Ram from Ebay - Incompatible with my system or just busted?

[UnatcoAgent]

Here is the ebay link

1GB PC 2700 DDR 333Mhz 184PIN 1 GB PC2700 333 Mhz

I bought this ram for my system:

ASUS A7N8X Deluxe NFORCE2
Barton 2500+

The system doesn't even boot, power starts but there is no Beep and it won't post.

Also tested on this system:

Intel d915GAG motherboard
Pentium 4 CPU 3.20GHz, 3200MHz

That one restarts as soon as the windows boot screen passes, and then shuts off.

Does this sound like it's just incompatible? Or that is just not working?

I've only known ram to act like this if it just straight up does't work, and I don't see how it's incompatible.

Thanks!

Update -----

So my work system boots with the ram in, but it's capacity reads as 4mb! Is that because of a compatability issue or that the ram is just bust? Damnit!

 

[CFP]

The ram should definetely be compatible.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Well this sucks

I guess I'll have to go for the refund

 

[mshan]

Don't know about the Intel mobo, but the Asus A7N8X mobo is very finicky about RAM, so no POST on that mobo doesn't necessarily mean that the RAM is defective.

Great resource is: http://amdforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8 (go into the Sticky for tons of info!)


As for the Intel mobo, did you go into BIOS and set memory timings to "by SPD" (serial presence detect), or if that's not possible, loosen the timings to hopefully increase compatability? If you can get it to boot in this system, you can use the program MemTest86 to see if your memory has physical, manufacturing defects. I found a compatible memory listing here: http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/ag/ag_mem.htm

 

[snoturtle]

sounds like the high density stuff that used to be around with sdram
only worked on some chipsets

And neither of the boards you tried it on are on the list

 

[Oyeve]

From that link you posted it doent even say what brand it is, nor can you tell from the pic. I also noticed that the label has a typo. Sounds like you bought some cheap no-name memory. I would definately get a refund or replacement.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Does the placement of the ram matter? The system won't boot with the 1 gig stick in with a combination of other ram, or by itself. Does it matter what slot it's in?

 

[mshan]

Mixing RAM can lead to increased compatability problems.

The Asus A7N8X uses the Nforce2 chipset, which really doesn't take advantage of dual channel memory unless you are using integrated graphics.

You can try that 1 GB memory stick alone, but I would agree with Oyeve: this is probably really cheap, generic RAM and I would return it, even if you do have to pay some restocking fees.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Well - I managed to get my system at work to boot with it in - it reads it as having a 4mb capacity!

UGH