Skuzzy, help!!, NEW RAM..wont work!

[1epic1]

help me!!!...

I got a Dell 8400 Demension Pentinum 4 processor

went to http://www.crucial.com and put in the model number and it comes up with the correct models of RAM that the computer can take...ok so i get 2 sticks of 1 gig of ram each...my motherboard can handle 4 gigs...already in stalled in the 1 and 2 slots are 256 MB of RAM each...so 512 MB already installed...i take them out and replace them with the 1 gig RAM moduels...turn on computer and i hear a series of loud beeps (means computer doesnt reconize any RAM installed) so i read the FAQ and it says take them out and put them in again and be sure its snapped in all the way, did it and still the same thing happens...then i put back the old 2 sticks and along with the 2 new sticks and same thing happens...i take out the new ones and keep the old ones in cause by now im freaking out that i **** up the computer and i want to make sure that the old ones still work, wouldnt you know it they work fine...so now i have 200 bucks of RAM here sitting and im confused, i checked and doubled check to make sure that these were the right models of RAM and they are... i read my computer manual to make sure i did everything right and as far as i can tell i did everything right...

my computer is setup like this before new RAM

Slot 1 is connected to slot 2 and slot 3 is connected to slot 4

Each slot can handel up to 1 GB

SLOT 1.......SLOT 3...............SLOT 2........SLOT 4 (works) Orginal Setup
256 MB ............................. . 256 MB

SLOT 1.......SLOT 3.............SLOT 2..........SLOT 4(Doesnt work) 1st Try
1 GB........................... ........ 1 GB

SLOT 1..... SLOT 3..............SLOT 2..........SLOT 4(Doesnt work) 2nd try
1 GB........................... ........1 GB

SLOT 1......SLOT 3..............SLOT 2.........SLOT 4 Doenst Work) 3rd Try
256 MB......1 GB.................256 MB.........1 GB

SLOT 1.......SLOT 3............SLOT 2...........SLOT 4 (doesnt work)
1 GB

tried this one again except witht he other and it doesnt work

then i go back to the orginal setup and it works with only the 256 mb

Crucial Tech says that this should work, the ram is the correct model for the mother board, it doesnt go over the limit of 4 GBs total and doesnt go over the 1 GB limit for each slot, it was setup to pair each RAM model to the other same model (old ones with old ones, new stick with new stick) i didnt mix themodels...so...whats up? bad sticks?...i might add, if you think about static shock then you "can" rule that out cause i did touch the old sticks first then i made sure i was grounded after that then i touched the new sticks and installed them, and the old sticks work fine

if you want to look up the specs on my computer heres Crucials link to my Computer and all:

the RAM model i got:  http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.asp?mtbpoid=E8F01826A5CA7304

heres the computer info:http://www.crucial.com/store/listpa...ion+8400+Series

Now i have one question WHY DOESNT IT WORK@!?!?!?

[Skuzzy]

Check the supplied RAM voltage in the BIOS hardware monitor.  The Ballistix memory needs 2.2V, minimum.  Some DDR2 motherboards supply 1.8V.

[1epic1]

ok, how do i check to see if i have enough voltage, and if it isnt enough then what are my options?

[IronDog]

Skuzzy will need to know what type MB you have.Your MB software will have a program that you can install .It will give you voltages,temps,etc.If It wont handle 2.2,then a new MB is in order.However that shouldn't be a problem as the newer MB's all can be tweaked.Hope this helps you.
IronDog

[Skuzzy]

There should be a hardware monitor section in your system BIOS ROM.  It is a good place to start.  It should show things like the temperature of the CPU/motherboard, the fan RPM's and the various voltage levels for each of the power supply rails.

Sometimes the RAM voltage level is shown there.  Most of the time there is a section in the BIOS ROM which allows you to tweak various hardware settings.  Depending on the motherboard, there should be a setting for the voltage of the RAM.

Normal settings for DDR2 memory is 1.8V, which is too low for the Crucial Ballistix.  The regular Crucial DDR2 RAM runs at 1,8V and works fine in all motherboards which require DDR2 RAM.

To run Ballistix, if the motherboard is set for 1.8V, you need to change it to 2.2V or 2.5V, then shutdown the computer and install the Ballistix.  Should boot after that, if power is the problem.