Memory compatibility

[ellisz]

Hi all,

I am helping a friend upgrade a Gateway MX3210 laptop's memory. I looked up the memory and everything seemed simple enough. I removed a 256 mb PC2-4200S - 444 - 12 stick. I tried 2 different 1 gb Kingston DDR2 PC2 - 5300 which says it is compatible with 533 PC2 - 4200. The system won't boot with it.

I then tried a stick of 1gb Corsair DDR2 667 memory and I got the same thing. I then opened up an older Dell laptop I have to find it uses the same DDR2 memory but it is a bit slower. I popped a 512 module in the Gateway from the Dell and it fired right up. I did not see any Bios updates available. I did throw the 1 gb Corsair stick in the Dell and it recognized it fine.

Is the Gateway just pickier than the Dell or is something preventing this from taking a 1 gb stick?

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[RebateMonger]

I don't know anything about the current generation of laptops, but laptop memory in the past has been known to have many more compatibility issues than desktop PCs.

I see that Crucial.com has "guaranteed compatible" memory for the MX3210 for $20 for a 1 GB module. Crucial says that 1 GB is the maximum allowable module size.
Crucial link for the MX3210.

 

[ellisz]

Thanks. I ordered one. Pretty cheap too!