Dell Memory Issues...

[bob4432]

found a optiplex 320 @ a garage sale for next to nothing so i picked it up.

had 1GB of ddr2 4200, single sided ram. put in a additional 1GB of ddr2 5300 double sided ram and the m/b won't see it together. the bios shows each ram slot having 1GB, but total still shows 1GB, not 2. is this normal for dell stuff?

fwiw, if i put in either the ddr2 4200 stick or the ddr2 5300 stick, they work fine, but when mixing them is where the issues are.

also, the m/b will see ddr2 8500 but errors out on memtest in about 5secs. i know this particular ram needs ~2.0V to be good, so i guess the dell m/b doesn't auto adjust that much.

are there any known fixes for my issues? i have the latest bios but that didn't help at all with these issues.

 

[bruceb]

That model of Dell needs:

Package: 240-pin DIMM
Feature: DDR2 PC2-5300

type of RAM ... the DDR2 4200 is not compatible

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: bruceb
That model of Dell needs:

Package: 240-pin DIMM
Feature: DDR2 PC2-5300

type of RAM ... the DDR2 4200 is not compatible

it came from dell w/ the 4200, the 5300 is what i had laying on my bench, but only 1 stick....

just to verify - 533 = 4200, 667 = 5300, 800 = 6400 correct?

 

[bruceb]

See link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR2_SDRAM

 

[bamacre]

What are the brands of the two modules? I assume the original runs at 1.8V, what about the other? Dell systems like memory that run at standard voltage, which is 1.8V for DDR2.

 

[fffblackmage]

the ram needing ~2.0V might be causing the problems. Though i thought these kinds if ram typically use jedec standards. It's just that they are rated capable of tighter timings/higher freq. with a bump in voltage? But I do hear a lot of these problems on newegg with these type of ram...

 

[bob4432]

the ddr2 4200 is hynix, ddr2 5300 is hp (micron) memory - 1.8v, the ddr2 8500 is ocz - i kind of figured it would have issues. i am thinking it is mixing ss and ds modules - is this normally an issue? i normally only run matchink sticks, this is what i had laying around.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: bob4432
the ddr2 4200 is hynix, ddr2 5300 is hp (micron) memory - 1.8v, the ddr2 8500 is ocz - i kind of figured it would have issues. i am thinking it is mixing ss and ds modules - is this normally an issue? i normally only run matchink sticks, this is what i had laying around.

Have you tried running them in both slots, i.e., the Micron in slot 1 and the Hynix in slot 2, and then the reverse? Just was thinking maybe it likes the faster/slower in slot 1. Not in this model specifically, but I have mixed single/double sided memory in Dells without problems.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: bob4432
the ddr2 4200 is hynix, ddr2 5300 is hp (micron) memory - 1.8v, the ddr2 8500 is ocz - i kind of figured it would have issues. i am thinking it is mixing ss and ds modules - is this normally an issue? i normally only run matchink sticks, this is what i had laying around.

Have you tried running them in both slots, i.e., the Micron in slot 1 and the Hynix in slot 2, and then the reverse? Just was thinking maybe it likes the faster/slower in slot 1. Not in this model specifically, but I have mixed single/double sided memory in Dells without problems.

tried that, shows only 1GB....i will just order 2x1GB of the same type of memory - some ddr2 5300, no biggie, just wanted to do this w/ stuff i already had on hand as i do have more than enough already.

thanks for all the help, guess this is what i get for trying to get off cheap no wonder i always build my own machines....

 

[mswertfager]

Hey Bob,

I have ran into a similar issue from another route. While RAM similarities can be particular, you may not be running into this problem due to just the different RAM(or, if you solved it you would likely run into a larger problem), as the Optiplex 320 has some serious RAM management issues... Below is my posting to another forum about the issue...also, I have included links to other forums with other discussing this issue with their computer...sorry for the bad news.

-Michael


http://en.community.dell.com/f...19429495.aspx#19429495
Re: Optiplex 320 memory problem PoorPoorFairFairAverageAverageGoodGoodExcellentExcellent
21 May 2009 06:35AM

Not sure if you have found a solution yet. I am experiencing the same problem...

This Dell post (http://en.community.dell.com/f...9374153.aspx#19374153) provided even more info about the Optiplex 320 memory issues. I think they are on the right track (optiplex can't accept 4gb or 2 Dimms)...I went down the wrong rabbit these are all the things I did to no avail...don't bother repeating.

1) After installing 4gb of ram in both dimm slots, the graphics drivers were gone on the system...Crucial thought the drivers got clobbered,

1a) So I chased down the graphics drivers. Installing was not possible as the graphics card was not recognized...Installing the drivers from Nvidia provied the error "NVidia setup program could not locate any drivers that are compatible with yourcurrent hardware."

1b) I noticed that the Display Adapters in the Device Manager listing was missing. (bad sing)

1c) BFG (Nvidia reseller) said it was the power supply, the extra memory was preventing enough juice to getting to my graphics card...$70, 2hours, and an additional 150W later, I had a 450W prower supply installed. No dice....same errors.

1d) Tried another graphics card...still not a working...but in worse ways, could not even get to the login screen

2) Online I found postings from some people were having similar problems ("Display Adapters" missing from Device Manager) with different computer systems. They solved it via reinstalling the chipset. Found the chipset on Dell's site...installed...no dice...same problem persists.

