Precision T7500 Memory Failures

Hi,

I have an aged Precision T7500 that I am trying to get set up with Ubuntu Linux. I realize that Linux probably isn't supported on this computer, but neither is the OS that shipped with it (Windows Vista). The problem is that the Nvidia quadro/tesla video card combo isn't supported at all by Ubuntu's X server. There's a proprietary Nvidia driver for the card, but it doesn't seem to help. After a few minutes of use, X freezes and that completely disables any kind of interaction with the desktop. The only recourse, unless you have an SSH server running, is to forcibly reboot the PC by holding the power button. I know this is never really good in any circumstance.

After about the third time of this happening, the boot sequence indicated a memory failure on DIMM 1. And the computer's usable RAM went from 4GB to 2GB. 2GB won't do. Is it really possible that a succession of a few forced reboots could kill a RAM module? RAM for this PC is not cheap nor easy to find.

Thanks