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Another computer question thread

Just tried putting in G-Skill DDRII800 PC2-6400 2048GB x2 RAM into my computer. Basically trying to upgrade from 2GB RAM to 4GB RAM. Well, I turn my computer on, and the screen responds with a "Check signal" indicator. So I take the new RAM out and put back in the old RAM, and the monitor turns on like clockwork. Any ideas why my new RAM is blocking signals to my monitor?

Did you actually "check signal" before changing the RAM back again?

lol. "check signal" means your PC isn't booting up properly. ensure you've inserted the new ram properly. also, are you running x64 or vista? if not, 4bg is a waste.

Your ram might not be the right speed. If the ram is not the right type then your computer wont know wtf to do when its booting.

quote:

Originally posted by Joss Weatherby Your ram might not be the right speed. If the ram is not the right type then your computer wont know wtf to do when its booting.

any modern motherboard accepts ram of many different speeds.

quote:

Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN any modern motherboard accepts ram of many different speeds.

Very well and good, but it sounds like that is the issue.

And a lot of the times they can handle lower speeds, but not higher speeds. If he has a mobo that doesnt support at least PC6400 than he is SOL most likely.

i think im running 32 bits. Could that be it? I need to upgrade to 64 bits for my 4GB RAM to work?

I know for a fact i inserted them in correctly because they snapped in place. the connection between my monitor and computer were fine.

quote:

Originally posted by Joss Weatherby And a lot of the times they can handle lower speeds, but not higher speeds. If he has a mobo that doesnt support at least PC6400 than he is SOL most likely.

sorry, that's incorrect. higher speed ram just runs at a slower speed. as long as his mobo supports DDR2, it will run all DDR2 ram. unless something drastic has changed in the last year or so, but 6400 ram is at least 2 years old, so i doubt it.

quote:

Originally posted by Krypton i think im running 32 bits. Could that be it? I need to upgrade to 64 bits for my 4GB RAM to work?

not too sure; i dont think so though. you'll find such a system should work however it will only recognise 2Gb. try running 1 slot at a time, narrow it down to see whether the ram is faulty.

quote:

Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN sorry, that's incorrect. higher speed ram just runs at a slower speed. as long as his mobo supports DDR2, it will run all DDR2 ram. unless something drastic has changed in the last year or so, but 6400 ram is at least 2 years old, so i doubt it.

How many times have you used faster ram than your motherboard? I have seen people do it and not have their computers boot, even if they support DDR2.

It all depends on the quality of the motherboard, if its a shit motherboard its very unlikely it will work out of spec.

Clearly his ram is an issue here, otherwise he wouldnt have a problem.

Krypton, what kind of ram is your old ram?

quote:

Originally posted by Krypton i think im running 32 bits. Could that be it? I need to upgrade to 64 bits for my 4GB RAM to work? I know for a fact i inserted them in correctly because they snapped in place. the connection between my monitor and computer were fine.

64 or 32 wont matter, I run XP32 with 4 gigs and it just doesnt see all of it, it sees 2.8 gigs.

make sure the 2 sticks are on the same pair of slots.

the slots should be color coded and usually alternate

like:

1 2 1 2
where slots 1 are the same color, same for 2

move your old ram into both 1 slots, and new into 2 slots

OK, i'm building my mom a computer. She has the exact same RAM i just tried to put into my computer. It just need an OS, monitor, keyboard, etc. But i hooked it up to my monitor, turned it on, and it works perfectly. Whereas my RAM doesn't.

I think it's just not compatible with my motherboard. but ill try some of the suggestions here like just inserting one RAM card in to see if that works. Maybe 4GB is just too much.

Also, my motherboard only has 2 slots. Yea, it's cheap, i know.

quote:

Originally posted by Joss Weatherby How many times have you used faster ram than your motherboard?

constantly. as stated, the ram merely run slower than its boxed speed.

quote:

Originally posted by Joss Weatherby How many times have you used faster ram than your motherboard? I have seen people do it and not have their computers boot, even if they support DDR2. It all depends on the quality of the motherboard, if its a shit motherboard its very unlikely it will work out of spec.

ALL SDRAM (of which DDRx is a part of) chipsets, can accept faster ram, it will just downclock it as pkc has been talking about.

As you stated, quality of the motherboard has a HUGE effect. You get what you pay for with components.

quote:

Originally posted by Joss Weatherby 64 or 32 wont matter, I run XP32 with 4 gigs and it just doesnt see all of it, it sees 2.8 gigs.

