I have a friend who has the following Mobo with a P4 processor:

MSI 845PE Max 2

He's currently using 256mb 2100 Ram. (Frys labled it DDR 256MB 2100 Cool BL - Black PCB & Heatsink - 184 Pin 266mhz - does not have a brand name)

Here's the problem...

When another 256mb/512mb 2100 Ram is added (Two different manufactors), Windows does not fully Boot. It gets stuck with a blinking cursor at the upper left of the screen.

I have tried to use the new Ram (both manufactors) by itself and the same thing happens, I have tried different combo's etc.

The original RAM he received from FRYS is the only RAM the mobo seems to accept, however FRY's no longer carries that type.

Any clue on the Type of RAM to use? Any clue on the Manufacture of the Ram that works? He needs to have a min. of 512mb of RAM since he is running large programs.

Thanks All

Sounds like the second stick of RAM is bad... I have a customer running the exact same board with 2 256MB sticks in it running just fine...

do you have a staples or officemax or office depot? they usually have repackages samsung ddr there that i have found always works. AND!! iin my experence there us theefferent kinds of ram, some that'll work in AMD systems onmy. some that'll work in INTEL systems only and some that'll work in both. but give that stuff there a try. it should work.

I'd first try a set of TwinX -OR- two sticks of the same model by a respectable brand such as Corsair, GeIL, or Kingston.
I understand he might not be a power users but as you know, all three of my choice brands make "normal" ram.

MSI Recommends Kingston

tex, was that "normal" comment directed towards me??

Thanks for the replys so far...

The 512 stick purchased was Kingston 2100 DDR (Lifetime Warrenty RAM) did not work as a single or added to the original 256.

The other 256 that I tried (mine-unknown brand) also did not work (and I know that the ram is good).

Forgot to mention: The BIOS is set for Auto Detect RAM Speed.

I don't think this is a Win98 Config problem, so it has to be RAM. If the 512 works in another machine (I'll try tonight), what could the issue be if MSI recomends Kingston?

The only other thing it could be is a bad slot on the motherboard, but I'd put money on it being a bad stick o' RAM...Kingston is the only brand of memory I use here at work, and I've received a few duds in the past, but the warranty is great...

Quote: Originally posted by Chrome_Rust tex, was that "normal" comment directed towards me??

Nah.

Quote: Originally posted by pimp_joose The only other thing it could be is a bad slot on the motherboard, but I'd put money on it being a bad stick o' RAM...Kingston is the only brand of memory I use here at work, and I've received a few duds in the past, but the warranty is great...

Took the words right outta' my mouth...