Strange Memory Errors

[madman045]

I seem to have a strange memory error

Dell Dimension 3100

2x1GB PC4200u Ram

Been running fine until a few days ago, and then the pc reboots every few minutes

Put the latest memtest on a cd and within a few minutes it flags errors (cant seem to tell which stick)

However I have tested both sticks on their own with memtest and even after 30 mins a stick, it's not reporting any errors, ive even tried them both in the opposite slots and memtest still errors, yet there not showing errors when tested on their own.

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks

[Thorsson]

Second memory slot on mobo may be snarfed. Do you have more than 2 slots, and if so can you use the other pair?

[madman045]

unfortunately this dell like most only have two slots and I agree with you thinking the slot may be faulty, however the issue only appears with both memory slots in use..

[Noxvayl]

Its probably the motherboard dual channel configuration that's shot. Is there any way to disable it on your dell so you can check?

If not you need to contact dell to report a faulty motherboard and explain the issue. Let them test it and they'll more than likely replace it.

[Thorsson]

So can you use both the 1st slot and the 2nd slot on their own OK as well as both sticks on their own? If so then it's not the second slot, which was what I was thinking.

This is an old P4 machine right? I believe that these came with 256 or 512MB originally, so you must have upgraded the RAM at some point. How long ago and was it guaranteed to work with the PC or was it just generic PC4200? How long has it been running OK?

[madman045]

It came with 512mb and I only changed the ram last week and it has a 3ghz 630 cpu in it and now my 36gb raptor... will email dell tech support

[Thorsson]

It came with 512mb and I only changed the ram last week and it has a 3ghz 630 cpu in it and now my 36gb raptor... will email dell tech support

So actually it wasn't working OK for very long with the new RAM, and you changed the HDD and the CPU as well? If they're not official Dell upgrades good luck on getting any support from them. I suspect an incompatibility of some kind.

Hope I'm wrong on both counts.

[madman045]

The only thing I have changed is the ram, the hdd change has made no difference as ive plugged the original 160gb back in and its still the same.

I don't have another pc to double check the ram just in case its that, otherwise id rma it back to crucial.

[Thorsson]

What is the Crucial code for the memory?