so my hometheater / ubuntu box desided it was going to crash.

no matter how many times i fix the file system, it never starts.


so i broke down and reinstalled... i got errors on reinstall. GRR

got pissed and installed vista. vista wouldnt update. GRR

installed xp. Start bar never showed up. GRR

over and over with the installs... finaly i run memtest. 850k errors later... grr

take out one stick of memory... passes tests

swap out with other stick of memory (same slot) passes...

put memory in other slot... passes

put both sticks in... fails



im thinking the issue is with the memory controller. so i am going to replace the processor..

or could it be the motherboard??


System specs

ECS 6100SM-M motherboard

proc athlon64 3200+ am2 socket

2 gb generic ddr2 pc 667 memory...

Have you tried to bump up the voltage a little, ram voltage that is? Have you tried to re-seat everything? Possibilities are endless but you are on the right track, sucks that you can't install though.

Quote: Originally Posted by Lokie Have you tried to bump up the voltage a little, ram voltage that is? Have you tried to re-seat everything? Possibilities are endless but you are on the right track, sucks that you can't install though.

yeah i forgot to mention.. i had disconnected all cards. and left only proc/memory/hdd installed, and used a external cd for install.. i will up the voltage and get back to you

Well the memory controller is built-in to the cpu, but the memory
plugs into the mobo and passes signals thru it's circuitry. And while
the symptons would suggest the cpu, I'd bet money it's the ECS
mobo. I've just seen to many ECS mobo arrive defective, and just
as many fail shortly after installation. And it sounds like it's had
problems from the start, I'm voting mobo :-)

Yeah, could be the DIMM slots are b0rked could also try cleaning the pins on your RAM, sounds kinda low tech, but ive known them to get quite scratched and dirty (could just be my messy room) so give them a quick rub down.

Quote: Originally Posted by Slaymate Well the memory controller is built-in to the cpu, but the memory plugs into the mobo and passes signals thru it's circuitry. And while the symptons would suggest the cpu, I'd bet money it's the ECS mobo. I've just seen to many ECS mobo arrive defective, and just as many fail shortly after installation. And it sounds like it's had problems from the start, I'm voting mobo :-)

it was the mobo and the ram

the ram ran at a weird speed. 666 instead of 667, so when i popped it in other systems it ran fine

i got hy hands on some memory to test with, and now i am running like a champ /w no errors =)

thanks to everyone who helped out!!

now i just need to get some cheap 1gb sticks of ddr2 =)

How about $40 for 2 1GB dimms, $10 ship?

Deal of the day.

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Similar memory on newegg.

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Directron

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Quote: Originally Posted by THRiLL KiLL it was the mobo and the ram the ram ran at a weird speed. 666 instead of 667, so when i popped it in other systems it ran fine i got hy hands on some memory to test with, and now i am running like a champ /w no errors =) thanks to everyone who helped out!! now i just need to get some cheap 1gb sticks of ddr2 =)

Anyone else see something weird about that? lol