Any ideas why my new RAM won't work?

Hello,

Can anyone suggest to me why my new RAM sticks won't work?

I had 3 x 128mb PC133 SDRAM.
I bought 3 x 256mb PC133 SDRAM to replace them.

The PC won't even boot up with them. I've tried one of the new with
two of the old etc. - every combination I can think of, but in vain.
I've had to go back to the 128s to be able to type this, obviously.

Someone told me there is an mb limit on each slot, depending on the
make of motherboard. I presumed that must be the cause, however I've
just downloaded a helpful little program called "SIW" (systems info
Windows) and it says:-

max. memory capacity = 764
max. memory module size = 256

This now makes me think I should have been able to have 256 in each
slot (if I've interpreted "module" correctly), and 256 x 3 = 764, so
I'm confused!

Is there any thing else I needed to change anywhere? E.g. those BIOS
settings?

Grateful for any ideas!

Thanks!

David wrote:
Hello,

Can anyone suggest to me why my new RAM sticks won't work?

I had 3 x 128mb PC133 SDRAM.
I bought 3 x 256mb PC133 SDRAM to replace them.

The PC won't even boot up with them. I've tried one of the new with
two of the old etc. - every combination I can think of, but in vain.
I've had to go back to the 128s to be able to type this, obviously.

Someone told me there is an mb limit on each slot, depending on the
make of motherboard. I presumed that must be the cause, however I've
just downloaded a helpful little program called "SIW" (systems info
Windows) and it says:-

max. memory capacity = 764
max. memory module size = 256

This now makes me think I should have been able to have 256 in each
slot (if I've interpreted "module" correctly), and 256 x 3 = 764, so
I'm confused!

Is there any thing else I needed to change anywhere? E.g. those BIOS
settings?

Grateful for any ideas!

Thanks!


You should download the complete manual on your MB if you have not
already done so. Some MBs will not accept what is called high density
RAM. That is determined most often by how many ICs are on each stick.
This could be your problem. Get all the info possible before coming to
any conclusions.

Ken wrote:

David wrote:
Hello,

Can anyone suggest to me why my new RAM sticks won't work?

I had 3 x 128mb PC133 SDRAM.
I bought 3 x 256mb PC133 SDRAM to replace them.

The PC won't even boot up with them. I've tried one of the new with
two of the old etc. - every combination I can think of, but in vain.
I've had to go back to the 128s to be able to type this, obviously.

Someone told me there is an mb limit on each slot, depending on the
make of motherboard. I presumed that must be the cause, however I've
just downloaded a helpful little program called "SIW" (systems info
Windows) and it says:-

max. memory capacity = 764
max. memory module size = 256

This now makes me think I should have been able to have 256 in each
slot (if I've interpreted "module" correctly), and 256 x 3 = 764, so
I'm confused!

Is there any thing else I needed to change anywhere? E.g. those BIOS
settings?


You should download the complete manual on your MB if you have not
already done so. Some MBs will not accept what is called high density
RAM. That is determined most often by how many ICs are on each stick.
This could be your problem. Get all the info possible before coming to
any conclusions.

A DIMM with 8 chips should work properly. A DIMM with 4 chips might be recognized as half of its actual capacity. Your memory might not work because of a timing conflict. You might be able to change the BIOS settings to a more conservative setting. You might have to use a different brand of memory.

--
Mike Walsh

On Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:06:13 -0600, Ken wrote:

You should download the complete manual on your MB if you have not
already done so. Some MBs will not accept what is called high density
RAM. That is determined most often by how many ICs are on each stick.
This could be your problem. Get all the info possible before coming to
any conclusions.

Thanks to all those who responded. Taking it back to the shop is a
last alternative, as I didn't buy them in my own town, and it's a bit
tricky getting back. But that's by the by. This concept of high and
low density is completely new to me, and I thought I'd make this my
first avenue of investigation.

I found from the internet the LOW is 64x8 and HIGH is 128x8. I don't
understand how these figures related to 256, but ignoring that for the
moment, it rung a bell. I HAVE seen (eg) 64x8 mentioned on an (old)
ram stick before, in amongst all the various serial nos. on the
sticker (sometimes several stickers!)

Unfortunately there is no such indication on these new sticks. I've
also spent a good half an hour browsing the net with the serial
number, and yes, I found dozens and dozens of references (usually from
shops!) but whilst they all said SDRAM, PC133 etc., not one single
person mentioned if it was a high or low density item.

I'm feeling right now that they must be high, and that my motherboard
does not cater for them (will start my search for a manual to confirm
that shortly) but all the same, I'd love to know if there is any other
way I can tell high from low? (In case I ever buy ram in the future,
new or used, and it doesn't say which).

Thanks.

On Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:54:26 GMT,
(David) wrote:

On Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:06:13 -0600, Ken wrote:

You should download the complete manual on your MB if you have not
already done so. Some MBs will not accept what is called high density
RAM. That is determined most often by how many ICs are on each stick.
This could be your problem. Get all the info possible before coming to
any conclusions.

Thanks to all those who responded. Taking it back to the shop is a
last alternative, as I didn't buy them in my own town, and it's a bit
tricky getting back. But that's by the by. This concept of high and
low density is completely new to me, and I thought I'd make this my
first avenue of investigation.

I found from the internet the LOW is 64x8 and HIGH is 128x8. I don't
understand how these figures related to 256, but ignoring that for the
moment, it rung a bell. I HAVE seen (eg) 64x8 mentioned on an (old)
ram stick before, in amongst all the various serial nos. on the
sticker (sometimes several stickers!)

Unfortunately there is no such indication on these new sticks. I've
also spent a good half an hour browsing the net with the serial
number, and yes, I found dozens and dozens of references (usually from
shops!) but whilst they all said SDRAM, PC133 etc., not one single
person mentioned if it was a high or low density item.

I'm feeling right now that they must be high, and that my motherboard
does not cater for them (will start my search for a manual to confirm
that shortly) but all the same, I'd love to know if there is any other
way I can tell high from low? (In case I ever buy ram in the future,
new or used, and it doesn't say which).

Thanks.

It might help if you told us the motherboard make, model, or
at least the northbridge chipset it uses, and what processor
you have installed since that effects whether you actually
need PC133 or could use PC100.

Generally low density PC133 memory is rare these days, most
is labeled PC100 even if it could do 133MHz to strangely
denote compatibility with the typical systems that need low
density memory because most were only using up to 100MHz
memory bus speed.

What make and model of memory is this? Can you tell if
there are original memory chip manufacturer's chip codes on
the individual chips themselves, and if so then posting what
those are might help someone determine more about the
memory.

It might help if you told us the motherboard make, model, or
at least the northbridge chipset it uses, and what processor
you have installed since that effects whether you actually
need PC133 or could use PC100.

Generally low density PC133 memory is rare these days, most
is labeled PC100 even if it could do 133MHz to strangely
denote compatibility with the typical systems that need low
density memory because most were only using up to 100MHz
memory bus speed.

What make and model of memory is this? Can you tell if
there are original memory chip manufacturer's chip codes on
the individual chips themselves, and if so then posting what
those are might help someone determine more about the
memory.

Thanks again for the comments. (Btw, the whole lost cost me about 30
GBP / 605 USD, but I'm not too uptight about the cost - put it this
way, I've invested and wasted much more in PC matters in the past!)

I am a complete layman at this, so talk of (eg) northbridge is a bit
technical for me! I'm not even 100% sure what is meant by chip. If you
mean those black blocks, then they all have 8, just on one side. I
don't think I've ever (personally) come across any ram module that
wasn't, so that's news to me too.

I've hunted for the type (Kingston KTD-DM133) on the net, but again,
not one reference mentioned the density.

As for the motherboard, my little (not-as-reliable-now-as-I-thought)
program says it is:-

Intel SE440BX-2
Version AA720940-208
Serial GTS285050866

As I said earlier though, the online manual for SE440BX-2 did not
mention density (as far as I could see anyway).

David

On Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:43:02 GMT,
(David) wrote:

It might help if you told us the motherboard make, model, or
at least the northbridge chipset it uses, and what processor
you have installed since that effects whether you actually
need PC133 or could use PC100.

Generally low density PC133 memory is rare these days, most
is labeled PC100 even if it could do 133MHz to strangely
denote compatibility with the typical systems that need low
density memory because most were only using up to 100MHz
memory bus speed.

What make and model of memory is this? Can you tell if
there are original memory chip manufacturer's chip codes on
the individual chips themselves, and if so then posting what
those are might help someone determine more about the
memory.

Thanks again for the comments. (Btw, the whole lost cost me about 30
GBP / 605 USD, but I'm not too uptight about the cost - put it this
way, I've invested and wasted much more in PC matters in the past!)

I am a complete layman at this, so talk of (eg) northbridge is a bit
technical for me! I'm not even 100% sure what is meant by chip. If you
mean those black blocks, then they all have 8, just on one side. I
don't think I've ever (personally) come across any ram module that
wasn't, so that's news to me too.

I've hunted for the type (Kingston KTD-DM133) on the net, but again,
not one reference mentioned the density.

As for the motherboard, my little (not-as-reliable-now-as-I-thought)
program says it is:-

Intel SE440BX-2
Version AA720940-208
Serial GTS285050866

As I said earlier though, the online manual for SE440BX-2 did not
mention density (as far as I could see anyway).

