Problem with new ram

Cindy

Works fine with old 256mb stick in slot 1 and new 512mb stick in slot 2. Then tried both new 512mb sticks together and got blue screen error again!!

The weird thing is when I have the old and new stick together the 'memory channel mode' stays at single but with both new sticks it changes to dual automatically. Is this telling me something?

jaydeeuk1

If both pairs match, it will go in dual channel mode (better performance).
Are you able to get in to the advanced bios settings? I'd try altering the memory timings to slowest settings, and then increase until it stops booting.

Give memory banks a good clean out too, can of air will do.

aliEnRIK

Cindy wrote: »

Works fine with old 256mb stick in slot 1 and new 512mb stick in slot 2.

And if you goto 'system properties', does it show that the computer 'sees' you as having 0.75Gb?

stilltheone

Cindy wrote: »

Works fine with old 256mb stick in slot 1 and new 512mb stick in slot 2. Then tried both new 512mb sticks together and got blue screen error again!!

The weird thing is when I have the old and new stick together the 'memory channel mode' stays at single but with both new sticks it changes to dual automatically. Is this telling me something?

I had a feeling that the PC2700/PC3200 combination would work.

Do you have the latest BIOS update installed for that machine?

Cindy

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

If both pairs match, it will go in dual channel mode (better performance).
Are you able to get in to the advanced bios settings? I'd try altering the memory timings to slowest settings, and then increase until it stops booting.

Give memory banks a good clean out too, can of air will do.

Is this when you press F2 at start up. If so I an view BIOS settings but can't change them (768mb / 333mhz / single)

aliEnRIK wrote: »

And if you goto 'system properties', does it show that the computer 'sees' you as having 0.75Gb?

Yes system properties sees 768mb.

stilltheone wrote: »

I had a feeling that the PC2700/PC3200 combination would work.

Do you have the latest BIOS update installed for that machine?

Yes I've downloaded update A03 from DELL which is the latest.

Thanks everyone for your help!