Laptop Memory Upgrade Question

Rick540

Junior Member
Dec 13, 2008
20
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My mother in law has an HP ZE4500. It came installed with 256MB of DDR 266. It supports up to 1GB. Shes been complaing about the computer being sluggish, so I told her I'd reinstall Windows for her and that she might as well put more memory in it.

I told her that she needed two sticks of 512MB DDR 266. The local computer store didn't have 266 so they gave her 333. They said that the 333 should work, and based on what I know it should, but it doesn't. The computer won't even POST with the 333 installed. The computer comes on, but I get no POST messages or video output at all. FWIW, it also does this then there's no memory installed at all. In the past I've had success on desktop computers when using faster than supported memory, but for some reason, in this laptop it won't. I've tried each stick by itself and tried single sticks in each memory slot but it's still a no go.

The 333 is Super Talent brand. I've never heard of this brand but I'm assuming it's a lower end brand. Density is something I've never really thought a lot about and truthfully don't know a whole lot about, but I'm thinking that this might be the problem.

The Super Talent is 64x8 whereas the installed Infineon RAM is 32x64. Do you think this is the problem or do you think that the laptop won't accept it because it's 333 and not 266? Either way, I don't think the 333 is going to work, I'm just curious.
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
It could be the density issue or it may be that the DIMMs aren't seated correctly.
Does she have experience installing DIMMs in desktops or laptops?

I don't think the speed rating of the memory is a problem, it's more likely the density of the newer DIMMs.
 

starfireone

Member
Jun 24, 2008
141
0
0

Some brands of memory just will not work in some laptops. Sometimes a BIOS upgrade will fix the problem. You might check to see how many BIOS versions you are behind on and consider reflashing. The memory could just be DOA bad, quality control is not like it use to be. If after reseating them it still does not work....change brands...take it back where you bought it.