RAM upgrade

[antsy]

I wanted to upgrade my ram from 1GB to 1.5 GB. I opened up my comp put the new RAM in and the computer Just beeped intermittently, so I took it out again and put it back in, this time no beeping but nothing on the screen still, so I tried putting the new chip in the other slot, this time something came on the screen but it stopped doing anything before the memory check. I think I may have got the wrong the wrong RAM? The old chip has written on it "512MB 2Rx8 PC2-4200" the new chip says "1GB DDR2 533MHz DIMM" They look pretty much identical and on the sticker stuck on by the shop it also says PC2-4200

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/20702533...IMM_Memory.html

I think that they are compatible. Try booting your PC with just the new stick in it and see what happens.

[Skulltrail-old]

Perhaps the motherboard cannot support more than 1GB of RAM?

[antsy]

Its only 2 years old is that likely, how do I find out? Should I be altering anything in the BIOS, I just tried that and I think I changed something I shouldn't have as even with the 2 old chips in it did that blank screen and bleeping thing again, I had a bit of a panic and managed to get it working again by removing the coin battery while it was unplugged!

Edited November 30, 2008 by antsy

[cork1958]

Careful on how often you repeat that thing not booting up correctly with the wrong/unrecognized ram? I've seen that fry motherboards/cpu's before.

In fact,

Did it to one of my own machines that was next to brand new!

[antsy]

So how can I be sure if my RAM is upgradeable?

[Pupik]

So what happens when there's only the new stick of ram plugged?

[antsy]

Nothing the fan comes on but nothing shows on the screen and it doesn't beep when it comes on.

[antsy]

So how can I find out if my motherboard can take more RAM or not?

[Raiderman]

Whats the motherboard brand? Have you tried their site?

[Max Veteran]

Done a BIOS update? BIOS updates sometimes increase RAM compatibility.

[antsy]

According to http://biosagentplus.com

BIOS Type: Phoenix-Award

BIOS Date: May 25th 2006

BIOS ID: 05/25/2006-P4M890-8237-6A7L8FK9C-00-None

BIOS OEM: P4M8907MA 5C1F1P28 052506 - 6.00 PG

Chipset: VIA 82C327 rev 0

SuperIO: ITE 8712F rev 8 at port 002E

Manufacturer: higraded

Motherboard: P4M890-8237

The site states my Bios is out of date, but asks me to pay when I click the link, I asume they are asking for payment for somthing that can be had for free on the manufactures website, is that allowed?

Edited December 3, 2008 by antsy

[antsy]

Found this page http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/chipsets...4m890/index.jsp

Says it can go up to 4 gig It also says it takes

DDR2 533/400

DDR 400/333/266/200

OK I found this and the update does say improved memory compatibility http://www.albatron.com.tw/English/Product...Bios&no=244 but it says Albatron is that something OEM because here it also says Albatron, but also mentions Via.

If Bios upgrading goes wrong can I still revert by removing the battery?

Edited December 4, 2008 by antsy

[Raiderman]

That board does not take DDR 400/333/266/200, it takes DDR II 400/533. The manual states that it takes up to 2 gb of memory, so you should be fine.

Upgrading the bios is probably what needs to be done, and if you screw it up, taking the battery out will not cure it!!

[antsy]

I flashed my BIOS it works now, I have 1.5GB of ram, I also ran CCLEAN and did a compress old files as my windows drive is separate to my documents drive and freed up 7 gigs of space as my C drive as it was almost full, I also upgraded my Graphics and sound drivers and the whole thing is noticeably faster.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

hey, congrats antsy... i find it's rare that a simple bios upgrade actually fixes something... usually hardware failures come first!

good job.

[antsy]

Something is filling up my C drive with junk, its already back to only 3 gigs of space, Documents and Setting is about 4 gigs, but I cant see any large files in there (well nothing should be in there really all my docs are on drive D) no matter how hard I search, could these be hidden? There are a load of files in the C:\Windoes folder named with names like ~DFFEEE.tmp and folders with names like $NtUninstallKB891122$ can these be deleted?