PCTech Forums

adding memory to a VIA mainboard P4PB ULTRA-URL.


To start with the system was setup with "legacy Electronics" RAM 512MB 64x64 PC3200 CL3 DDR 400 MHZ (single chip) . worked perfect.

Now trying to upgrade to 2 GB of ram.

1st removed the legacy chip 512
then installed "patriot memory" DDR 1GB PC3200 400mhz (installed 2 chips total to get 2GB of ram)
system would not boot at all, no beeps.....NOTHING just a black screen.
pulled out one chip then tried to boot....still notihng
switched the new chips around.....still notihng
put the legacy chip back in...boots up fine, then tested remaing slots with legacy chip, all work fine. back to frys to try different brand.
tried "corsair" SAME PROBLEM....back to frys
tried "kingston" SAME PROBLEM.

MAN! what am i doing wrong? NEVER in my life have i had so much trouble adding memory to a system. What do you guys think?

What i have found out so far; when upgrading memory on this mailnboard and using multiple chips you must use only slots 1 and 3 only?

Computer is at the inlaws house, i will be their thursday to try this method. Any other help would be great help.

Hello dwatcool, and welcome to our forum.

According to the

The mainboard provides 3 sockets for 184-pin, 2.5V DDR DIMM modules
You can install PC1600/PC2100/PC2700/PC3200 DDR SDRAM modules on
the DDR DIMM sockets (DDR 1~3).

Socket M em o r y M o d u l e

S o c k e t 1 (B a n k 0 & B a n k 1 ) 6 4 M B , 1 2 8 M B , 2 5 6 M B , 5 12 M B , 1 G B
S o c k e t 2 (B a n k 2 & B a n k 3 ) 6 4 M B , 1 2 8 M B , 2 5 6 M B , 5 12 M B , 1 G B
S o c k e t 3 (B a n k 4 & B a n k 5 ) 6 4 M B , 1 2 8 M B , 2 5 6 M B , 5 12 M B , 1 G B

M a x im u m S y s tem M em o r y S u p p o r te d 6 4 M B ~ 3 G B

Note: DDR400 is strongly recommended to install in socket 3 or 2. For more
information, please visit VPSD website - http://www.viavpsd.com/ .