Is Memory, Memory

[~Stef~]

My PC has two 128mb PC2100 DDR SDRAM sticks of memory in a bid to upgrade I bought S/H from Ebay one 256mb PC2100 DDR SDRAM.

But when fitted either with or without the other sticks my PC wont boot up

Is there different types PC2100 DDR SDRAM ? or is the ebay stick knackered ?

 

[cookie]

memory can be a bit tricky. i've had what is apparently the correct memory cause exactly the problem you have now. tried a different brand and all was ok.

only use crucial now. never had a problem with their stuff.

 

[Steve]

What cookie said.

Some motherboards are happy with any old RAM. Others need fully compatible which, of course, usually costs more.

I've got 2 PCs that will happily take the cheaper "branded" RAM, whilst the other 2 only accept "compatible".

 

[needlongerlegs]

Yo

Is your PC making any kind of attempt to boot up?

Most PC's but not all will make a series off beeps to tell you if it has a hardware issue ie. three peeps on a dell means your memory is knackerd

Some pc 's require you go in to set up mode to make them "see" the new or changed memory F2 at boot up on a lot of PC's -

So what I'm getting at is have a ferret around first if you have a bios manual that will help

G...

 

[~Stef~]

Re: Yo

Is your PC making any kind of attempt to boot up?

G...

Attemps to boot up, then sits there with a black screen, no beeps or noises

 

[trotsky]

Re: Re: Yo

Attemps to boot up, then sits there with a black screen, no beeps or noises

It looks like the ebay stick is knackered. If the machine will boot without that stick in place but fails with only that stick, or with that stick with and others, then it kind of points one way. Try booting with no memory in and see how far it gets. It should give some beeps to say "no memory".

The other possibility is that it needs matched memory (ie pairs of sticks only) - if it only has three slots then that's a red herring but if it has four slots it's a possibility and you should check with the motherboard manufacturer.

Is it Kingston memory? If it is it will say so on the stick and they offer a lifetime warranty and will replace dead memory wherever it came from. I'd start with the seller though.