Extra memory causing instability?

[hemicuda]

I just added another 2GB to my Sage server (32bit OS). Identical pair to the 2GB that's been in it since construction. I'm aware of some sort of memory addressing limit to 32bit architecture. Was I under false pretenses to think that the RAM above the limit would just sit idle?

The server has gone almost unresponsive and at best acts like it has a DX-50 cpu. Guess I'll pull the extra RAM and see if that helps. Any comments on how to get the new memory to play nice would be helpful. I've run low on memory recently and would like to step up the capacity as much as I can.

[stanger89]

I vaguely remember some Hauppauge drivers don't play nice with 4GB of ram.

[hemicuda]

Wonder which ones.

Removing the new RAM fixed the issues. Least I'm out <$40 until I can find a solution.

[MeInMaui]

You could try swapping in the new RAM for the old and see if the instability shows up again. You might have a bad stick. You could also try downloading the memory diagnostic utility from microsoft. It creates a CD ISO to burn a bootable CD, which will continuously run the memory diagnostics.

Aloha,
Mike

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by hemicuda

Wonder which ones.

Removing the new RAM fixed the issues. Least I'm out <$40 until I can find a solution.

Your Hauppague 350 and 500MCE will have issues with more than 3 GB RAM.

Gerry

[Opus4]

In addition to the 4GB issue: if you have more than 2 sticks of memory, you sometimes have to reduce the memory speed in the BIOS for it to all work correctly. It was a common problem/suggestion on the memory tech support forum when I had issues after adding RAM & it solved the problem I add.

- Andy

[hemicuda]

Wish I'd checked the board earlier today. Have to wait a bit before I can try those suggestions. Thanks.

Looks like the capture card drivers might be the sticky issue either way.

[hemicuda]

Originally Posted by gplasky

Your Hauppague 350 and 500MCE will have issues with more than 3 GB RAM.

Gerry

So, if I put 2x512MB sticks in there it should be ok?

And, why would drivers care about how much RAM I have? I could ditch those cards in favor of more HD tuners, but I'm not convinced that Comcast isn't going to lock QAM down to nothing later this year even w/ DTA's. With the analog cards I at least have the option for coax/composite capture from a STB.

[SHS]

Frist of all memory addressing limit to 32bit architecture soft and hardware is 4GB and that with all device that have any kind of memory like Video Card, TV Card, Sound Card, CPU, NIC and so on which also need to be count in.

So, if I put 2x512MB sticks in there it should be ok

Sometime it no you need match memeory size as in "3" 1 GB stick
I had problem using 2 x 512MB sticks + 2 x 1GB sticks

[hemicuda]

No matter... I can't find 512MB sticks from the same company/speed. I'm going to try just adding 1 1GB stick of the pair I bought when I get a chance and see what happens.

Still stinks that a driver would impose a limit on system memory as gplasky suggested.

Thanks for the comments.