Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: 1epic1 on December 26, 2006, 03:54:48 AM
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help me!!!...
I got a Dell 8400 Demension Pentinum 4 processor
went to www.crucial.com (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
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?
if you want to look up the specs on my computer heres Crucials link to my Computer and all:
the RAM model i got: Ballistix RAM Moduel (http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.asp?mtbpoid=E8F01826A5CA7304)
heres the computer info:http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Dimension+8400+Series
Now i have one question WHY DOESNT IT WORK@!?!?!?
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I would guess was the new RAM ate static. A shock you can't even feel is a good enough one to kill an electronic.
Look and see if your power supply sucks. There's a sticker on the side of it with the wattage. It's a far stretch, but maybe you're overdoing the power supply, depending on how much you have hooked to it.
This generally isn't possible, but do you have the sticks in backwards? Some RAM slots still seem to have the notches in the center, making it possible to put the RAM in backwards.
Check your BIOS for any settings that might disable the ability to use the new RAM.
That's the best I can do at 2:15 in the morning.
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Originally posted by OOZ662
I would guess was the new RAM ate static. A shock you can't even feel is a good enough one to kill an electronic.
Look and see if your power supply sucks. There's a sticker on the side of it with the wattage. It's a far stretch, but maybe you're overdoing the power supply, depending on how much you have hooked to it.
This generally isn't possible, but do you have the sticks in backwards? Some RAM slots still seem to have the notches in the center, making it possible to put the RAM in backwards.
Check your BIOS for any settings that might disable the ability to use the new RAM.
That's the best I can do at 2:15 in the morning.
thanks, but i did my best to ground myself before touching the RAM sticks ( i think) , and you cant put the RAM in backwards the notch is off center..., so if my RAM ate static then i just wasted 300 some odd bucks and i have to buy brand new sticks...(i would be pissed if i had to buy new ones) but i touched the old ones before i opened the new sticks and the old sticks work fine
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try a single stick of the 1 gb in slot one .
boot it up .. if it boots ,,run it for a bit then add the second 1gb stick to slot 2 or 3 ... it should boot ...
if dosnt boot the 1st time try swaping the 1gb sticks in the 1st slot .
dont add the 256 sticks let it run on the big 1gb stick /s
Ive had picky pc's befor ...add two 512 sticks once from a working pc and got the beeps from hell ... tryed just one and it ran fine ... added the 2nd stick a couple days later and it worked fine .. I have no clue why some pc's do this but its happened to me several times now .
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i just tried it...took out the old 256 sticks and added just one 1 gb stick...didnt work...switched it with the other one and it didnt work either...
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thats weird ,,, acording to the website you posted its the correct ram ...
try a single gb stick on its own in a different slot and see what happens
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Then those be dead or incompatible, my friend. Even if they somehow aren't either of those, if they won't run alone, they won't run in any way.
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go to bed OOZ its almost 3 am ... lol
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Hey man, I'm on Christmas break...as long as Erika doesn't catch me, I'm fine. :D
EDIT: Although, I guess I should stop trying to give tech support when I've only got half a brain when I strain it, eh? :noid
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Originally posted by OOZ662
Then those be dead or incompatible, my friend. Even if they somehow aren't either of those, if they won't run alone, they won't run in any way.
yea im pissed off now, cause u may be right...son of a ***** that was my chirstmas present from mom and dad...theres 300 some odd bucks that they spent down the drain...hopefully crucial would be kind enough to switch us out with some new ones for a low price or hopefully no cost at all
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Maybe theres something wrong with the computer?
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Originally posted by 1epic1
yea im pissed off now, cause u may be right...son of a ***** that was my chirstmas present from mom and dad...theres 300 some odd bucks that they spent down the drain...hopefully crucial would be kind enough to switch us out with some new ones for a low price or hopefully no cost at all
Crucial is apparently a good company. I've always used Corsair. However, they should either replace them with only shipping costs or give a refund. I'd check their policy.
