Computer won't boot after installing a new stick of ram

[jibraltor]

****UPDATE**** I found out that my new ram is actually a PC3200 with CAS3 contrary to my old ram which is a PC2700 with CAS2.5. Could you just confirm that there's a good possibility of this being the source of my problem? Thanks a lot.




Hi! I just installed a new 512mb stick of PC2700 samsung ram so I now have 2x512 PC2700 ram. When I have the two sticks installed the computer won't boot. The green light stay on but nothing is appearing on the screen and the HD is not doing anything.

Here's what makes me think that the power supply (Antec SL300) is the problem.... When I put back my CPU (mobile 2500) to 14x133mhz instead of 14x166mhz, the computer boots fine and I have no problem at all.

I just want to be sure that the power supply is the problem before buying a new one (EG365P-VE 350W) for nothing. BTW, I tested the two sticks of rams with memtest86 and they have no errors. I also tested my cpu while it was overclocked with Prime95 and it was stable for 12 hours.

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[LowcaBubs]

Ive had the same problem, but whats strange is...my comp will boot with one stick of pc3200 but not one stick of 2700. No clue what causes this, other than maybe its an issue with the speeds not syncing right.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: jibraltor
Hi! I just installed a new 512mb stick of PC2700 samsung ram so I now have 2x512 PC2700 ram. When I have the two sticks installed the computer won't boot. The green light stay on but nothing is appearing on the screen and the HD is not doing anything.

Here's what makes me think that the power supply (Antec SL300) is the problem.... When I put back my CPU (mobile 2500) to 14x133mhz instead of 14x166mhz, the computer boots fine and I have no problem at all.

I just want to be sure that the power supply is the problem before buying a new one (EG365P-VE 350W) for nothing. BTW, I tested the two sticks of rams with memtest86 and they have no errors. I also tested my cpu while it was overclocked with Prime95 and it was stable for 12 hours.

Thank you in advrance for your help!

When you try each chip, individually, at 14x166, what happens?

 

[Ryoga]

Without knowing the entirity of the hardware in your system, it's impossible to determine if you've exceeded the PSU's capabilities. I would consider it very likely, however, because you say that the HD don't spin up. Classic sign. Try removing everything except the video card, CPU, and RAM and boot that way. Every PC can post with those.

Personally, I'd go with an Antec True380, but I've gottn two DOA Enermax before.

Also, are the two sticks the same brand? Do they have ICs from the same manufacturer? Do they have the same SPD timings? This isn't as much of an issue anymore, but best practice is still to match the stick up as best you can.

 

[jibraltor]

dclive: Individually each stick of rams works fine and the system is rock stable at 14x166 mhz. When I put the two sticks at the same time, everything is rock stable at 14x133 mhz but I cannot boot when I try 14x166 mhz.

Ryoga: Here's my system...

CPU: Mobile 2500 (14x166 mhz)
POWER SUPPLY: ANTEC SL300S 300W
MB: MSI KT3 Ultra2
RAM: 2x512MB PC2700
VIDEO: ATI 9800PRO
FANS: VANTEC AEROFLOW + 3x80mm FANS
OTHER: 1 HD, 1 PRINTER, 1 ONBOARD SOUND CARD, 1 GAMEPAD

BTW, the two sticks are not the same brand.. the new one is a samsung and the old one is a generic brand. But I guess that if they weren't compatible the system would never boot, not even at 14x133 mhz..

Also I tried booting the system by unplugging the printer, gamepad, monitor, modem.. and it still doesn't boot at 14x166 mhz.. it really is frustrating not to be able to pinpoint exactly what is the problem.. I hope you can help me. Thanks for the fast answers!

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: jibraltor
dclive: Individually each stick of rams works fine and the system is rock stable at 14x166 mhz. When I put the two sticks at the same time, everything is rock stable at 14x133 mhz but I cannot boot when I try 14x166 mhz.

Ryoga: Here's my system...

CPU: Mobile 2500 (14x166 mhz)
POWER SUPPLY: ANTEC SL300S 300W
MB: MSI KT3 Ultra2
RAM: 2x512MB PC2700
VIDEO: ATI 9800PRO
FANS: VANTEC AEROFLOW + 3x80mm FANS
OTHER: 1 HD, 1 PRINTER, 1 ONBOARD SOUND CARD, 1 GAMEPAD

BTW, the two sticks are not the same brand.. the new one is a samsung and the old one is a generic brand. But I guess that if they weren't compatible the system would never boot, not even at 14x133 mhz..

Also I tried booting the system by unplugging the printer, gamepad, monitor, modem.. and it still doesn't boot at 14x166 mhz.. it really is frustrating not to be able to pinpoint exactly what is the problem.. I hope you can help me. Thanks for the fast answers!

http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=KT3_Ultra2

seems to suggest that the 166/333 mhz FSB isn't supported. (Namely, "100/133 MHz clocks are supported. " and "FSB @200/266 MHz") Can you comment on that?

 

[jibraltor]

Originally posted by: dclive
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=KT3_Ultra2

seems to suggest that the 166/333 mhz FSB isn't supported. (Namely, "100/133 MHz clocks are supported. " and "FSB @200/266 MHz") Can you comment on that?

It's weird but the site you went to seems to be outdated.. here's the most current informations I have on my motherboard: http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=341

A recent bios update has made my MB compatible with almost all the cpus: http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_cpu_support_detail.php?UID=341&kind=1

So if it's not the MB, CPU or the RAM, is there anything else that might be the cause of my problem besides the power supply?

 

[Fern]

OK, so you could run @ 166 b4 the new stick, so its not the mobo.

