Computer Geeks, I need HELP. I just built a new box and have a few issues.
 

I just got a new Intel core 2 processor and an asus p5b mobo.

i have a new maxtor hard drive. I loaded xp pro and have installed all the updates.

It seems like whenever I run any program it ends up not responding. For example, I will be running FireFox and load up Napster. Napster will stop responding and freeze up. I'll try to kill the process and it won't go away. If I try to open something new it will freeze.

I've checked the registry and everything is fine. Is there something I may have missed or overlooked? Any advise would help!

Memory timings set wrong? Sounds ram related imo.

cool. i will check that now. thanks :D

Actually, sounds like the old DDR2 ram problem. Check your mobo manual and make sure you have installed the ram sticks in the right order in the right places. DDR2 mobos will run with the ran in the wrong places, but generate memory errors.

Example, on your mobo, you have a 2 yellow and 2 brown memory sockets. In the old mobos, you would just start at zero (the first yellow one) and put one sitck there, and the next stick in the socket right after it. However, most DDR2 mobos want the second memory stick in the first socket of bank 2 instead. The system will boot and run with the ram misplaced, but because it detects DDR2 sticks, sooner or later it will attempt to address memory in a fashion that tries to get to the ram that isn't in the right place.

READ YOUR MANUAL CAREFULLY! Also, if you are using DDR rather than DDR2 ram, check your manual to make sure the mobo really supports it, and make whatever config changes are needed in the bios to properly support it.

Check your Ram, and check your bios...
On the memory side, ASUS P5B has four DDR2-DIMM sockets, supporting up to 8 GB officially up to DDR2-800, however this motherboard supports DDR2-1066/PC2-8500 memories (we installed four DDR2-1066 modules and they worked just fine at 1,066 MHz). On this motherboard sockets 1 and 3 are yellow and sockets 2 and 4 are black. Configuring DDR2 dual channel on this motherboard is pretty easy: just install each module on a socket with the same color.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/408

I just got done looking at the setup. Alex and Paul, I'm going to check what you guys said and I will read that article Paul posted.

Here is the RAM i have in it.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227089

BRB :)

Well, I have the RAM in both yellow sockets. I'm going to take it out and put it back in and see what happens.

i have heard bad things about OCZ but have never used it myself

took them out and put them back into the yellow sockets.. still getting Non responsive program errors on both WoW and Napster.

http://support.asus.com/faq/faq.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=89233
asus p5b mobo has problems... When you first boot the system does it see the correct number of ram .. try removing the ram and only putting 1 socket.. you could have 1 bad stck of ram ... try each stick on its own.. I have had the problem b4 on other boards and thought the system was FuQ'd and it was just same bad ram.

Have you installed the latest bios, drivers and chipset inf files?

I have the same ram, sounds to me mostly like your bios isnt setup right. IIRC your memory voltage should be at 2.1v but default on the board is 1.5 or 1.6 so you might want to check that out.

I've had a lot of trouble out of that same exact ram with the newer mobos, especially Asus mobos. The biggest problem were the nforce boards. I sent off about twenty sticks to OCZ and they were able to fix the problem by flashing something onto the ram (I guess, not sure what they did but the sticks were then compatible with the newer nforce boards, especially the stupid piece of shit mobo Asus P5N32-SLI Premium).

May want to look into 'ram testing software' also... see if you got a bad chip or something...

I'm going to look into the ram testing software.

When I log into the bios I have it set for DDR2 800Mhz in the voltage options.
Bios recognizes the amount of RAM I have installed as well. I'm really not sure what else to look at. If anyone has any more tips I'm open to hear them. I really appreciate everyones feedback!

Have a safe and fun night!

have you tried running one stick at a time and see what that does?

I figured it out. After dicking around with everything imaginable I replaced the CPU fan and everything is running like butter! This machine is crazy fast. I'm very happy I decided to build a franken box.

also, thanks to all of you who took the time to give me tips. I appreciate it!

your biggest problem is that dirty Maxor HD