Why doesnt my new RAM work?

[Red Eye Racer]

Could someone pleae give me some insight on RAM?

I purchased some 512 'SDRAM' this weekend and my computer wont except it

I'm runnin a 2.5 year old HP with 900 AMD that started with 128.

The mother board has 2 spots for RAM. I began my process by simply installing the new RAM into slot 2, but it didnt work (should it have? I may not have had it in all the way, thoughI couldnt tell). It acted like it wasnt there.

Then, I removed the original 128, and place the 512 in slot 2, because slot 1 was extremely difficult to get to. Well, after that the computer wouldnt boot at all. So I finangled the 512 into slot #1. When I did that, the PC began to boot, started to count 'extended memory' but it stops at 120 and freezes

Can someone tell me if I need to drop to 256, or if I'm doing something wrong? Please help.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

The biggest help with diagnosing memory errors is the beep codes that it gives you at the start. Check how many times the system beeps during the Power-On-Self-Test.

Also, all SDRAM is not created equal. You need to find out the clock speed of you memory (should be on the box) and the clock speed of your motherboard (on their web site).

 

[Red Eye Racer]

Ok,.. thanx a bunch GG

I think I have it narrowed down now. I'm going to install 2 - 256's intead of 1 - 512. Apperently the 'MOBO' (learned that one today, lol) will only accept a max of 256 per 👍

Thanx again

 

[Shannon]

Really? Mobo's must have been super crap 2.5 years ago. My mobo can support 3gb of ram and it has 3 slots. I only have one stick of 512 DDR333.

 

[Cobraboy]

Argh, I want to build my own computer.... Money... .

On a side note, it may not be the case (and it probably isn't), but you might have fried the chip by unknowingly discharging static electricity in your body onto the chip.. Unless you grounded yourself or wore an electrostatic wrist band?

Or do chips and cards now have anti-shock devices on them now?

 

[Red Eye Racer]

Well that didnt work :s

I AM working in a mainly staic free enviornemt.

Hp's site wont give me any specifics, they'll only offer my their products, and for some reason that feels liek the same thing best buy just did :s

So, after about 8 hours of Trouble shooting, I've found this out about my machine:

-It works fine with original 128 in slot one

-If 128 is in, it wont recognize 512/256 chip in slot 2.

-it freezes during expanded RAM check (at 120) on startup if anything other than the 128 is in slot 1. I've tried pc133 @ 512 and 256.

-It wont even start to boot if nothing is in slot one.

The original RAM is pc100 @ 128. All the new stuff I've tried is pc133. I've been told the 133 is backwards compatible, but recently been told there can be complications (yeah, day late and a dollar short, LOL).

So, I'm going to just buy 1 pc100 @ 128, install it in slot 2, and hope it recognizes it. Does that sound like a good "next step"? Or should I assume it will work and go straight for 2 pc100's @ 256?

Thanx for your feedback guy's 8)

 

[Cobraboy]

Originally posted by Red Eye Racer
Does that sound like a good "next step"? Or should I assume it will work and go straight for 2 pc100's @ 256?

Go for 1 256, if it works, buy the second...

 

[Shannon]

My best suggestion isn't exactly the cheapest - get a new PC. It is recommended you update your PC every 2 years - especially the way technology is cruising along nowadays.

 

[Red Eye Racer]

Yeah Eddy. I agree. I'll be building my next PC from the ground up,...

I purchased 1 - 128 pc100 yesterday and it seems to have installed properly, giving my a max of 256 It was only $20 as where a 256 upgrade was $100

I'm reformating my entire system tonight and re-installing everything. Fun, fun.

 

[miata13B]

well, RER pc 133 should offset back to pc 100 if that is the case. . . Give me you Pc model info, type I think HP and model number ie such as pavilon or whatever. I will be able to look up the max it can handle for you through my database. Then do

here would be my troubleshooting that I would do at this point

First off call HP find out your front-side bus speed, ask for the Ram speed and ask for any issues going with the mobo and new ram. . . Also ask the maximum that the Mobo will recognize. You might need to flash the Bios to get more memory recognized but I do not recommend that.

