All good advice and that is what we have been doing.  For the added
memory we asked IBM and Kingston what we should buy and they told
us, not us telling them.  We have had no problems with any mixture
of the 128MB modules.  It's only when we move into more than one
256MB or the 512MB modules.  Again, starting with IBM part numbers
we were sold what should work.  It works in some but not others.  I
still have not heard back from IBM on this issue.  Thanks to all.

- Wayne Copeland
  PC Support Group
  Minnesota Department of
  Employment & Economic Development


>>> [log in to unmask] 3/22/04 1:15:46 PM >>>
Hi,

I haven't seen that exact specific problem, but have had some
customers
with some memory up-grade problems.

The older P3's were used to dealing with low density 168 pin
s-dram
memory, and now that is a lot more expensive than the new high
density
memory that is available.  People being people, usually run into
the
problems when they buy the cheaper high density stuff to save a
buck.
It doesn't boot, it reads half of what it should, etc.  They end
up
taking it back and getting the lower density more expensive modules
and
all will work fine.  MORAL: Always find out what the board was
originally designed to work with and buy the correct type up front.
 You
save time, and time is money.  And you save agrivation.  Saving
agrivation is priceless.

Also when I have a client wanting to do an upgrade of more than
one
system that they purchased multiples of, I recommend they do an
audit of
what they have, merge what they have and buy only what is needed.

For example, Say they had 4 machines and only 128M in each but the
board
has 4 slots.  Take the 128M memory out of 3 of the machines, put
them
all into one and then just buy a single 512 or 2 256 for each of
the
other 3.  That way you can eliminate timing inconsistancies
between
memory modules and possible stop the blue screening problems.

Thanks and have a Great Day!

Joe Lore
=========================================
At work we have around 700 IBM 6846-??U Pentium 3's.  The problem
we are
running into is memory.  All the computers we have seem to run just
find
if we use only 128MB memory modules.  The problem starts when we
use
more than one 256MB or 512MB memory modules.  All the PC's have
the
latest BIOS upgrade and have had or will have the system board
replaced
due to the capacitor problem the entire electronics industry has
with
capacitors from that era.

Some of the PC's will take two 256MB memory modules or one (or
more) 512MB memory modules but a lot will not.  The problems run
from
the computer not POSTing (usually with the 512MB) to the computer
starting and running OK for a while and the blue-screening (usually
with
the 2 - 256MB memory modules).  Most of our added memory is
Kingston but
we have this problem with genuine IBM memory as well.  The same
memory
will work in some computers and not work with other computers so
it
looks like the memory modules are good.

We have been working with IBM about this problem but so far they
have
not admitted to a problem or provided a solution.  Our tech here is
now
up at third level support and we have provided them with a computer
and
memory that demonstrates the problem.

Has any one else seen this problem or have any suggestions?
Thanks.

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