x1gb modules , or the mainboard doesn't supply enough juice for 4 memory modules . The problem with mem tests is that small chunks of memory are tested at a time while vista uses large amount of memory in an atomic time unit. So , in theory , memtests does not replicate full load memory modules usage. There is no guarantee that a memtest that does not stress all memory modules at a time can reveal if the modules are faulted. Bottom line, test one memory stick at a time > 6hours to be sure if the module is faulted. If everthing is ok , place the stick to the ex-populated mainboard memory slots and test them one by one. Mihai

At a second thought this does not explain why vista is stable with any 2GB pair that is involved in the 4GB BSOD. I think that memory management is different for 4GB compairing to <3GB. If it stresses the modules more with 4GB would imply faulted ram. If not , this means that it is a vista/driver/software problem.

I hope that we will manage to find the roots of this darned BSOD. Good luck.

Mihai

If I remember correctly it was the mobo at fault and was fixed by a bios revision. I think the mobo was an Asus...

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Hey guys. Its looks like some of you may have a similar problem to me and these guys at the Nvidia forum. NVIDIA Forums > Forceware drivers crash Vista 32bit when 4gb ram

The issue happens when you install over 2gb of RAM with Nvidia drivers. Obviously this doesn't happen with everybody but I'd like to know how I can put those extra 2gb in my computer.

Originally Posted by Unregistered - Cristoforo

Hey guys. Its looks like some of you may have a similar problem to me and these guys at the Nvidia forum. NVIDIA Forums > Forceware drivers crash Vista 32bit when 4gb ram The issue happens when you install over 2gb of RAM with Nvidia drivers. Obviously this doesn't happen with everybody but I'd like to know how I can put those extra 2gb in my computer.

Hi cristoforo . I will check this weekend to see if it is a hardware fault if I have some spare time. For now the situation is unclear so I do not advise you to add extra 2gb ram , if you use vista32. Anyway I will continue to post to this thread till we get to the roots of the problem.

Mihai

Originally Posted by kemical

If I remember correctly it was the mobo at fault and was fixed by a bios revision. I think the mobo was an Asus...

I had issues with running 4Gb of ram with mine and I corrected it with a combination of Bios v.2004 and SP1

just my 2 cents

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