Hey all, I've got quite the issue here. A week ago I added new RAM to my computer as it only had 2GB, and I added the same RAM that was compatible with my computer model (Inspiron 530).

 

After I installed the 2GB, it said 3.25GB of RAM, after research this appeared to be normal as I am running a 32-bit system, so 3.25GB is just about the cap there. But now, after 10-60 minutes after I start a flight I get an error message saying either:

 

"A fatal error has occurred"

 

OR

 

"FSX has experienced a problem and needs to close"

 

Also, sometimes, FSX simply refuses to keep working and freezes up with the hourglass cursor emblem on the screen.

 

 

Nothing like this has happened before my RAM installation, but why does it seem so abnormal?

 

I have only tried the PMDG 737NGX as that is all I ever fly.

 

-Thanks-

If you have two gigs of RAM and you installed two more gigs of RAM, it should equal 4 GB and nothing less. Right click the Computer icon on your desktop and select properties. If you do not have the Computer icon on your desktop, goto the Start menu and right-click Computer in the menu and select Properties. Now look at System. You should see Installed Memory - 4.00 GB. If not, your memory was not installed properly and you may have to go into your BIOS and make sure it is seeing 4 GB. If you have one DIMM Memory Module equaling 2GB, that is placed in the DIMM 1 connector closests to the CPU. If you get another module which is exactly the same as the first module, you install that into the DIMM 2 Connector. If it is not exactly the same type of memory as the one you placed in DIMM 1, then you'll need to install the second one in DIMM Connector 3. If you get another module that is an exact match, that would go in the DIMM 2 connector. So the new memory you bought should go into the second or third DIMM connector. The max you can put in your computer is 4GB.

 

The type you should be installing is DDR2 SDRAM (667/800 MHz). If the first module is 2GB, then the second should also be 2GB in the second DIMM Connector (not 1GB or 512MB). Look at page 124 of your Dell Computer manual for more information and the proper method of installation.

 

Make sure the memory is properly installed with the latches securely holding onto the memory on both sides.

 

Best regards,

Jim

Okay, thanks, but from what I understand is that 3.25GB is supposed to be read on a 32-bit system from research I did seperately. Would you like the error message? Here is the event properties.

 

Faulting application fsx.exe, version 10.0.61637.0, faulting module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0xc25dd0ff.

 

An earlier error was:

 

Fault Bucket -960410262

 

Does that help at all?

 

Also, I did install them correctly from what I can tell as I have the same type of RAM and they are corresponding as in 1GB-1GB then in DIMMS 2 & 4 it is also 1GB-1GB.

 

My BIOS notices 4096MB of RAM which is 4GB.

Most ram issues are due to voltages. I have to push mine to 1.66 volts for stability. Also 1600ghz mems are approved for IB. Cheers jja

Most ram issues are due to voltages. I have to push mine to 1.66 volts for stability. Also 1600ghz mems are approved for IB. Cheers jja

 

Hello, thanks, but I really don't know necessarily if that is causing the problem, could you please tell me how you can push the volts in order to be able to allow more RAM stability? Also, stupid question of the day what is "IB"?

The only ram buss speeds approved by Intel for Ivy Bridge are 1600 ghz at 1.5v. Mine at 2133 ghz seem to be fine however but with the afore stated 1.66v. All this has to do with the IB memory controller. Cheers jja

Okay, add another failed attempt. A fatal error occurred. What would be the next logical step from here anyone? Is reinstallation my best bet at this point or not?

Seems like you have some bad memory or they are not compatible with your MOBO. The error you reported indicates a bad memory location. What are the memory types and what MOBO do you have? BTW bad memory is not uncommon. How did you configure them in bios. Did you set an XMP profile? Cheers jja

I have no idea how to configure it, according to the place I purchased them from you don't have to set it up. I don't know what an XMP Profile is. From what I can tell my RAM is compatible, the BIOS is recognizing it. I don't know what type of MOBO I have either, I am more computer illiterate these days.

No worries I can try to help just tell me what kind of computer you have and what memory did you buy? Also do you know how to get into bios? Usually you need to hit delete when the system boots. Also download a utility called CPU id http://www.cpuid.com...ares/cpu-z.html run it and tell us what it says about your memory. Cheers jja

I'm off to dinner so I will be back in a bit, I will edit this post when I have the info you need.