2. Second toss the pc133 back to whereever you got it and get pc100.

tell me how that goes

 

[Red Eye Racer]

yeah miata,.. I tried 133 @ 512 ans 133 @ 256,...... neither would be accepted by the MOBO.

I have pretty much figured out that it will only accept pc100 (though yes, 133 SHOULD be backwards compatible). So, instead of blowing 100 on some exremely out of date pc100-256, I spent 1/4 of that on 128.

I think I'll search for a new MOBO soon. Any clue as to what they cost and what goes into upgrading them?

 

[miata13B]

Originally posted by Red Eye Racer
yeah miata,.. I tried 133 @ 512 ans 133 @ 256,...... neither would be accepted by the MOBO.

I have pretty much figured out that it will only accept pc100 (though yes, 133 SHOULD be backwards compatible). So, instead of blowing 100 on some exremely out of date pc100-256, I spent 1/4 of that on 128.

I think I'll search for a new MOBO soon. Any clue as to what they cost and what goes into upgrading them?

A good new motherbaord including processor and Ram should go around $200 - $250 for a good one. . . to upgrade it you are looking at opening the case unscrewing a ton of screws and placing the mobo on and screwing it in. . . But... But, you need to check to see if HP has propreitary setup for their mobo because if they do you might need a new case. My roommate does wholesale of systems and I know for a good $600 you can get a phat system, but that is minus tech support from a call center. It is hard to decide what to do. if you want to check good pricing, here www.pricewatch.com . Ps, give me the model info of your computer!

 

[Red Eye Racer]

I dont have the model info in front of me,.. but it's a 1999 HP pavilion w/ AMD 900.

I definatley want a new 'tower', or 'houseing',... the current one is one of those (what my computer nerd buddy calls) a compact addition or some crap.

Basically, everything is completely smached in there with no room to work. That's been my biggest problem concerning time,.... the fact the RAM is stored UNDER the removables, and behind the proccessor

 

[miata13B]

Originally posted by Red Eye Racer
I dont have the model info in front of me,.. but it's a 1999 HP pavilion w/ AMD 900.

I definatley want a new 'tower', or 'houseing',... the current one is one of those (what my computer nerd buddy calls) a compact addition or some crap.

Basically, everything is completely smached in there with no room to work. That's been my biggest problem concerning time,.... the fact the RAM is stored UNDER the removables, and behind the proccessor

Welcome to the corporate version of downsizing corporate sluts trying to save money, they should instead think about how to save their hind when they piss off three fourths of America

 

[Shannon]

Originally posted by Red Eye Racer
Yeah Eddy. I agree. I'll be building my next PC from the ground up,...

I purchased 1 - 128 pc100 yesterday and it seems to have installed properly, giving my a max of 256 It was only $20 as where a 256 upgrade was $100

I'm reformating my entire system tonight and re-installing everything. Fun, fun.

What's really bad is when you have a legal copy of XP. Because after you format, XP needs to be activated again within 30 days otherwise it won't work. Then you need to go to the hassel of installing your modem and stuff just to activate Windows.

 

[Race Idiot]

Thats odd, I have a legal copy of XP Pro and I haven't needed to do that. Even after several rebuilds.

 

[Shannon]

Originally posted by Race Idiot
Thats odd, I have a legal copy of XP Pro and I haven't needed to do that. Even after several rebuilds.

I have XP Home.

 

[Race Idiot]

That sucks, maybe you should consider using Win2k then. It's much less of a resorce hog and doesn't have all those nice report everything to microsoft things that you have to disable with XP.

 

[Shannon]

Originally posted by Race Idiot
That sucks, maybe you should consider using Win2k then.

I like Win2k just as much as XP. The only problem is that I don't have a CD for Win2k and my new computer came with XP Home. And no, I'm not going to download a pirate copy of Windows. No 500mb download for me thanks.

 

[Race Idiot]

Fair enough, i've only used Xp home once or twice.

 

[RVDNuT374]

Originally posted by Shannon
My best suggestion isn't exactly the cheapest - get a new PC. It is recommended you update your PC every 2 years - especially the way technology is cruising along nowadays.

Then i'm due for a new PC soon.