Hiya,
I posted a related topic here a couple of weeks ago... I recently bought a Gateway notebook (MX3215) from Best Buy for $549. It has a Celeron M 1.4 Ghz CPU and it came with a 256 MB DDR2 PC2-4200 SODIMM module. I wanted to replace the 256 MB stick with a pair of 512 MB sticks. The computer (supposedly) can accept up to 1 GB of RAM.
Unfortunately I made the mistake of ordering a pair of Crucial 512 MB sticks before I even bothered to unscrew the panel and see how many slots the computer has. It turns out there's only ONE slot; I was under the impression that notebook computers had at least two RAM slots. (This is my first notebook PC.) Anyhow, I did try one of the 512 MB sticks and it worked just fine, but I RMA'ed them and sent them back to the vendor (mwave.com). I may get socked with a 15% restocking fee as a result, and I didn't want to order from them again because I received OEM RAM when I thought I had purchased retail RAM.
Then I ordered a 1 GB stick of Mushkin RAM since Mushkin doesn't charge a restocking fee, in case I need to return it. I just tried to install it tonight, but when I turn on the PC, the screen does not light up whatsoever. Nothing, zero, nada. The power button lights up, but that's about it. I removed the 1 GB stick and replaced it with the original 256 MB stick. Worked just fine. Tried the 1 GB stick again. Nothing again. The specs are correct, i.e. DDR2 PC2-4200 SODIMM 1.8v non-ECC unbuffered.
I haven't contacted Mushkin tech support yet, but perhaps the RAM is bad, although I'd be surprised if this is the case. The Phoenix BIOS is dated 12/30/05. I contacted Gateway tech support and they told me it's the latest BIOS that's available for this model. I could RMA this 1 GB stick and ask them to send me another one, but I have a feeling that maybe my computer 1) doesn't work with 1 GB sticks, or 2) doesn't like Mushkin RAM in particular. I'm getting tired of buying and sending back RAM right now, and I just want something that WORKS.
I am thinking of taking my computer to Best Buy and ask them to try a 1 GB stick to see if it works. If not, I may ask them to exchange it for a Compaq Presario V2000Z instead, since I don't want to buy and keep a computer that maxes out at only 512 MB.
So, what would you do if you were in my shoes?
I posted a related topic here a couple of weeks ago... I recently bought a Gateway notebook (MX3215) from Best Buy for $549. It has a Celeron M 1.4 Ghz CPU and it came with a 256 MB DDR2 PC2-4200 SODIMM module. I wanted to replace the 256 MB stick with a pair of 512 MB sticks. The computer (supposedly) can accept up to 1 GB of RAM.
Unfortunately I made the mistake of ordering a pair of Crucial 512 MB sticks before I even bothered to unscrew the panel and see how many slots the computer has. It turns out there's only ONE slot; I was under the impression that notebook computers had at least two RAM slots. (This is my first notebook PC.) Anyhow, I did try one of the 512 MB sticks and it worked just fine, but I RMA'ed them and sent them back to the vendor (mwave.com). I may get socked with a 15% restocking fee as a result, and I didn't want to order from them again because I received OEM RAM when I thought I had purchased retail RAM.
Then I ordered a 1 GB stick of Mushkin RAM since Mushkin doesn't charge a restocking fee, in case I need to return it. I just tried to install it tonight, but when I turn on the PC, the screen does not light up whatsoever. Nothing, zero, nada. The power button lights up, but that's about it. I removed the 1 GB stick and replaced it with the original 256 MB stick. Worked just fine. Tried the 1 GB stick again. Nothing again. The specs are correct, i.e. DDR2 PC2-4200 SODIMM 1.8v non-ECC unbuffered.
I haven't contacted Mushkin tech support yet, but perhaps the RAM is bad, although I'd be surprised if this is the case. The Phoenix BIOS is dated 12/30/05. I contacted Gateway tech support and they told me it's the latest BIOS that's available for this model. I could RMA this 1 GB stick and ask them to send me another one, but I have a feeling that maybe my computer 1) doesn't work with 1 GB sticks, or 2) doesn't like Mushkin RAM in particular. I'm getting tired of buying and sending back RAM right now, and I just want something that WORKS.
I am thinking of taking my computer to Best Buy and ask them to try a 1 GB stick to see if it works. If not, I may ask them to exchange it for a Compaq Presario V2000Z instead, since I don't want to buy and keep a computer that maxes out at only 512 MB.
So, what would you do if you were in my shoes?
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