Help with ram upgrading issues

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foxhound.sldsnk

New Member
im running a stock viao VGC-RB40 desktop PC with an Intel D915GRO mobo

the stock setup came with 2x256mb PC-3200 400MHz DDR of ram

i just purchased another stick of ram - 512mb PC-3200 400MHz DDR and here is my problem...

after i install the 512mb stick, the PC doesnt detect any increase in Ram at startup. and when i try to start up windowsXP or linux (dual booting) the OS wont start, the PC will restart and repeat that proceedure...

the layout of the stock ram is this: x O x O [where x is a 256 stick, O is empty]
i tried placing the 512 stick in BOTH empty slots and this did not fix the problem.

i know that some ram types require you to have a pair of sticks for it to work, but im pretty sure this shouldnt apply to me because i am using DDR ram, right?

i tried installing JUST the 512mb stick in each slot, which resulted in the PC starting up, with no bios.. no screen.. no windows.. no FUN! although everything else was running (HDD spining, Fans spinning, im assuming everything was powerd up)

i tried installing JUST one 256mb stick, resulting in my PC detecting a reduced ram size..
"reduced ram detected..
Press f2 for ram downgrade setup"

however this just broguht be to the bios - in which there is no available options to configure ram (or clockspeed for that matter) is it possible to unlock such functions??

in the end i was not able to increase, OR decrease my ram for some reason..
possibly because i have a faulty 512 stick

can anyone help me out here?

PS - i KNOW im a n00b for buying this setup cuz i shouldnt have wasted my money on a vaio or pentium 4 or w/e yada yada yada, just wanted to get that out of the way :P thanks in advance!!
 
There would be two possible causes there. The first could be a defective dimm if not mislabeled. The second is an incompatability with the proprietary setup that is found often with factory build systems. To upgrade the Vaio you would have to go back through the dealer to have the correct type installed. One reason for an incompatablity would be the memory's own timings.
 
yes i also suspected the timings of the memory.. as my current bios setup does not allow me access to timings, overclocking etc, i wouldnt be able to set it myself right now

"to upgrade the vaio you would hae to go back through the deal to have the correct type installed"

do u mean upgrade the bios firmware? and are u reffering to having the correct type of RAM* installed?
 
Systems like Sony, Delll, and others have their own labeling placed on memory which is designed to run on their own boards while holding a standard. The problem here with buying other memory is not having the specific details for the actual memory that will correctly run in many cases. Unless you have the information as to type and timings as well as whether the included is single or dual sided you have to get their labeled ram. If you look at the 256mb dimms are they single or dual sided? If those are single while the 512mb you bought dual it may not run for this reason. Most boards will run either while some boards will only run one type.
 
the original dimms are single sided
the new dimm is double sided

do u really think this is the problem and not the mobo timings?
i mean i noe what ur saying - sony wants me to by sony memory - but last time i check, sony doesnt sell ram.. i could be wrong
 
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The mismatch right would cause a problem while most board would easily run the double sided memory without issue. It sounds like this model only runs the single sided there. You wouldn't buy Sony brand memory but rather memory types equivalent to what the system comes with. The place where you originally bought the Vaio system from would have references for what is best recommended for the board there.

The dealer should be able to indicate whether or not the board will run double sided dimms too. Never mix memory types however. That will stall any system. Sony should have some info about memory you can use at their support site when looking over the knowledge base there. http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-home.pl?mdl=VGCRB40&LOC=3 http://esupport.sony.com/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=VGCRB40
 
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