David

Your memory is higher density than your motherboard, with
Intel 440BX chipset, supports. It will accept up to 256MB
per slot and 768MB total with 3 slots.

Since your motherboard does not support 133MHz memory bus,
you do not need PC133 memory and should buy PC100 instead.
While some PC133 memory will work, becauses there was a
brief period when most PC133 was low density, today the low
density PC133 memory is rare and no less expensive than the
PC100 low density type.

As mentioned previously, practically all reputable sellers
now most frequently use the term PC100 to denote the lower
density that your system needs. It will cost nearly twice
as much because being lower density it uses twice the number
of chips to achieve 256MB.

I suggest you seek a refund for this memory if possible and
consider whether it is worth the cost to upgrade the memory
when the money can be put towards replacement. At this
point the system is about 10 years old and while your
SE440BX motherboard was very good quality for it's time,
nothing lasts forever. At this point you may find parts
like the power supply or others are nearing the end of their
lifespan, again increasing cost, money that could be applied
towards a new system that you could more likely expect to
get another 10 years out of.

David wrote:

As for the motherboard, my little (not-as-reliable-now-as-I-thought)
program says it is:-

Intel SE440BX-2
Version AA720940-208
Serial GTS285050866


How did you get that info printed out? I recently bought a Dell
Inspiron 530, and I haven't been able to find out the make and model
number of my motherboard...I would REALLY like to have that info, and
the manual that goes with it.

Mike Fontenot

David wrote:

On Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:06:13 -0600, Ken wrote:

You should download the complete manual on your MB if you have not
already done so. Some MBs will not accept what is called high density
RAM. That is determined most often by how many ICs are on each stick.
This could be your problem. Get all the info possible before coming to
any conclusions.

Thanks to all those who responded. Taking it back to the shop is a
last alternative, as I didn't buy them in my own town, and it's a bit
tricky getting back. But that's by the by. This concept of high and
low density is completely new to me, and I thought I'd make this my
first avenue of investigation.

I found from the internet the LOW is 64x8 and HIGH is 128x8. I don't
understand how these figures related to 256, but ignoring that for the
moment, it rung a bell. I HAVE seen (eg) 64x8 mentioned on an (old)
ram stick before, in amongst all the various serial nos. on the
sticker (sometimes several stickers!)

Unfortunately there is no such indication on these new sticks. I've
also spent a good half an hour browsing the net with the serial
number, and yes, I found dozens and dozens of references (usually from
shops!) but whilst they all said SDRAM, PC133 etc., not one single
person mentioned if it was a high or low density item.

I'm feeling right now that they must be high, and that my motherboard
does not cater for them (will start my search for a manual to confirm
that shortly) but all the same, I'd love to know if there is any other
way I can tell high from low? (In case I ever buy ram in the future,
new or used, and it doesn't say which).

High density and low density are relative terms. A chip that was considered high density a few years ago is now considered low density. A rule of thumb is a DIMM with 8 chips is considered low density (relative to the motherboard) and a DIMM with 4 or 2 chips is high density.

--
Mike Walsh

On Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:27:01 -0400, Mike Walsh thoughfully wrote:

David wrote:

On Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:06:13 -0600, Ken wrote:

You should download the complete manual on your MB if you have not
already done so. Some MBs will not accept what is called high density
RAM. That is determined most often by how many ICs are on each stick.
This could be your problem. Get all the info possible before coming
to any conclusions.

Thanks to all those who responded. Taking it back to the shop is a last
alternative, as I didn't buy them in my own town, and it's a bit tricky
getting back. But that's by the by. This concept of high and low
density is completely new to me, and I thought I'd make this my first
avenue of investigation.

I found from the internet the LOW is 64x8 and HIGH is 128x8. I don't
understand how these figures related to 256, but ignoring that for the
moment, it rung a bell. I HAVE seen (eg) 64x8 mentioned on an (old) ram
stick before, in amongst all the various serial nos. on the sticker
(sometimes several stickers!)

Unfortunately there is no such indication on these new sticks. I've
also spent a good half an hour browsing the net with the serial number,
and yes, I found dozens and dozens of references (usually from shops!)
but whilst they all said SDRAM, PC133 etc., not one single person
mentioned if it was a high or low density item.

I'm feeling right now that they must be high, and that my motherboard
does not cater for them (will start my search for a manual to confirm
that shortly) but all the same, I'd love to know if there is any other
way I can tell high from low? (In case I ever buy ram in the future,
new or used, and it doesn't say which).

High density and low density are relative terms. A chip that was
considered high density a few years ago is now considered low density. A
rule of thumb is a DIMM with 8 chips is considered low density (relative
to the motherboard) and a DIMM with 4 or 2 chips is high density.

Number of chips does not indicate density.