So I just picked up a nice stick of ram (1 GB) and my computer won't start up when I put it in...help?

12/13/2005 4:37:43 PM

sure it's compatible? In the slot all the way?

12/13/2005 6:02:36 PM

make sure its all the way into the slot and secured
there should be tabs on either end of the slot that should lock it in
if they cant close all the way then push it in more!

12/13/2005 6:05:33 PM

/advice so simple yantheman answers

12/13/2005 6:11:43 PM

Yeah...its DDR PC3200..., its in all the way

12/13/2005 6:19:20 PM

does your computer require identical sticks in each slot (Dual Channel motherboards often require identical sticks in each channel)?

12/13/2005 11:28:04 PM

right now I have a 256 stick in there
I got a 1G stick, and haven't been able to boot up

12/13/2005 11:30:53 PM

try taking the 256 out and seeing if it will boot with just the 1gb, then youll know if the 1gb is bad, or if your computer cant handle two diff. types

12/14/2005 12:24:28 PM

i stumbled upon this thread, and i never knew there were motherboards that allowed you to run 2 different sizes (i.e. 256 and 1gb). i am looking to upgrade my mobo and processor soon... what would it say to indicate that i can do this on my new mobo?

12/14/2005 3:27:57 PM

So i took the 256 out, and put the 1 gb in....and it beeps when i try to boot up...anything i need to do or is the ram bad

12/15/2005 12:39:49 AM

make sure your computer can handle more than 1 gb

12/15/2005 12:48:05 AM

12/15/2005 1:56:51 AM

^^^ how many beeps and in what frequency. your motherboard has a whole series of beep codes that tell you different things. look in your mobo handbook.

12/15/2005 2:44:24 AM

how do I tell the frequency?

12/17/2005 12:27:30 AM

he meant how fast. think of it like morse code. Compare to your motherboard manual. Long beep? short beep? One long then two shorts?

12/17/2005 12:33:46 AM

if it's beeping with the 1GB stick in and not beeping when the 1GB stick is out, then the RAM is either bad or incompatable. test it in a friend's PC or just return it.

there could be a very slight chance that a BIOS upgrade would allow your motherboard to become compatable with the RAM (assuming it's not defective) so that might be something to try but you'd better be damn sure you know what you're doing before you flash the BIOS.

12/17/2005 2:35:55 AM

^
If you flash the bios with the wrong thing, it could fry your motherboard and processor. Best advice, don't do it unless absolutely necessary.

bbehe, give us the part number of the new ram, the part number of the old ram, a unique identifier for your computer (i.e. a dell service tag or some sort of computer serial number), and the model number of your computer. Sounds like a lot, but will know exactly whether it will or will not work from those items. Also look at http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php, which will give you the model number for your current (working) ram.

[Edited on December 17, 2005 at 6:25 AM. Reason : ..]

12/17/2005 6:24:53 AM