LOL Thank you for the info.... I geuss these STOP messages do mean something useful afterall!! :(Still it's strange though how all over applications accept the mis-matched memory without any problems....It's only been a couple of hours and already I have noticed what a difference 1GB of memory makes over 512MB!! Everything responds soo slowly! :PAgain, thank you to everyone who helped me out!! :D

"Everything responds soo slowly!".....slowly as in quickly I hope you meant to say?!Mike ;)

Thanks for the good news, Scooby! :-) FWIW; as long as you're restricted to 2x256MB, you're probably better off with the 2700 modules. Using 2x256MB 3200 often is asking to be in sleuth mode... Without getting into too many details, a 2x256/3200 config will typically cut your RAM throughput in half and the delta will be more than operating the right type of modules at lower FSB speeds. Once you've gotten the extra 256MB/3200 sticks, pop in all 4 and you'll be ok again. Glad you worked it out, good luck and kind regards Jaap PS, I l

Well sure things run quick if you have 512mb but when you get used to 1GB you tend to find 512MB slow :( But I am sure I will get used to it (that is untill I get my proper 512MB replacements! :P )Thanks for the advice Jaap, I'll take your word on it and use the PC2700 RAM modules... But what do you mean "at lower FSB speeds"?? Is 800mhz FSB slow??!!

>>But what do you mean "at lower FSB speeds"?? Is 800mhz FSB slow??!!<< If your bios and RAM are set to 'Auto' (meaning the system will read your RAM's capabilities automatically), it will select the FSB frequency in accordance with the inserted modules. PC2100 = 133MHz; PC2700 = 166MHz and PC3200 = 200MHz. 533 and 800MHz are merely multipliers of these basic frequencies (besides sounding better with regard to marketing!). :-) Technically, the frequency alone does not determine the max possible RAM throughput. Here a second, important issue comes into play; called 'banking'. To achieve max throughput, most modern systems require at least two banks per channel. 256MB PC3200 modules are typically single-sided aka only have a single bank. So, when using single-sided modules like you are now, you're cutting your max possible throughput in half. Since 256MB PC2700 modules usually are double-sided, using them will make you gain performance despite the slightly lower nominal frequency. Easiest would be to replace the 3200 sticks with your 2700s and see what happens. I'm positive you'll notice the difference... :-) Hope this helps, good luck and kind regards Jaap

Ah ok I see what you mean...In regards to banking both my PC3200 and my PC2700 have a single bank (i.e. Memory modules on one side rather than on both)... In any case I will try out both...Thank you! :D

Hi Scooby Unfortunately, one can't tell whether modules are single- or double-sided (SS & DS) just by looking at them. Double-sided 512MB PC3200 modules for example often have their DIMMs on one side. IMHO, 256MB/PC3200 modules are one of the biggest traps in computing history and specially for home-builders since SS or DS can only determined by looking at the component's specs. And who looks at specs!? :-) OEMs like Dell etc are (probably) aware of such details and will have equipped their 2x256MB PC3200 systems with DS modules from scratch. Final example, folks who add another 2x256MB to their homebuilt 2x256MB/PC3200 systems are frequently stunned by the performance increase and believe the extra 512MB did the trick. What they don't realize, is, that they parallely also doubled their throughput capabilities due to proper banking. Had they gone from 512 to 1024MB with DS modules @ 512MB, the 'WOW!! Holy cow!' might have barely been an average 'wow'... :-) Provided you have standard bios settings, the 3200 --> 2700 swap should be trouble-free and you'll (probably) immediately notice the difference. Your system should be snappier despite operating at a slightly lower FSB frequency. Hope this helps, good luck and kind regards Jaap

Is it possible for you guys to help me find out if my 256MB/PC3200 is single or double sided cause I home-built my PC and at the time I was unaware of this even though I do look at specs and am careful at what I buy!! I have a Kingston ValueRAM Model Number: KVR400X64C3A/256I had a looked at kingston's site and got the technical doumentation for this ( http://www.valueram.com/Tools/Datasheets.a...%20and%20400MHz ) but I can't make out much of it... The only thing it mentions about banking is that it has "8M x 8-bit x 4 Bank" (<-- What does that mean??!!)My 256MB/PC2700 memory is a SpecTek Model Number: P32M648HHC-6ATried looking at the techical documentation for this and it was even more confusing than Kingstons!!! ( http://www.spectek.com/menus/memory_module...Type=mem_module )Sorry to ask this but you guys have sparked my interest in this whole banking thing... (I just love anything to do with computer hardware!! :( )

