Rubenerd

I’ve been messing with some shadow memory settings on my working Am386 machine again, but in the process it exposed another memory issue. I think. Get it, because it’s about memory, and I’m feigning memory loss about a… shaddup.

View all posts about my Am386 machine

Uncovering another flaky SIMM was a relief in a way, because it exposed some instability and errant behavior I’d been experiencing of late. Drivers and TSRs would fail to load for no reason, and Windows 3.1 bluescreened with even more regularity than I remembered.

I used MemTest86 to track down the failed module, and tried my best to save it with more isopropyl alcohol and contact cleaner, but I think it was a gone. I’ve put it in my small drawer of dubious computer parts for a future time when I might have more skills to fix things. It joins the other module I removed in July:

Troubleshooting my Am386SX’s RAM issues

I forgot to do a follow-up to that post where I replaced it with a new Panasonic stick from a seller in Melbourne. I checked the seller’s store again, and they had one more left! Here’s the new module next to her sister:

I plugged it into the board, and got that reassuring 8192 KB [sic] memory test on boot. HIMEM.SYS /TESTMEM:ON also reported no issues, and MemTest86 passed.

It does seem a bit silly to stuff this much memory into an 80386 SX-class motherboard, especially when this was unusual even for 486 machines and early Pentiums. But that’s what makes it awesome!