There is something seriously wrong with my computer.. may be RAM related?

D

datbomb

New Member
Hello guys, I think there may be something seriously wrong with my computer. So here's whats happening: A few weeks ago I upgraded my ram from 512mb to 2gb DDR 400. My motherboard (648FX-A) says that it can support DDR 400, however in the instructions manual on page 16(there is an instructions manual in pdf format on the website below), it says that it cannot guarantee that it would work with all DDR 400 modules. Could it be that this is why my computer is acting weird? Anyways ever since then, my computer has been crashing constantly and saying that it just "recovered from a serious error." Could the ram be conflicting with any drivers or programs?

Also during the BIOS/DOS boot screen, the words seem to be wavy. I don't know how else to describe it. I don't know if it was always like that or not. I've just never noticed until recently.

The inside of my computer is also dusty. I don't know if that could also be a part of the problem. Maybe some dust got into the slot and on the pins when I installed the new ram?

Here's a link to the motherboard product webpage on ECS: http://www.ecsusa.com/ECSWebSite/Products/...D=7&LanID=9

There's a BIOS update on there that says it can improve DDR 400 compatibility, I don't know if I should do it or not because I've read that it can be very risky.

Also recently the blue death screen has popped up. It said something about "memory dump" and then proceeded to restart.

Oh and there's one more thing: sometimes there are random pixels that appear on my screen that look like a rainbow color. I don't know if this has any importance or not...

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks guys.
 
Do you have more than one computer? Try the monitor on the other one. This pixels and weavy thing seems to me like a magnet is somewhere too close to the monitor. (maybe a speaker with strong magnet)

And one more question: how these pixels appear? Just as a color distortion? Or covering the screen and just the colors are visible?
Try rotating a bit the monitor. Will this distortion change? or move?

Could you post a screenshot? But not with a program, but with a camera from outside, because a program won't see the distortion of the colors if caused by the monitor.
 
chibicitiberiu said:
Do you have more than one computer? Try the monitor on the other one. This pixels and weavy thing seems to me like a magnet is somewhere too close to the monitor. (maybe a speaker with strong magnet)

And one more question: how these pixels appear? Just as a color distortion? Or covering the screen and just the colors are visible?
Try rotating a bit the monitor. Will this distortion change? or move?

Could you post a screenshot? But not with a program, but with a camera from outside, because a program won't see the distortion of the colors if caused by the monitor.
Click to expand...

I do have speakers and sub next to my computer, but they've always been there. I've never noticed anything wrong until recently.

The pixels are random. They appear out of nowhere like when I'm scrolling up and down a webpage. They also disappear as I scroll up and down a webpage too.. like when the pixels hit the top or bottom of my screen, they disappear. It's a rainbow color distortion that is pixel sized. Rotating the monitor won't help because it's not a glare or anything.

I'll try and take some pictures.
 
So you're saying that it is not interfering with magnets.
If you are using an lcd screen, try this:
Open start - run
Type "mspaint" and press ok
Go to Image - Attributes
Type your current screen resolution (make sure "Pixels" is selected) and press ok
Fill the screen with a color
Press CTRL+F.

This should make it appear on full screen. If it's an lcd screen, there could be some dead pixels. They appear usually when the monitor gets old.
Try some different colors (click to exit full screen)
are there some specific pixels which make this trouble? Or just random?

If it's random every time there may be problems with the videocard (like overheating, just an example of problem)
 
I did as you said with mspaint. A white screen popped up with my screen resolution at 1280x1024. However I didn't see any dead pixels. My monitor is fairly new, I don't leave it on that often and I do have screen saver enabled.

These are seemingly random pixels that show up... lol take a look at this. This appeared as I was reading your post (click full screen to see a bigger image) it is the 6th line down in your post, look carefully.. the pixels show up over a few of your words:

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/datbomb/?action=view&current=untitled.jpg


Anyone have any ideas on my RAM problems?
 
Last edited:
I don't see anything wrong. The screenshot is clear.

You should make a screenshot with a camera, not "Print Screen" key. The Print Screen key will copy to clipboard what SHOULD be displayed, not what is displayed on your screen. The problem I see is maybe with the videocard or monitor, (and the Print Screen doesn't see anything of these) but I don't see what. Try the monitor to another computer, is the problem persisting? If yes, than the monitor is the problem. Else, it's something with the videocard.

And a display problem can't be caused by RAM memory. It's just additional memory to make a computer faster.

Try reconnecting the monitor to the computer, maybe it is not correctly connected. or maybe a pin from the monitor's cable which goes in the port is damaged.
 
datbomb said:
Hello guys, I think there may be something seriously wrong with my computer. So here's whats happening: A few weeks ago I upgraded my ram from 512mb to 2gb DDR 400. My motherboard (648FX-A) says that it can support DDR 400, however in the instructions manual on page 16(there is an instructions manual in pdf format on the website below), it says that it cannot guarantee that it would work with all DDR 400 modules. Could it be that this is why my computer is acting weird? Anyways ever since then, my computer has been crashing constantly and saying that it just "recovered from a serious error." Could the ram be conflicting with any drivers or programs?

Also during the BIOS/DOS boot screen, the words seem to be wavy. I don't know how else to describe it. I don't know if it was always like that or not. I've just never noticed until recently.

The inside of my computer is also dusty. I don't know if that could also be a part of the problem. Maybe some dust got into the slot and on the pins when I installed the new ram?

Here's a link to the motherboard product webpage on ECS: http://www.ecsusa.com/ECSWebSite/Products/...D=7&LanID=9

There's a BIOS update on there that says it can improve DDR 400 compatibility, I don't know if I should do it or not because I've read that it can be very risky.

Also recently the blue death screen has popped up. It said something about "memory dump" and then proceeded to restart.

Oh and there's one more thing: sometimes there are random pixels that appear on my screen that look like a rainbow color. I don't know if this has any importance or not...

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks guys.
Click to expand...

If the memory you got is two 1gb sticks, take one out and see if it runs fine. If it does put the other stick in by itself and see if its ok. If it runs fine with both sticks by there self look in the bios and make sure the voltage and timming are set to what the default setting should be for the new memory. If the voltage and timming are set right you might need to do the bios update for memory compatibility.
 
Hm, it could be that you have an older motherboard that doesn't do well with all 4 ram slots populated. Try takeing 1 stick out (if you have 4 sticks) and see if it runs better.
 
I have 3 ram slots and I'm only using 2 of them, but yeah I tried everything that was suggested but nothing has changed. I'm guessing the pixels could be caused by my video card. Chibici you have to enlarge the picture.

You'll see it in this sentence: "Type your current screen resolution (make sure "Pixels" is selected) and press ok."

I think I may have to update my BIOS if this persists any longer because a lot of files on my computer are either being corrupted or missing because of the constant crashing.

Also, I checked my BIOS version and it matches the latest BIOS update on the ECS website... I don't know but it seems like I already have that version and I may just be RE-flasing.. can someone help?
 
As I said the picture is clear, nothing you described (I zoomed in to highest res), and as I said there is trouble getting the signal correctly from the motherboard to the monitor. The windows screen capture program will NOT see anything wrong. Best would be to create a screenshot with a camera, there is no other way, no matter what program you use.
And yes, the video card or the monitor may cause the problem. If you tried the monitor to another computer and it works perfect, than it's the video card.
 
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