Resolved New Ram not working

Please can someone help me. I have purchased 4 x 512 MB of ram to put in my computer which is a HP Pavilion Intel. The ram is compatible with my computer and are even a HP brand. When I put the ram in (all click in and locked) and turn the computer back on it makes a high pitch noise and nothing comes on. I have pulled them out and put them back in again but same thing happens. When I put the old ones back in (which are 2 x 256MB) everything works again. Would love some advice on what the problem could be.
Thanks. Jenny

 

put them in one by one and see which one is the bad ram, usually you get that sound if the memory is bad or not seated correctly

 

Thanks for your quick reply. Have just put them in one by one and every one makes the same noise. I have no idea what the problem could be now. Would my computer need altering or something. I am not very computer literate but will give anything a go. Thanks Jenny

 

Do you have a model number for your HP Pavilion? A lot of the memory configurators will tell you what RAM your computer will take.

 

Hi jennyjq, As Arie has stated, your system specs are essential and more so with HP comps. HP quite often use RAM which is very specific ie. Registered RAM. If you Google Kingston Value RAM and go to Product Info > Data sheets > you will see what I mean when you Search HP. Neil.

 

Hi, thanks for your reply. The model no. is HP Pavilion a1160a. Hope this helps.
Intel (R). Pentium (R) 4CPU 3.20 GHz

 

According to everything I looked at, an HP Pavilion a1160a can take up to 4 GB of RAM, with 1 GB per slot. So it should not be an overcapacity problem.

You say it is HP brand memory? What model number is on the memory sticks?

The reason I ask is that it usually is a compatibility problem if your computer will not even start with the new memory. Did you try putting in just one of the new sticks, and starting it?

 

This is what is written on the ram. PC3200R-30330
512MB DDR 400MHz CL3 ECC HYMD564G726CFP8N-D43 AB
S/C 3606C400M8K p/n 373028-851
The other ones say MT9VDDF6472Y-40BD3 200624 DDAA7N6007
PC3200-30331-G0 S/C 460694001VV
P/N 373028-851. Hope this makes some sense. Thanks heaps.

 

Can you post what is written on the old RAM?

You seem to have done it right and bought the right memory for your computer. But if the computer won't even boot up with the new memory, but works with the old memory, that's puzzling. Often that is caused by a mismatch.

I take it you don't know how to go into your computer's BIOS, right?

Update: It looks like what you bought is a different part number (HP part number 373028-851) from what Kingston recommends (HP part number 335699-005 ). The difference is that the memory you have is ECC, but Kingston recommends a non-ECC memory.

I'm not an expert on memory, but I don't think that would make a difference. ECC memory has some extra error checking, and is usually used for servers.

 

Hi Dannii,
Thanks for helping. Ok the info on my old ram is
MT8VDDT3264AG40BGB 200525 CBNBXP8003
256MB DDR 400 CL3. Hope this helps. Thanks Jenny

 

Jenny, the new memory you have is registered, ECC memory. It's a special kind of memory that is more reliable, so it is used on servers rather than desktops. It's more expensive, and a little slower.

The old memory you have is unbuffered, non-ECC memory. HP says that you should only use unbuffered, non-ECC memory in your Pavilion a1160a.

That might be the problem. If so, the solution is to return the memory you purchased and get the other kind. I don't know if that is an option. Or buy the other and sell what you have on eBay.

The other thing I noticed is that you have memory from two different manufacturers. One is Hynix (the memory with HYMD) and the other is Micron (the memory with MT). Sometimes memory from different makers does not work well together.

It does sound like you have the memory seated well and in the right place. It's puzzling that it does not work. Unfortunately, memory problems can be that way.

 

jennyjq:

Daanii hit on it but might not have realized the significance.

It makes a big difference and, as you have discovered, not all memory is created equal. The best thing you could do is to find some unbuffered, non-registered, low density CAS 2 PC3200. As Pete has referenced numerous times, another approach is to head over to Crucial's website and run their memory configurator.

 

Hi Daanii,
Yes you are right about the ECC memory. It definately isnt compatible with my computer. Luckily I can return the new ones and have been able to purchase some more on Ebay which is non ECC.
Thanks for all your help. It was much appreciated.
Regards, Jenny

 

Thanks alot for your advice. You are right regarding the ECC memory. I have now purchase some ram that is non ECC so hopefully should work ok now. Thanks for your help.
Regards Jenny

 

Rockster my Post #7 has noted this as I have had the experience about 6 years ago. In fact, Kingston recommend using their PAIRED kits when adding RAM to HP Pavlion PC. Neil.