Yes, I do know how to get into BIOS.

 

I purchased this RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 2GB 800MHz DDR2 Non ECC Cl6 DIMM (Kit of 2) Desktop Memory (in the reviews somebody said they used in the Inspiron 530 and it worked for them)

 

Okay through the CPU ID tool it says I have Type DDR2 RAM, Dual Channels, with 4096MB available

 

My computer is an Inspiron 530. Runs an Intel Core 2 Duo E6550, at 2.3ghZ. 2 cores/2 threads

 

Core voltage is 1.152V and bus speed is 332.51 mhZ.

 

Anything else?

Seems like you have some bad memory or they are not compatible with your MOBO. The error you reported indicates a bad memory location. What are the memory types and what MOBO do you have? BTW bad memory is not uncommon. How did you configure them in bios. Did you set an XMP profile? Cheers jja

I have no idea how to configure it, according to the place I purchased them from you don't have to set it up. I don't know what an XMP Profile is. From what I can tell my RAM is compatible, the BIOS is recognizing it. I don't know what type of MOBO I have either, I am more computer illiterate these days.

 

Okay. Here's the computer he has - http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/inspd530/en/OM/PDF/om_en.pdf. On page 124 it shows how to install the memory.

 

It looks like you have four 1 GB DIMMS which means you can place a memory module in each DIMM connector as long as they are all DDR2 compatible.

 

I don't know what type of OS is installed but believe you must have Windows XP 32 bit. Windows XP, 32 bit, is limited to 4GB of address space. If you have 4GB of RAM installed, it will not show 4GB within Windows. What you are probably getting is the size of your pagefile subtracted from the 4GB. So memory is properly installed, the bios sees it all and that means it is installed correctly.

 

Check your Virtual Memory (Page File) settings. Open System in the Control Panel. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings. On the Advanced tab, under Virtual memory, click Change. Under Drive (Volume Label), click the drive that contains the paging file you want to change (most likely C). Under Paging file size for selected drive, click system managed size. This works best for FSX.

 

Make sure your settings in FSX are turned down near the default. The PMDG 737 uses a lot of resources. Having your settings set high in FSX and your display driver can cause major problems. You might even want to save the fsx.cfg to fsx.orig and then restart FSX and let the config rebuild. You cannot have most of your sliders set to the right. It's impossible with your system without issues. You only had 2GB of RAM previously so it's hard for me to believe you had any of your settings set high before you installed the other two memory modules.

 

If none of this works, then you should download and run AppCrashView - http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/app_crash_view.html. It will show you every error message that happened since you installed Windows (unless you deleted past Microsoft .wer reports). Copy and paste your latest crash report.

 

I would also run a system cleaner such as the freeware CCleaner - http://www.piriform.com/blog/2012/12/21/ccleaner-v326 and then a program like Super Anti-Spyware (freeware) - http://www.superantispyware.com/.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Best regards,

Jim

I just ran Malwarebytes the other night. Sadly, AppCrashView doesn't work for WinXP according to their website as it doesn't save .wer files. I'm going to attempt at a flight now, I will give you updates. Is there anything else I should do like the XMP that JJA was talking about or anything involving the BIOS that must be configured?

 

For my reference: Flight wheels up 20:16 en route to Portland from Phoenix

Wheels down in Portland (if applicable :

Sadly, AppCrashView doesn't work for WinXP according to their website as it doesn't save .wer files.

 

Sorry, I forgot about that limitation. Unfortunately you cannot use the XMP memory format. If you download and run CPU-Z and look in the memory tab it will show you what is running in your system now. The frequency and the timings. On the next tab, SPD, it shows you all the various frequencies, timings, and voltages allowed for your system. In the BIOS some have the capability of manually setting their profile to X.M.P. which will provide the best possible frequency, timings, and voltages for your computer. But I don't think that's possible for your system as I believe only Dell XPS systems are the only ones that can be overclocked and memory settings changed.

 

Did you change the Page File setting to System Managed Size? A lot of people try to set their own sizes and that's a major mistake unless you are a computer memory expert. Even the professionals screw that up and bring their systems down.

 

Best regards,

Jim