Dell Dimension 4600 Memory Issue

[Tango2201]

This is my friends computer so I do not know the full technical specs.

P4 2.8Ghz HyperThreading/800Mhz FSB
Geforce FX5200 128MB
Dell Mobo, not sure what the chipset is

His mobo is dual channel memory and it runs on 512 PC3200 (2x256) sticks stock. He recently purchased another memory stick, the same identical RAM except its a 512MB stick. The problem is that when he has all the RAM installed, it cannot run at 400mhz, it runs at 333mhz. It says theres 1GB of memory but memory speed is dropped. It cannot run at 400 with both sticks installed, but it does without one another. Sorry if there isn't much information, he doesn't know much about his computer on the technical side. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Zero Plasma]

I think it's because there's three sticks.won't that limit the speed they run at as you add more sticks?

 

[Tango2201]

I am not sure with that since I haven't worked with dual channel memory before but, even if he has 2 sticks, the 512 and the 256 stick installed, it still runs at 333mhz.

 

[Tango2201]

Anybody else?

 

[stelleg151]

Is he 100 percent positive its not PC-2700, sounds like thats what it is to me.

 

[Tango2201]

Thats what I thought as well, but they are both PC3200.

 

[earthling30]

Try going to Dell Forum. There's alot of users in there that only study Dell systems. They could probably help you out more.

 

[Accord99]

Probably an SPD mismatch between the various DIMMs. Dell systems tend to be conservative in this matter and if the SPD rating of one DIMM at 400MHz is set incorrectly (or too low) it will drop to lower speeds in order to ensure the memory timings match. The only thing you can do really is to return the new stick and get memory from Crucial or another large manufacturer with guaranteed compatibility.