[FraterPerdurabo]

Here is my problem:

My CPU has 2 fans, one a really small, silent one, and one big noisy one. I usually have the noisy one turned off, but whenever I switch my computer on, it turns it on for about 2 seconds (something like a fan check). Now here is my problem, and it started a few months ago...

One day, I turned my computer on, and it just won't start. The loud fan stays on, no output is given to the monitor and BIOS will not run. I restart it about 20 times in a row, and it gives me some message about incorrect CPU frequencies, instead of counting RAM... Also, it gives me an option of whether I want to continue booting or not... So I agree to boot, and I get to windows. For a while, it's fine, then the computer suddenly crashes, all the colours on my screen are messed up and the computer reboots. Same thing happens.

I called the manufacturer about it and they told me to flash my BIOS, which I did, but the problem remained. I called them again, and they told me that it's the memory controller. However, my computer has 2 memory controllers, one in the motherboard, and in the CPU.

I eventually surpassed the problem by removing one memory stick, but now I am running on 512 RAM only, instead of 1024... It's not the memory sticks, I ran integrity scans on both of them, in different slots, and I even tried my brother's sticks (he's got exactly the same ones).

Now, if you could help me do this:

1) Which memory controller is being used, the one in the CPU or the one in the motherboard?
2) Is the damage (if any at all) physical or is it just settings?
3) How to slove this problem and get my baby running back on 1024 RAM?

These are my computer specs:

CPU: AMD 64 FX-53
Motherboard: Nvidia nForce3 250
Video Card: Radeon x800 XT Platinum
RAM: Corsair Dual XMS3200 512MB 400MHz

Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

edit: I don't want to send my computer back to Canada... (Where I bought it from, it would take ages).