Having a dumb moment :(

wildheart

wildheart

wildheart

Associate
Joined
28 Jul 2004
Posts
133
Location
Leicestershire
I need someone to shed some light on an area that has long been forgotten to me as times have moved....

Basically i want to add some more RAM to one of my old computers to use as a small server/storage system

Sooooo i looked at the ram which seems to say PC133 SDRAM on it so i bought 256MB PC133 168pin Extra Value SDRAM. Have gone to fit it and the system will not boot with the new RAM. I have tried with the old RAM, on its own and in various RAM slots but the system does not boot (as in the monitor does not have a signal so im assuming its not booting)

Does anyone know whats wrong? could i have bought the wrong RAM? SDRAM is something long forgotten by me so im really not sure if there are different types of PC133 SDRAM

Thanks in advance
 
oh and i have no idea what mobo it is. Its an old Advent 3207 which is listed as having a TriGem Dublin mobo and PC133 SDRAM :S
 
do you get any beeps codes from the motherboard?

have you cleared the cmos?

have you tried with JUST the new stick? (i know you said just the old one had been tried)
 
yeah i have tried with just the new stick

i will try clearing the cmos

there are some beeps but i dont think there any different that when it boots normally and i doubt i have the manual explaining the difference beeps :(
 
wildheart said:
there are some beeps but i dont think there any different that when it boots normally and i doubt i have the manual explaining the difference beeps :(
Click to expand...

When it boots normally there should only be 1 short beep. Do you hear more than that?
 
ok update:

I have tried to reset the cmos by moving the jumper over to pins 2-3 (i am 90% sure i have the right jumper) but when they are in cmos reset enabled mode i.e pins 2-3 the system does not even turn on? is that normal?

And as for the beeps with both the new and old RAM or a combination of both they all cause the system to beep only once as if everything is normal

so.... could this be a conflict with the RAM/motherboard/graphics card? is it even possible for the amount of RAM on the mobo to effect the graphics card.... say due to power consumption?
 
hmm.... it think the RAM i bought is incompatable with the mobo :(

i got some cheap 256MB PC133 168pin Extra Value SDRAM

and im guessing i needed
PC133 256MB SDRAM 168pin DIMM or
256MB SDRAM PC133 CL=3 or
256MB SDRAM PC133 CL2

I'll guess that the problem with the new memory is that it uses high density
chips, and the motherboard accepts only DIMMs with low density chips.

or something :confused:
 
Last edited:
Sounds like that could be your answer, can you get the pc to boot with just the old memory ? If your pc boots with the old memory run CPUZ to see what sort of memory your old stuff is.

From what i remember you do not power up with the cmos reset pins in the rest position. You move them to reset, then after a short wait you move them back.
 
Last edited:
thanks for the help deadeyedic30 i have used the cpu-z which is very neat!

it says the existing RAM is:
Module Size: 256MB
Max Bandwidth: PC133
Manufacturer: Micron Tech
Serial: 42504631
Manufacture Date: Week 49, Year 80 (WTF year 80?? :D surely that doesnt mean 1980 its not that old!)

Timing Table
Frequency: 133
CAS# Latency: 3.0
RAS# to CAS#: 3
RAS# Precharge: 3
tras: 6

oh... and when i use the crucial system scanning tool it says i have Non-parity SDRAM, PC133. Does OC sell the Non-parity stuff?
 
Last edited:
yeah for a cmos reset you dont need to switch your pc on

different motherboards say to do it in slightly different orders but I always do:

unplug
push power button to discharge system
swap jumper over
take bios battery out
push power button and hold it a few times
replace battery
swap jumper back
plug in system and boot
 
And if you have switched on whilst CMOS is set for reset you may have damaged your bios chip, which could be why it's not working and could have added to your problems.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom