Wrong RAM?

CDC Mail Guy

Golden Member
May 2, 2005
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Recently bought AMD Athlon Thunderbird 900 MHZ Socket A(462) Processor from ebay, and dropped it into a cheap PCCHIPS mobo I had already. I then bought a 256Mb RAM stick (PC2100) cause it was the slowest I could find to fit the motherboard. The problem is that I think the RAM is still too fast for this CPU? Is this possible? PC won't boot. I think that CPU needs either PC100 or 133 RAM, but it won't fit into the memory slots. Should I give up and either buy a new mobo or CPU?
 

Twsmit

Senior member
Nov 30, 2003
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DDR = 184 pins
SDRAM = 164 pins

Your mobo will probably take one type, though possibly both (not at the same time) it depends if it has the physical slots. Regardless if it is DDR or SDRAM any speed should work, ideally a 900mhz Thunderbird was probably designed for PC100/PC1600 but it shouldnt matter if you insert a higher speed.

Either your CPu, mobo or ram is bad, gotta test the parts in another system and check your documentation.
 

t3h l337 n3wb

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2005
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You probably have SDRAM slots, not DDR. PC2100 is DDR. If you buy any speed RAM, it'll downclock to be 1:1 with the CPU.
 

CDC Mail Guy

Golden Member
May 2, 2005
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Wait...does this mean that it will take both? "2 x 184-pin DIMM sockets support two 2.5V DDR SDRAMs (DDR333/266)"

I think I have a dead CPU.
 

Budman

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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If you're getting beep codes then it might be the ram but usualy no beep cores = dead cpu.

Have you tested the cpu in an other board to make sure you didnt buy a dead cpu?

 

CDC Mail Guy

Golden Member
May 2, 2005
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No I haven't. No other board to put it into, but I am getting no beepcodes at all so it's probably the CPU. Dammit, that's what I get for buying it on ebay!:|