(I think I did okay on this post... :D)
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you did ... crucial/corsair has alway replaced my ram , no questions asked ...
it has a lifetime warrenty also .
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Originally posted by Roscoroo
thats weird ,,, acording to the website you posted its the correct ram ...
try a single gb stick on its own in a different slot and see what happens
yea ooz is right, if it doenst work in slot 1 then it really wouldnt work in another slot...im not going to bother around with it anymore...ill call cruical tech people and if they say its dead sticks then ill replace them
thanks guys for your help and time!
if anyone else has a idea that seems REASONABLE to try give it to me
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My guess it's incompatible :(
Look on the Dell website and find what ones "they" will sell to you . This same thing is why I started building my own pcs .
I hope I am wrong this time .
gl to you
spro
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First thing I'd do is talk to Skuzzy. I have an older Dell 4600 and upgraded RAM last year. I started with some on sale brand. After having the exact same experience you described I called Skuzzy and wound up having to use Crucial. Dell is very picky about which RAM it will accept and run. It's an unfortunate side effect of buying a Dell.
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First rule of thumb: Avoid brand computers like plague.
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The only thing I can think of is maybe a bios setting isn't correct.
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Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
First rule of thumb: Avoid brand computers like plague.
I'm starting to learn that every time I take this pos into the computer store to get fixed.
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called crucial and the first thing that popped out of their mouths was bad sticks, then i say what about this (i asked skuzzy about this also and he said that the RAM i got needs 2.2V and some mother boards only put out 1.8V) and he had a long pause....thats another possiability......(pause) how about i replace the RAM you got with a lower grade that is 100% sure to run with 1.8V...same amount of memory, his explaination was the RAM i got was really hard on the computer and the computer may not be able to run it...so either way i needed to replace them...we will see when the new ones come in
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Make sure you have the latest BIOS.
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I was going to help, but OOZ662's avatar distracted me. ;)
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Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
First rule of thumb: Avoid brand computers like plague.
That's good advice. However some people don't have the inclination or fortitude to learn how to build their own rig. For them I guess a brand puter is the only alternative.
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Originally posted by Viking
That's good advice. However some people don't have the inclination or fortitude to learn how to build their own rig. For them I guess a brand puter is the only alternative.
Geeks are becoming more and more common. I built my girlfriend's current PC. They just need to get on the inside and have one of us build them a wonder. :D
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Only problem with building peoples computers is, they expect free parts and labor for the duration of its life.
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There are places that will build you a clone using the same components you yourself would use from their store. If you don't want to fuss with the job you can just have one built for you. Check for some computer supply shops in your area and ask for bids. Have a spec sheet already set up so everyone is on the same sheet of music.
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brand computers have thinner motherboards.. more suceptaple to shorts among other things
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Originally posted by BOOMHOWR
Only problem with building peoples computers is, they expect free parts and labor for the duration of its life.
W e r d
I used to offer to help, build or setup friend/family PCs...but the calls at all hours insisting on free help was a bit too much to take.
However, I still give away my old servers/PCs to people who cant afford a computer. Those folks appreciate the gift for what it is.
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That's why I only build them for close friends that know I'll get pissed if they start pulling that. I also tell them upfront that if something busts, I'll charge them cost to replace it unless they were being dumb and broke it, then I might charge labor too. Keeps them from tinkering with it and killing something.
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Originally posted by OOZ662
That's why I only build them for close friends that know I'll get pissed if they start pulling that. I also tell them upfront that if something busts, I'll charge them cost to replace it unless they were being dumb and broke it, then I might charge labor too. Keeps them from tinkering with it and killing something.
Heheheh, I just tell my family I work in networking now, if they want a firewall gimme a yell. Its kinda true but the company I work for does sell laptops (Asus, Apple).
Thankfully the "so you want to buy a firewall?" gets a glazed over look in their eyes.