3) Switched the old memory back in...viola! it works again.



Still looking for exactly the problem...can the Optiplex not handle 2 Dimms? 2 Dimms that add up to 4GB, or 4GB?

-Michael

My Relevant Specs:

Optiplex 320
XP PRO SP3
GeForce 9400 GT 512 MB
1 GB RAM 1DIMM (trying to upgrade to 4GB RAM 2DIMMS)


OTHER SITES DISCUSSING THIS Optiplex320 mem issue:
http://www.overclock.net/gener...ge-new-pci-e-card.html

http://en.community.dell.com/f...19374153.aspx#19374153

http://www.howtofixcomputers.c...ed-windows-107641.html

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: mswertfager
Hey Bob,

I have ran into a similar issue from another route. While RAM similarities can be particular, you may not be running into this problem due to just the different RAM(or, if you solved it you would likely run into a larger problem), as the Optiplex 320 has some serious RAM management issues... Below is my posting to another forum about the issue...also, I have included links to other forums with other discussing this issue with their computer...sorry for the bad news.

-Michael


http://en.community.dell.com/f...19429495.aspx#19429495
Re: Optiplex 320 memory problem PoorPoorFairFairAverageAverageGoodGoodExcellentExcellent
21 May 2009 06:35AM

Not sure if you have found a solution yet. I am experiencing the same problem...

This Dell post (http://en.community.dell.com/f...9374153.aspx#19374153) provided even more info about the Optiplex 320 memory issues. I think they are on the right track (optiplex can't accept 4gb or 2 Dimms)...I went down the wrong rabbit these are all the things I did to no avail...don't bother repeating.

1) After installing 4gb of ram in both dimm slots, the graphics drivers were gone on the system...Crucial thought the drivers got clobbered,

1a) So I chased down the graphics drivers. Installing was not possible as the graphics card was not recognized...Installing the drivers from Nvidia provied the error "NVidia setup program could not locate any drivers that are compatible with yourcurrent hardware."

1b) I noticed that the Display Adapters in the Device Manager listing was missing. (bad sing)

1c) BFG (Nvidia reseller) said it was the power supply, the extra memory was preventing enough juice to getting to my graphics card...$70, 2hours, and an additional 150W later, I had a 450W prower supply installed. No dice....same errors.

1d) Tried another graphics card...still not a working...but in worse ways, could not even get to the login screen

2) Online I found postings from some people were having similar problems ("Display Adapters" missing from Device Manager) with different computer systems. They solved it via reinstalling the chipset. Found the chipset on Dell's site...installed...no dice...same problem persists.

3) Switched the old memory back in...viola! it works again.



Still looking for exactly the problem...can the Optiplex not handle 2 Dimms? 2 Dimms that add up to 4GB, or 4GB?

-Michael

My Relevant Specs:

Optiplex 320
XP PRO SP3
GeForce 9400 GT 512 MB
1 GB RAM 1DIMM (trying to upgrade to 4GB RAM 2DIMMS)


OTHER SITES DISCUSSING THIS Optiplex320 mem issue:
http://www.overclock.net/gener...ge-new-pci-e-card.html

http://en.community.dell.com/f...19374153.aspx#19374153

http://www.howtofixcomputers.c...ed-windows-107641.html

thanks for the info. well, i did pick up a 2x1GB kit of ddr2 5300, i think crucial value and have been running it w/ memtest x86 for ~10hrs so far w/ no issues. the machine will be bone stock - no additional gpu or anything, just the stock setup, the 2GB of memory a 250GB sata hdd and a dvd-rw - all basically stock stuff. fwiw, the configuration does show only single channel ram but that is not a real concern as long as it will somehow be reliable - this is obviously the main concern.

the stock psu is a 280W unit which is more than adequate for this machine - i have run more than twice the machine on 350W but i guess if the board is flawed at the design level there isn't much that i can do. i guess a bit of time will tell. i will be backing up daily for this machine so i guess that is the best i can do - and read your links.

thanks for posting them

 

[mswertfager]

Hi Bob,

Glad things worked out for you.

For others researching the issue I brought up, I worked with Dell and Crucial most of today as well to get to the bottom of this.

It ends up that Dell has it in their specs for the Optiplex 320 that the max ram can be only 2GB. Crucial has it in their specs as 4GB. So that was apparently the prob. Crucial is pulling up their dell 320 in their lab to retest.

Incase you are thinking it, if you upgrade the bios to 1.1.11 for the Optiplex 320 still only 2GB works.

-M

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: mswertfager
Hi Bob,

Glad things worked out for you.

For others researching the issue I brought up, I worked with Dell and Crucial most of today as well to get to the bottom of this.

It ends up that Dell has it in their specs for the Optiplex 320 that the max ram can be only 2GB. Crucial has it in their specs as 4GB. So that was apparently the prob. Crucial is pulling up their dell 320 in their lab to retest.

Incase you are thinking it, if you upgrade the bios to 1.1.11 for the Optiplex 320 still only 2GB works.

-M

i did see on the dell specs that 2GB was max. thought it was a bit low for a machine that handles and comes w/ 64bit cpus, but what can you do.

again, thanks for the links, good reading.

 

[bob4432]

quick update - ended up running memtest for ~18hrs no issues and prime95 for 24hrs no issues, so it passes my stability test for use. it will never see that kind of use in the real world, so seems g2g for me.