Glad to see you got it sorted, Scooby!I enjoy helping whenever possible here, but I'm still refining my on-line troubleshooting technique. It's tough enough to do when you've got the computer sitting in front of you... it can be a real head-whacker trying to troubleshoot on-line. Point in fact is I never even thought about asking about mixed memory... because I always install matched kits!! The possibility of mixed memory never occurred to me!!At any rate it's nice to see one of these problems seeemingly resolved, and another simmer back happily simming again.GregP.S. Hi Jaap. Great call on this problem, but then your calls are more often than not right on the mark.

Hi Greg,"The possibility of mixed memory never occurred to me!!"....you and me both! And I was following this thread, eager to step in, only I had nothing worthwhile to suggest :("Jaap. Great call on this problem, but then your calls are more often than not right on the mark."....I second that! One of the fascinations of being involved in a forum such as this is to observe all the twists and turns of diagnostic endeavours. And once in a while someone will come along with a suggestion that starts the cogs turning again. Jaap did just that when he described in post #39 how helpful 'STOP' errors can be.We are ALL learning from these experiences. :)Best regards,Mike

Lol thank you Greg! :D I am very grateful for all the help you gave anyway since it probably helped me prevent any future problems!! :(Well my memory setup that I had was a mixed pair of memory kits! :DI had 2x 256mb Kingston Memory running on one dual channel (i.e. out of 4 slots they were in slot 1 and 3 for dual channel to work) and another 2x 256mb SimpleTek running on the other dual channel (slots 2 and 4)!! I should have realised this setup would have caused problems but the when I read the Stop errors more carefully and Japps advice on intrepreting the STOP errors the cause of the problem was found! Now I am finally enjoying a 3 hour flight :-rotor that would otherwise not have been possible if it weren't for all of you guys!! :D :D :-jumpy

Well for a change I have very good new to report!! :D I have just finished a 3 hour flight and absolutely no problems were encountered!!! :D :D :DI think it's safe to say... PROBLEM SOLVED!!! :(Thank you guys (again) for helping me out! :D

>>P.S. Hi Jaap. Great call on this problem, but then your calls are more often than not right on the mark.<< >>....I second that!<< Ho, ho, my call came right after Scooby's STOP mention, after all YOUR efforts and I only happened to be well timed... Sheer coincidence that is! :-) I'll happily agree to call this yet another joint effort (with very little input on my behalf). IMHO, Mike's advise to turn off the automatic reboot openend the door because that allowed us to notice/produce the infamous STOP message. Greg, Mike, all I can say, is, thanks a bunch for your very flattering words. And please allow me to return them. I dearly appreciate your efforts, experience, willingness to exchange and knowledge. :-) >>I have a Kingston ValueRAM Model Number: KVR400X64C3A/256. I had a looked at kingston's site and got the technical doumentation for this but I can't make out much of it... The only thing it mentions about banking is that it has "8M x 8-bit x 4 Bank" (<-- What does that mean??!!)<< Well, you've discoverd another difficulty; documentation! Occasionally a real pain in the neck. :-) Nevertheless, it's still 99% safe to presume that your KVR400X64C3A/256 is single-sided and 99.9% that your P32M648HHC-6A is double-sided. Like all of us, I'm more than happy you sorted it out and thank you too for your kind words. You're welcome, Scooby. I wish you heaps of fun with your crash-free FlyTendo. :-) Good luck and kind regards Jaap

Thank you Jaap! I have definetly enjoying these past few error free days flightsimming!! :DI have been using the PC2700 RAM and you guys are right.. there was an improvement!Since my PC2700 is double sided should I buy another 2 sticks of this 256MB RAM or buy 2 sticks of the Kingston RAM?Thank you guys for all your help anyway!! :D

RAM is pretty cheap these days. Can you afford 2 matched sticks of 512 (2700 or 3200 speed)?Greg