Adding RAM

S

smileyriley2

New Member
Hi,

Hope u can help?
My desktop currently has 2 RAM slots containing 128MB each. I bought 2 x 258MB DIMM DDR (256Mhz - 184pins) manufactured by PNY. ( Part number 6432wkdxa8g09) . For some reson it will only take one at once ( coupled with one of the original ones ) giving a total of 384MB. Both the memory cards works as I have used them alternately. The PC wont boot up if I put both cards in at once.

Anyone know why this is? Does my system have a 'cap' on how much I can upgrade? When I use Norton to check system information it says RAM 59% utilised ??

Apologies but Im new to this and I dont know where to look.

regards
smileyriley2
 
It depends on how old your computer is, if its fairly old, then your max memory (cap) may be 384MB, my old compaq could only handle 768MB and it was made in 2001, just to give you a rough idea.
 
geoff5093 said:
It depends on how old your computer is, if its fairly old, then your max memory (cap) may be 384MB, my old compaq could only handle 768MB and it was made in 2001, just to give you a rough idea.
Click to expand...

Cheers Geoff, The PC is quite old ( has had other upgrades though). I bought it in Tesco ( its a 'TIME' PC )
 
smileyriley2 said:
Thanks Angel ! I will try this tonight and get back to you. :)
Click to expand...

I believe I have to go into my BIOS settings aswell ? Someone at work said I have to change the memory settings. Im not very experienced at this so anyone know if I should be doing this ? ( If so how ? )

:rolleyes:
 
i dont think you should go mesin the bios yet.
first look what motherboard you have, and how much RAM it supports.
after thats checked, and it should support 512Mb, you could have a look in the bios.
but, so someone can help you, you have to look in everest what kind of bios you have.
( brobably Award or a Phoenix bios ;) )
 
Its a TIME PC

Motherboard Properties
Motherboard ID 03/11/2002-VT8375-8235-6A6LVM4AC-00
Motherboard Name MSI MS-6390

Front Side Bus Properties
Bus Type DEC Alpha EV6
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 134 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 269 MHz
Bandwidth 2150 MB/s

Memory Bus Properties
Bus Type DDR SDRAM
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 134 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 269 MHz
Bandwidth 2150 MB/s

Chipset Bus Properties
Bus Type VIA V-Link
Bus Width 8-bit
Real Clock 67 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 269 MHz
Bandwidth 269 MB/s

Motherboard Physical Info
CPU Sockets/Slots 1
Expansion Slots 3 PCI, 1 AGP, 1 CNR
RAM Slots 2 DIMM
Integrated Devices Audio, Video
Form Factor Micro ATX
Motherboard Size 210 mm x 240 mm
Motherboard Chipset KM266

Motherboard Manufacturer
Company Name Micro-Star International
Product Information
http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_list.php
BIOS Download
http://www.msi.com.tw/program/support/bios/bos/spt_bos_list.php

Physical Memory
Total 383 MB
Used 215 MB
Free 167 MB
Utilization 56 %

Swap Space
Total 682 MB
Used 287 MB
Free 395 MB
Utilization 42 %

Virtual Memory
Total 1066 MB
Used 503 MB
Free 562 MB
Utilization 47 %

Physical Address Extension (PAE)
Supported by Operating System Yes
Supported by CPU Yes
Active No

Field Value
BIOS Properties
BIOS Type Award Modular
Award BIOS Type Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Award BIOS Message W6390VMS V1.1B3 031102 11:41:40 (MQ_GEN)
System BIOS Date 03/11/02
Video BIOS Date 04/03/27

BIOS Manufacturer
Company Name Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
Product Information http://www.phoenix.com/en/products/default.htm
BIOS Upgrades http://www.esupport.com/biosagent/index.cfm?refererid=40

Problems & Suggestions
Suggestion Are you looking for a BIOS Upgrade? Contact eSupport Today!
Suggestion System BIOS is more than 2 years old. Update it if necessary.

ANGEL - THIS IS EVERYTHING LISTED UNDER MOTHERBOARD, RAM & BIOS.

Hope this helps?
 
Here is another clue

I just tried one of the 256MB chips on its own and again the PC wouldnt boot. The PC seems to need at least 1 of its original 128MB chips. ???

For comparison of cards:

256MB CARD :
Memory Module Properties
Module Name Nanya M2U25664DS88B3G-6K
Serial Number None
Manufacture Date Week 44 / 2003
Module Size 256 MB (1 rank, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC2700 (166 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 133 MHz 2.0-3-3-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Memory Module Features
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

Memory Module Manufacturer
Company Name Nanya Technology Corp.
Product Information http://www.nanya.com/e-htm/abc/abc-03.htm

128MB CARD:
Memory Module Properties
Module Name Micron Tech. 8VDDT1664AG-265A1
Serial Number 56C9C427h
Manufacture Date Week 12 / 2002
Module Size 128 MB (1 rank, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC2100 (133 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Normal (15.625 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings
@ 133 MHz 2.5-3-3-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 100 MHz 2.0-2-2-5 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Memory Module Features
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

Memory Module Manufacturer
Company Name Micron Technology, Inc.
Product Information http://www.micron.com/products/category.jsp?path=/DRAM


THE ONLY DIFFERENCES I CAN SEE ARE THE COMPARATIVE SPEEDS. BUT I DONT REALLY KNOW WHAT ALL THIS STUFF MEANS??

HOPE U CAN HELP??
 
You should try the other stick of 256MB and see if it will boot. Maybe your problem is that just one of the sticks is bad.
 
I have since found that the motherboard supports 1600 & 2100 speed only. the cards im trying to put in are 2700. It still doesnt explain why I can get one to work coupled with one of the original 128mb 2100 cards??? :confused:
 
if you couple faster RAM with slower RAM, the faster RAM will match the speed of the slower RAM. This should explain it.
 
I know this is old sorry....

smileyriley2 said:
I have since found that the motherboard supports 1600 & 2100 speed only. the cards im trying to put in are 2700. It still doesnt explain why I can get one to work coupled with one of the original 128mb 2100 cards??? :confused:
Click to expand...

Hi, I have the exact same computer as you I believe and am having exactly the same problem as you were. I ran a computer scan using Cricial system scanner and it told me that I could run 2700, 3200 & 4000. Does this mean that the scan results are false? I know the system can handle 2048MB by the way. Plus is there not a way of changing the jumper setting on your motherboard to allow a higher speed?

Thanks
 
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