Installing new RAM?!?

xzibit

I bought some more RAM off someone on ebay the other day. It arrived this morning, and just a minute ago, I fitted it, but it doesn't register with the computer.
It had 1 stick of 128mb ram in and 2 free slots. I put the new ram into the next slot along, and it didnt seem to work. It's the same RAM as the 128mb stick. pc-133 SDRAM.

Is there anything I need to do or any reason why it shouldn't work?

f1charlie

Is it EXACTLY the same as the RAM already in there i.e. brand and part number?

I only ask because I bought a stick of Crucial RAM which had the correct spec for my computer, but the part number was one digit different from the part number Crucial recommended and my computer would only recognise half the RAM.

What the difference between the two was I don't know, but there was something!

Charlie

xzibit

Well, no it's a different make of ram, but surely that wouldn't make a difference would it? I can't check the numbers now untill I go home.
How about I just used the new stick and took the old one out? Would that work?

bingo_bango

Do that, and put it into the slot nearest the MOBO. At least that way we'll know if the new RAM is actually working.

superscaper

And different makes of RAM can definitely have compatibility problems. Just use the new stick by itself to make sure that it works. If it doesn't then you should be due a refund.

xzibit

Ok then, well when I get home from work, I will try that. I will remove the old stick completely, and just put the new one in the first slot. What will happen if it doesn't work? A long beep?

bingo_bango

More than likely. If it works in the first slot, move it to the second slot to determine if it's the problem. If both are working fine, it may just be a problem with interoperability between the 2 sticks.
Could be as simple as swapping their positions i.e. old stick in slot 2, new stick in slot 1 (next to mobo).

JPB_2

You can have memory sticks which appear the same in terms of speed etc but won't work together because one is parity and one non-parity (error checking mechanism).

xzibit

Right. Have come home. Tried the new 512mb on its own, and it doesn't work, just beeps. So, is it faulty, or have I bought the wrong one, before I ask for a refund, as if I got the wrong one, it's my own fault lol.

The numbers ont the original 128mb stick are;
Hyundai
IRL DEM DP133-064163F
PC133-333-520 128MB 0126 1124 0104

The new one is;
Transcend
512MB 168P DIMM =YW
512M PC133 REG SDRAM
82548 Y0351 QC:13

Any advice?

superscaper

Sounds like it doesn't work but have you checked whether it's compatible with your motherboard? What is your motherboard?

xzibit

superscaper wrote:

Sounds like it doesn't work but have you checked whether it's compatible with your motherboard? What is your motherboard?

I'm not a computer whizz, but the all I can see on the motherboard is a biggish black square (the processor?) with a sticker on that says;

LEGEND
QDI
wordclass mainboard
Advance 10F
https://www.qdigrp.com

So, just to be clear, I have bought the correct type of RAM yes?