HP wont POST with cheapo memory?

L

LittleHoov

New Member
Im trying to help a friend with a "my computer is so slow issue"

Right now shes running 256mb RAM in a P4-based HP desktop machine, trying to run Windows XP, I dont know what the model # is or anything.


The memory in it was a stick of PC2700U, Samsung brand.


I ordered the cheapest Ebay had to offer, a 512mb stick of no-name stuff for around 14 dollars.


I tested the module out in one of my computers before heading over there and it works just fine. Mine is a Celeron machine with an ECS mobo.

I got over there and popped it in and it wont even POST. The fans and lights kick on, but theres not even any video display.

Any ideas? Is the HP just quirky with cheap RAM?
 
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Well there is a lot of different kinds of RAM, seems to me that you got something that her motherboard doesn't support. You need to find the computer online, and look up what kind of memory it supports.
 
Oh im sorry, I forgot to mention, the stick I ordered was regular PC-2700, or at least it was labeled as such.

Does anyone know what the significance of the U in pc2700U is?
 
Hp's are really picky about what memory they like, you will have to use a memory configurator from newegg or crucial to get the ram that goes well with that model of Hp.
 
Do most HP's have the model number on the front? Or is it something youd have to dig for. I hate to have to drive back over there just to get a model #. She is absolutely computer illiterate, but if its something that can be read off the front, I think she can handle it.
 
bubblescivic said:
next time don't be so cheap and get some good value ram.
Click to expand...

Next time you should probably keep opinions like that to yourself.

The cheap RAM is in the other room working flawlessly on another PC, so apparently theres nothing wrong with the RAM, but the finicky PC that I put it in.


I don't think its right to criticize people for trying to save money. I could tell you to not be so cheap and buy a real car instead of a Civic (just making an assumption based on your sn) or I could tell you that with 100 posts in barely over a month maybe you should get away from the PC for a while. But both of those things arent necessary to answer a question about RAM now are they?
 
uhhh, or you can just look at what kind of RAM the mobo supports and buy it. The manufacturer has nothing to do with it.
 
The PC was running a stick of PC2700U which means unbuffered, a stick of $15 PC2700 that is almost certainly also unbuffered (unbuffered RAM is cheaper) is the same thing as far as Im concerned. So I dont know how the mobo cant support it.
 
If you bought cheap DDR RAM off of ebay chances are pretty good that it's worthless to you because it's high density and your board only supports low density. If your RAM has 8 chips on it (count both sides, usually if it's 8 they will only be on one side but it could have 4 on each side) then it is high density and is most likely not supported on your board.
 
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