Problem with RAM

matty6660

matty6660

Member
I just bought 2x1GB RAM for my PC which current has 2x256MB RAM in it. When I take out both the current sticks of RAM and put in my new 2x1GB of RAM, the computer turns on but there is just a black screen. It stays on the black screen for ages and does nothing. I've checked that the new RAM is the same type as the previous RAM (both are DDR, both are 333 MHz, both are 184-pin). I know that the RAM slots in the PC are working correctly because when I put my old RAM in, the computer starts up fine. The make of my new RAM is Kingston Value RAM, I don't know if anyone has heard of it. The only thing I can think of is if the RAM is not compatible with my proccessor (AMD), can this be?

What should I do?

-thanks for reading.
 
That the board could not be auto setting the voltage/timing for the new memory. Try one stick and see if it will boot. If so go into the bios and set the voltage and timing for the new memory. Think most Kingston Value ram/DDR had like 2.5/2.6 voltage, not for sure about the timing.
 
I tried booting with 1GB but it still doesn't work. Should I re-boot with 512MB and enter the BIOS to change the voltage setting to 2.5 or 5, as I have 2x1GB sticks each of 2.5V ?
 
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Sure you could try that, just make sure if it doesnt work to set it back to auto. Could try resetting the bios. I've had old socket A/462 boards freak out when changing memory and had to reset the bios. Dont guess you have another computer to test the memory on to make sure its not defective?
 
No, only my laptop which I'm using to talk on this forum now lol. I'll try setting up the BIOS and if that doesn't work then I think I'll have to send them back to Amazon because they must be faulty. I'll do the BIOS thing now...
 
I don't know what to change in the BIOS, do I change the DRAM clock where it says:

By SPD
133MHz
166MHz ?

Currently it ison 'By SPD'.

If it's not that ^ then how do I 'reset' the BIOS?
 
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By SPD should be ok, but to force DDR333 set it to 166. The voltage on DDR1-1GB sticks is usually 2.6v, if you haven't tried that yet. If you are on manual settings you might have to set the timings as well, 3-4-4-8 is usually a safe setting (albeit slow).

The other thing it may be is high density. Can you read the number printed on the memory chips?
 
Yeah the number on the memory chips is KVR333X64C25/1G and I have just realised that it is a 64-bit modual so does this matter if my OS is a 32-bit version of vista???


DESCRIPTION:
This document describes ValueRAM's 128M x 64-bit (1GB) DDR333 CL2.5 SDRAM
(Synchronous DRAM) memory module. The components on this module include sixteen
64M x 8-bit (16M x 8-bit x 4 Bank) DDR333 SDRAM in TSOP packages. This 184-pin
DIMM uses gold contact fingers and requires +2.5V. The electrical and mechanical
specifications are as follows:
FEATURES:
Clock Cycle Time (tCK) 6ns (min.) / 12ns (max.)
Row Cycle Time (tRC) 60ns (min.)
Refresh Row Cycle Time (tRFC) 72ns (min.)
Row Active Time (tRAS) 42ns (min.) / 70,000ns (max.)
Single Power Supply of +2.5V (+/- .25V)
Power (IDD0) 5.200 W (operating)
UL Rating 94 V - 0

^ That is the information and specification that is downloadable on the Kingston website. Kingston.com.
 
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Yeah the number on the memory chips is KVR333X64C25/1G and I have just realised that it is a 64-bit modual so does this matter if my OS is a 32-bit version of vista???
Click to expand...
All RAM modules are 64bit, that's not a problem. I'll look up the chip number and update this post.

Edit: It is low density - 64Mx8 so that's not the problem. It looks like it will work on 2.5V as well. The advertised CAS latency is 2.5. You are right, it may just be a bad module.
 
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But I ordered 2 of these modules and either they both don't work, or there is another problem somehow. I have no idea what. Should I send it back to the shop, or can anyone think of any other solutions I can try...?
 
I'm not sure what all you've tried so far. Like upping the voltage, loosening the timings...if you don't have another system available you can't really stick them in there to test. Unfortunately a black screen doesn't help at all and there's not much else you can do if it doesn't post.
 
Like said, not booting there is not much else you can do. Maybe set the voltage to 2.6 and lower the speed to 100/200 or 133/266 and see what happens. It would help if you had someone that could test it for you.
 
could it be that you are on an old bios revision and flashing it may help? Only just ebcause it SAYS you can take 2x1GB doesn't mean the bios is happy with it, many a board of mine have had to have a flash bios to have the full load working, like the one i am on now
 
At last it works. I changed the timings and set it to Ultra instead of BySPD. Thanks for all help.
 
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