Hi wondered if anyone can help with my strange RAM issue ? I offered to upgrade my mums old packard Bell 1401 imedia desktop so I checked out its maximum RAM upgrade cappability and that is 2GB ( 2 x 1GB ) DDR 2700. I installed windows 7 ok , but the ram is proving to be a real issue !! let me explain if I put in 1 stick it works fine if I I try both sticks the PC just keeps rebooting and just wont load into windows ? if I swap the ram into opposite slots same issue , I know the ram is ok because both boot fine if installed on their own ? I know the motherboard slots are fine because I can use either individually ok? But the real wierd thing is if I swap one of the 1GB sticks for the older original 512mb and install just 1.5GB instead of 2GB it boots and runs fine ? It just wont take 2GB despite all memory sites stating this is the correct max available at 2x 1Gb ?? anyone please ? as this is driving me mad !!
the configuration tool you suggest wont identify the board however as I previously stated several ram suppliers confirm pc2700 333mz 2Gb is the correct max upgrade available for this model ? on checking the motherboard out it is a gigabyte GA-8simlnf the website also confirms 2gb as the max ram for this board.
Is it single sided (RAM chips at one side only) or double sided RAM? Either the board only accepts single sided RAM or the RAM is incompatible to your board. A BIOS update might fix the latter.
Hi in answer to the above questions The Ram is from Amazon , brand is KOMPUTERBAY 1GB DDR DIMM (184 PIN) 333Mhz DDR333 PC2700 DESKTOP MEMORY I have purchased this brand before had no previous issues ? Yes strangely enough it is double sided ram chips I just assumed this was because it was quite old ram and thats how it came ? The old original stick within was single sided when I removed it. I didnt think this made any difference ? As for a bios flash I had thought about this however packard bell ( as usual ) no bios upgrade for this board is available ? well I cant see one on their VERY poor website support. However the board manufacturer Gigabyte GA-8SIMLNF does show bios updates but for similar boards so I guess they are NOT relevant if the PC was custom made and unique to Packard Bell specs etc ? So without the correct board bios update I am stumped ?
OK its set me thinking guys so heres the plan . Im going to return these 2 x 1GB sticks back to Amazon and try some different ones from Mr memory perhaps the double sided chips theory could be the answer ? or maybe the ram in pairs on this motherboard just doesnt like the brand? I will have an answer in a few days will keep you posted! thanks for your replies guys
Yes, there is almost no support, I noticed about as I browsed through the web gathering information. (Keep that in mind for your next buy......) majorsky a member of a German forum wrote about the GA-8SIML, though (no NF): Translated: Btw: The major reason why the OEMs are updating their BIOS is: Improve RAM compatibility, as you can find at almost every changelog.... The Kingston ValueRAM DIMM 1GB PC-2100 DDR CL2.5 (DDR-266) (KVR266X64C25/1G) 2x1 GB are confirmed to work at GA-8SIML What happens if you try to boot by setting the RAM clock to 266 MHz (underclocking) instead of 333 MHz? Does it boot then?
there doesnt appear to be a option to alter the clock speed setting in the bios . However my new ram came this morning from Mr memory and both sticks work in the pc now at the same time ! clearly the board did just not like the other ram ? I assumed ram was ram providing you got your spec and type correct? strange as I have upgraded many machines and have never encountered incompatibility before ! anyway all sorted thanks for all your advice and support guys
I am glad you got it to work. Yes it had been a compatibility issue. It's a communication issue of the BIOS and the RAM since the BIOS has to initialize the RAM correctly. That's a major reason why BIOS updates are made, to improve RAM compatibility. If you stick to major brands you can usually avoid such issues. They have the will to comply exactly with the specifications and they test their RAM properly before they are sold (quality control). But there are RAM modules which simply don't run on a particular mainboard / BIOS revision. It happens everyday somewhere.
as a custom motherboard there is no bios update available from packard bell ! ( no surprise there !! ) The manufacturer of the board gigabyte dont mention this model for a bios update despite some boards being very similar but obviously I cannot risk the wrong bios ! thanks for your reply anyway