Do you have ur ram timings set to spd? If not maybe the second stick can't keep up with the original stick timings- wise.

 

[jibraltor]

The ram timings are set to SPD...

BTW today I was able to boot to windows at 14x166 mhz with both my old stick of ram and the new one.. the problem is that it showed a blue screen 2 seconds after loading windows xp and saying that "webroot spy sweeper" could not load. Does this tell you guys something? Does it change what may be the cause of the problem?

Thanks again for your help guys.. damn this thing is getting frustrating.. why do I had to get the problem that nobody ever heard of?!

I just want to be sure that these hardware are not the source of the problem...

CPU: It was stable for 12 hours in Prime95 at 14x166 mhz

MB: Supports 166 mhz bus and mobile 2500

RAM: Both sticks work fine when i'm at 14x133 mhz but nothing happens or I get the blue screen and it reboots about 2 seconds after loading windows xp.

I hope someone can help.. thanks in advance!

 

[GregANDTCH]

Maybe the SPD settings are too fast at the 166 speed.
Could you set them manually just a little slower?
Question:
If the SPD settings of the two chips don't match, does the motherboard use the slower CAS of the two or what?

 

[jibraltor]

I don't know much about ram settings so I put them all at the slowest..

CAS: 2.5
Ras precharge time: 3T
Ras pulse width: 6T
Ras to cas delay: 3T
SDRAM bank interleave: Disabled
SDRAM burst length: 4QW.. should I put it to 8QW?
SDRAM 1t command: Disabled
Fast command: Normal

Should I change something in these settings? If not, does it exclude the RAM from the list of potential source of the problem?

 

[GregANDTCH]

Bump
Comeon,
someone here should know.

 

[jibraltor]

First thanks to everybody who tried to help me.. from what I understand it seems that my problem is pretty rare.. now I just want to have some opinions on the chance that the power supply is the cause of my problem. I just want to be reassured that I don't make an error if I buy a new power supply tomorrow.. an Enermax EG365P-VE 350W.

If it's not the power supply than I guess it would be the RAM and it would cost me more than a power supply so if nobody has an idea which of the two is more likely to be the problem, I will then by the least expensive which is the PS.

BTW sorry if my english is bad, it's not my first language but I try to do my best!

So if you could just tell me what you're gut feeling is telling you is the problem even if you're not sure.. I just want the most opinions before spending my money. Thank you for your help it's really appreciated.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: jibraltor
First thanks to everybody who tried to help me.. from what I understand it seems that my problem is pretty rare.. now I just want to have some opinions on the chance that the power supply is the cause of my problem. I just want to be reassured that I don't make an error if I buy a new power supply tomorrow.. an Enermax EG365P-VE 350W.

If it's not the power supply than I guess it would be the RAM and it would cost me more than a power supply so if nobody has an idea which of the two is more likely to be the problem, I will then by the least expensive which is the PS.

BTW sorry if my english is bad, it's not my first language but I try to do my best!

So if you could just tell me what you're gut feeling is telling you is the problem even if you're not sure.. I just want the most opinions before spending my money. Thank you for your help it's really appreciated.

If you can pop out all of your extra hardware and the problem is still there, what makes you think the power supply has anything to do with it? (We'll assume that when the extra hardware is out of the machine, the demands on the power supply are vastly lower. We'll also dismiss the fact that RAM in the board takes only a tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny amount of power to begin with.)

 

[jibraltor]

dclive: If it's not the power supply then what do you think is the problem?

I just don't see how it could be the cpu, the mb or the ram.. each stick of ram works perfectly at 14x166 mhz and when I put them together they work perfectly at 14x133 mhz but I can't boot at 14x166 mhz.. I just don't have a clue what the problem is.. but I'm sure one of you guys have an idea.. well I hope!

 

[Fern]

"If the SPD settings of the two chips don't match, does the motherboard use the slower CAS of the two or what?"

Yes, it should.



Hey jibraltor,

I suspect the ram. I have a suggestion.

1) Run each stick (individually) at 166 FSB. Set it to "SPD"
2) Write down the timings for each stick (the timings that "spd" selects)
3) Run Memtest86 (a free program that can be dpwnloaded) on each stick while at 166 FSB

After doing the above for each stick

4) Compare the timings given each stick by "SPD"
5) If the timings are different for each stick, put in both at 166 and when booting go into your BIOS and see if "SPD" correctly set the timings to that of the slowest stick.

Good Luck with it.

 

[jibraltor]

First thanks for all your help so far! There's finally some new developments!! While looking for informations on the samsung ram that is causing me problems I realized that you could get a lot of data on the ram by entering the serial number that is printed on it. The # of my samsung ram is K4G560838E-TCCC.. here's the link to the informations: http://www.samsung.com/Products/Semiconductor/DRAM/DDRSDRAM/DDRSDRAMcomponent/256Mbit/K4H560838E/K4H560838E.htm

So what it tells me is that my ram is actually PC3200 and not PC2700 like it should be. It also tells me that the CAS latency is 3 and not 2.5 like my other stick of ram. I think I finally solved my problem! Could someone please confirm that this is causing compatibility problems and that this is why my computer won't boot when I have the two sticks of ram together at 166 mhz bus.

 

[jibraltor]

Hello again! I bought the ram at a place which is pretty far from my home so I just want to be sure that the fact that my new stick of ram is a PC3200 with CAS3 instead of a PC2700 with CAS2.5 is enough for the computer store to give me another stick of ram and if there's a good possibility that it will solve my problem. Thanks in advance!