Odd Windoze Problem

[pool]

I recently upgraded my RAM to 1GB. ( after the recent thread on HD capacity and memory, my inferiority complex surfaced - btw, I have 300GB - 3 HD's )

It's a week since I installed the other card. At first the difference in overall speed was noticeable, but now I'm getting black areas or part of the screen graphics missing in the different apps. If I reboot the problem is gone, but returns after a while.

The memory wasn't the same brand, but I bought it from the same place ( Signa, next to Studio B ) and it's the one they suggested as being compatible. (DDR 512mb PC 2700).

Could it be the memory or something else ?

Any ideas or suggestions ?

TIA

PS no, I don't want to switch to linux or buy a mac

FYI Windows XP, P4 2.40ghz cpu, Asus MB.

 

[ycghiydvo]

Two things come to mind for me...

Verify all your connections, particularly any graphics cards, memory on the graphics cards, and anything else possibly brushed, when placing the memory inside.

Consider adding another fan to the unit. I had something similar happen after adding memory to an older PC, and it worked fine with the cover off, but when the cover was on, after a while the picture started doing the type of thing you are talking about.

 

[maverick]

I ...I have 300GB - 3 HD's )...

hmmm... that's a lot of porn pool...

mav

 

[SilentLeviathan]

I doubt it's the RAM as you would be noticing problems running programs. Since the problem seems to only effect the monitor, I'm leaning towards an issue with the video card.

Since the problem leaves when you reboot, it might be bad RAM on the card, or it could be a power supply problem. I doubt it's a heat issue as the inside of the case will not have cooled down very much in the brief moment the PC is off during a reboot.

 

[pool]

Thanks for the replies.

I've screwed around with the cables cards etc and so far no luck.

It's not likely a heat problem as it has 5 fans, but I turned 2 up just the same.

anon, they are both 512MB PC2700 DDR 333MHZ

mav, no kidding, huh : )

It mostly occurs when I click on any pop up menus, like desktop option or options from the program icons on the tool bar etc etc. Either the pop up menu is partially blackened out in a square pattern or fully blackened out. If I hover over the options they appear in white font or sometimes it just returns to normal.

It can also happen in the program interfaces though. As in winmx dl's don't show ( as well as blackened areas in the border ) or emails aren't visible, until I hover over them or wait for them to appear.

Is their even a name for this phenomena

 

[aptenodytes]

Take the new ram out and see if the problem persists. If it does, it's NOT the ram. If it doesn't take it back and get new.

 

[ceo8888ca]

I would say, RAM or Power Supply..

Poolie,

Asus had gone through a period last year with RAM compatibility issues (everyone in the business knows about it). Depends on the RAM chips, even Infineon was given them fits.

Your problem is, at least, combining chips from different manufacturers (maybe). That is, the new ones are not the same brand or batch since the old ones wroked! It will be best to have ALL the same RAM chips put in at the same time. So, dump the old piece and get all new pieces, test in at the store if you can because they may carry different brands around.

One other possibility is the Power Supply. No knowing when you added the hard drives, you may be exceeding the output of the P/S recently and it finally manifest the conditions and show its ugly face. Don't believe it when it says 300W !

PM me if you want to give me some background or get more inform.

 

[maverick]

try updating the video driver to later version or older version and see if problem goes away.

check your performance. see if you have a memory leak or if your CPU is at 100%.

mav