This is fucking false. Patently and fully. Sorry.

ALL Windows versions that are 32bit will NEVER see more than 3200MB of ram. PERIOD.

To see MORE than that, you MUST run a 64bit version of windows.

Krypton, try just 1 stick. Then try just the other stick.

quote:

Originally posted by gehzumteufel This is fucking false. Patently and fully. Sorry. ALL Windows versions that are 32bit will NEVER see more than 3200MB of ram. PERIOD. To see MORE than that, you MUST run a 64bit version of windows. Krypton, try just 1 stick. Then try just the other stick.

Uh, read it again.

I only see 2.8 gigs. I cant get the 3.2 even with PAE.

quote:

Originally posted by gehzumteufel ALL Windows versions that are 32bit will NEVER see more than 3200MB of ram. PERIOD. To see MORE than that, you MUST run a 64bit version of windows. Krypton, try just 1 stick. Then try just the other stick.

This, THIS, a million times this.


Also, nobody mentioned it yet, but your cheap 2-slot motherboard probably doesn't support the RAM because... of your BIOS. Yup, your BIOS might not work with your RAM. Try upgrading the firmware.

quote:

Originally posted by gehzumteufel ALL SDRAM (of which DDRx is a part of) chipsets, can accept faster ram, it will just downclock it as pkc has been talking about. As you stated, quality of the motherboard has a HUGE effect. You get what you pay for with components. This is fucking false. Patently and fully. Sorry. ALL Windows versions that are 32bit will NEVER see more than 3200MB of ram. PERIOD. To see MORE than that, you MUST run a 64bit version of windows.

Troof! I've been relegated to 3GB system RAM since upgrading to a 1GB graphics card, but 3GB is still better than 2GB

Plus when I eventually make the jump to Windows 7, I'll use all 4GB

Re: Another computer question thread

quote:

Originally posted by Krypton Just tried putting in G-Skill DDRII800 PC2-6400 2048GB x2 RAM into my computer. Basically trying to upgrade from 2GB RAM to 4GB RAM. Well, I turn my computer on, and the screen responds with a "Check signal" indicator. So I take the new RAM out and put back in the old RAM, and the monitor turns on like clockwork. Any ideas why my new RAM is blocking signals to my monitor?

Sounds like a dodgy stick of RAM. I had a similar problem about 3 weeks ago with a 2GB stick of PC6400 800Mhz Kingston RAM. Took the suspect one out and it booted up past bios just fine.

If you're PC isn't booting into bios, try looking up your motherboard's manufacturer's website, ensure your motherboard speaker is connected, and check the bios beep codes. That will usually give you an indication of why it won't boot.

If you don't have an internal speaker, well get one, but it sounds like a bad stick of RAM you got there.

It should work fine if the memory is properly seated. If not you need to get an RMA and return that shit.

Update your BIOS..and try booting into the BIOS options and increasing memory voltage. Your motherboard may not be giving the ram enough juice. I use 2.1v on mine.

Re: Another computer question thread

quote:

Originally posted by Krypton Just tried putting in G-Skill DDRII800 PC2-6400 2048GB x2 RAM into my computer. Basically trying to upgrade from 2GB RAM to 4GB RAM. Well, I turn my computer on, and the screen responds with a "Check signal" indicator. So I take the new RAM out and put back in the old RAM, and the monitor turns on like clockwork. Any ideas why my new RAM is blocking signals to my monitor?

Your computer is not posting. Quick method which may work, pull the battery on the mobo wait a few minutes and then preplace battery and put in new ram and try to power up. If that doesn't work then you're gonna have to try the long way.
First, what motherboard do you have? The model is silk screened on the board near the expansion slots. Second, what is the exact model number of the ram sticks. You're going to probably need to input the timings and voltage for the ram manually in the bios. You said the original ram works, so you would go into the bios with the ram that works input the correct timings, voltage, and then save settings.

quote:

Originally posted by Joss Weatherby Uh, read it again. I only see 2.8 gigs. I cant get the 3.2 even with PAE.

There are other factors that play into how much you will see. Video card is one of the major ones.

And I was referring to your "64 or 32" comment because that is patently false as per my previous post.

You're options:

The ram is faulty (this can be common with cheap sticks), Update MoBo Bios as stated, try one stick at a time, try all slots. Most importantly, make sure it is SEATED. This isn't rocket science.

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