memory question

[alien42]

a friend has an older Compaq and they recently purchased and installed new RAM. i noticed the performance had not changed so i checked to see if the memory was recognized by XP (SP3) and it wasn't. i pulled the RAM and found the original memory was two 128 sticks and they had added two 1G sticks (all PC2700, 333 Mhz). i kept the older sticks out and installed the new sticks but she wouldn't boot. it was late at night so i put the old memory back in and made sure they were up and running. i will go back this week to finish the job and am just wondering what are the possibilities here?

1 - bad RAM
2 - BIOS issue? (too old to recognize Gig sticks maybe)

 

[tcsenter]

Imagine calling an auto parts store...

"I need an oxygen sensor."

"OK, what kind of vehicle?"

"Car."

"Right, but what make and model?"

"Umm...it has four wheels, some doors and windows?"

"Ooo-kay, do you know the year?"

"2008."

"Its unlikely that an O2 sensor would need replacing on a new car, but shouldn't a 2008 model still be under warranty?"

"The car isn't new. The year is 2008."

"The model is 2008?"

"No, the year. Its currently 2008."

"Yes, I know its currently 2008. I was asking what year the car was manufactured?"

"Its probably four or five years old."

"Is this some kind of joke?"

"No, why would you say that?"

"Sir, do you know the manufacturer of the vehicle?"

"General Motors."

"OK, which nameplate of General Motors?"

"General Motors Corporation."

"There are several different nameplates of General Motors."

"OK, thanks for that."

"No, I mean General Motors doesn't tell me anything."

"General Motors is pretty quiet then. A real silent type, eh?"

"What?"

"What, what?"

 

[alien42]

i worked in support (primarily software) for almost a decade and i take that as an insult.

besides the fact that that the topic summary is 'with limited info' i provided enough to cover the basics.

simple deduction would tell you that its not an OS issue as XP SP3 could handle the new RAM. i also stated that the RAM was the correct type and matched. there really aren't a lot of other options for what could be the problem.


lets try this again, so i called the auto parts store...

"i bought a new headlamp at your store the other day and installed it in my car but when i turn on the lights it does not work. when i remove the new bulb and replace the old bulb it still works"

"it sounds like it could be a bad bulb. definately not the electrical system since the old bulb still works. could be the cars BIOS needs to be updated. not really any other possibilities"

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: alien42
lets try this again, so i called the auto parts store...

"i bought a new headlamp at your store the other day and installed it in my car but when i turn on the lights it does not work. when i remove the new bulb and replace the old bulb it still works"

OK, my bad. I missed the part where you purchased two 128MB modules that are identical to the original working modules. For some reason, I thought you had purchased 1GB modules while the original modules were 128MB, an auto parts analogy to which would be more like:

"I bought new headlamps at your store the other day. You know, those aftermarket ones with eight times as many bulbs as the OEM equipment, all connected to the same plug? They don't work. But here's the thing, I put the OEM ones back and they still work."

Yeah, that definitely narrows the possibilities right down rather than adding to them. :roll:

 

[Denithor]

The real problem is that many of the OEM system boards are notoriously picky about memory, especially those used during the DDR days. I have seen many Dells & HPs that simply wouldn't boot when I swapped two 256MB PC2100 sticks for two 512MB PC2100 sticks. That's why for older OEM systems (and all laptops) I always use a service like the Crucial memory finder to make sure I get compatible sticks.

Now, I realize this doesn't necessarily help you as you already have the new sticks in hand. But realize that not all PC2700 sticks are going to be recognized in an OEM motherboard. One thing that might help is if you can flash the BIOS to the latest available. Otherwise it's time to return those sticks & get some from Crucial.

Just thought of something else, not all motherboards supported 1GB sticks during the DDR days. Some were capped at 512MB sticks. You might try one 1GB stick in a slot as the only memory and see if that boots because some other boards also had total memory caps (wouldn't accept more than 1GB total etc).

And tcsenter was just pointing out (in a rather humorous way, I thought) that you ask for help with "an older Compaq" without provide any info concerning the motherboard or even the model of the computer which would help us narrow down the possible problems.

 

[alien42]

Originally posted by: Denithor
The real problem is that many of the OEM system boards are notoriously picky about memory, especially those used during the DDR days. I have seen many Dells & HPs that simply wouldn't boot when I swapped two 256MB PC2100 sticks for two 512MB PC2100 sticks. That's why for older OEM systems (and all laptops) I always use a service like the Crucial memory finder to make sure I get compatible sticks.

Now, I realize this doesn't necessarily help you as you already have the new sticks in hand. But realize that not all PC2700 sticks are going to be recognized in an OEM motherboard. One thing that might help is if you can flash the BIOS to the latest available. Otherwise it's time to return those sticks & get some from Crucial.

Just thought of something else, not all motherboards supported 1GB sticks during the DDR days. Some were capped at 512MB sticks. You might try one 1GB stick in a slot as the only memory and see if that boots because some other boards also had total memory caps (wouldn't accept more than 1GB total etc).

And tcsenter was just pointing out (in a rather humorous way, I thought) that you ask for help with "an older Compaq" without provide any info concerning the motherboard or even the model of the computer which would help us narrow down the possible problems.

thanks, what you said just supports what i was thinking along the BIOS/motherboard line. the reason i lack info is that i am at home and not near the computer so what i know is whats in my head .

 

[18 Is Number 1]

Are the new 1GB sticks 1.8v or do they need more voltage?

 

[alien42]

Originally posted by: 18 Is Number 1
Are the new 1GB sticks 1.8v or do they need more voltage?

not sure, they are just generic sticks, nothing fancy. i would assume the extra voltage is for nicer RAM? either way i will check that tomorrow when i have an opportunity to work on this.

 

[Denithor]

DDR ram uses 2.5-2.6V stock if it follows the JEDEC standard.

DDR2 was reduced to 1.8V stock.