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Friday the 13th of July, 2007, seemed to be all that one can expect of it!
I shut my computer down on that Friday and tried to revive it on Saturday, to no avail! It just started to boot but then went off, then on again, off... on..., etc.
The experts think this is either the motherboard or the power-supply. But they were wrrrrrrong It was just one of the mem-modules!
How do you diagnose that? Easy: just unplug one of the two mem-modules, then the other. if the computer runs again (with just one module) swap this for the other:
- If the computer just reboots now: it's the mem-module
- If the computer happens to run with either of the two mem-modules: it's the motherboard.
So with me it was just one of the mem-modules. So out goes the defect one and the computer is now running single channel on one 1GBmem-module! Oh boy, does this slow down certain operations
This is proof, that a single Gig of RAM is not enough to run todays computers/software efficiently (I'm still running on WinXP)!!!

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Hi Tom,

Well diagnosed! Not all manufacturers or self-builders pay proper attention to memory module cooling and this can lead to erratic behaviour and early failure. If you water-cool your CPU (but not your RAM) then you typically need a dedicated fan to blow air over newer memory modules.

Even with the CPU cooled by a traditional heatsink and fan it is easy to forget that this is the fan which should also cool the RAM. Even with the heatsink correctly oriented something as simple as a ribbon cable over the top of the memory can cause problems.

If you intend to stick with XP x86 for a while but upgrade your RAM be aware that unless you are running Server 2003 there is little point in buying more than 2GB. Put 4GB in and XP Pro will typically only use around 3GB of it.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

I know. And the 2-3GB limit is still with us even with WinVista 32bit.
But 64bit Windows is only for the die-hard
As to cooling: It is quite interesting that the standard Intel-cooler tries to give the surrounding of the CPU some fresh air. But almost every high-end 3rd-party cooler just directs the air to the back/exhaust-fan. So the volatageregulatrs and the RAM do get nothing if you upgrade your fan.
On the other hand my Corsair Dominator 8500 is not getting to hot to worry (if/when it works)...

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Sorry to offer advice you obviously don't need. At least replacement RAM is relatively cheap these days.

I run Vista x64 successfully on my fun machine but it isn't for the faint-hearted. For my day to day needs I have stuck with XP Pro x86. The hardware could run Vista x64 but XP ain't broke so why fix it?

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Sure, I'm getting the additional 1GB RAM back. At least Corsair has a lifelong guaranty on their modules

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

I'm looking to upgrade to Vista...somewhere around 2010.

Zorro.

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http://zorrofox4.deviantart.com/



Various lenses, SB800 & Manfrotto 190 with 460MG head

That's the cheapest replacement RAM you can get.


Actually, there's a lot to like about it as well as a few rough edges. For instance, I really like the ability to set up a Standard User Account. Unfortunately a few drivers (Creative, hang your head in shame) continue to be works in progress. If it comes pre-configured on a new machine then I wouldn't suggest asking for XP.

And as for Linux...

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

It's really just the cost of upgrading that puts me off. Oh, and the fact that there's no decent M-Audio drivers either. Oh, and the DRM issues.

For the time being XP does everything I want it to.

Zorro.

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http://zorrofox4.deviantart.com/



Various lenses, SB800 & Manfrotto 190 with 460MG head

Ok, you should wait for SP1! Oh and the new file system!!
And, ahem, for the next-gen 8 core 45nm-Nehalem-processor!!!
Which needs a new motherboard
And that new DDR3 RAM...

Then, I think, it's time for Vista

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Hi Thomas, I feel your pain!

I once had some inexplicable errors on my PC and it was all down to dodgy memory which just suddenly failed. It's now one of the first things I check when strange things start happening... (along with everything else!)

Gordon

My Mac runs with 2gb of RAM and since taking up photography I couldn't possibly think of running on less memory.

Hope you get up and running soon Tom.

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vista takes alot of power just to run. win xp is better

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Canon Rebel Xti (400D), EF-S 18-55, 50mm f/1.8, Sandisk Extreme III 2gb.
Http://cr4zyh3ad.sisimple.ca

Well, finally I got my new 2GB pair back in, up and running.
Phew, now it's up to (old) speed again!
Don't try running CaptureNX on 1GB and non CoreDuo, if you don't want to waste your time...

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

I agree with Cr4zYH3aD - I think 2GB is now minimum for a half-decent Vista experience, and I recently popped in another 2GB for testing, although since I'm running the 32-bit version, I can only use 3.2GB of it...

XP's looking tempting again!

Gordon

XP tops out at 3Gb - we have 4Gb in the house system, and mine has has 2Gb, although mine is a tad faster DDR2-933Mhz atm (overclocked from 800) and still cl4 - 4-4-4-12 timings @ 2.1V

the more HDD's and disk drives you have, the more heat is in the case, unless you have fans to intake/outake air to and from the case. I myself have 3 x 120mm fans at the front of my case blowing air in, and 1 x 92mm at the top blowing air in, along with 2 x 120mm, 1 x 92mm and 1x60 mm at the rear taking it all out again.

Keeps everything nice and cool - so hopefully my ram doesn't go on the blink for the next 18 months anyway lol!

I still use XP Pro x86 for most things, although I've had vista since 04, back when it was still called Longhorn. They took away a bunch of great stuff, but thank god they fixed the start button lol, it looked horible in the early beta's!

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Canon 17-40 F/4L USM + Canon 24-70 F/2.8L USM + Canon 28mm F/1.8 USM + Canon 70-200 F/2.8L USM IS + Canon 85mm F/1.8 USM
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