Page 1 of Memory Upgrade, How difficult can it be?

Plug in and go, right..... NO nothings ever that easy!

Compaq Presario 5456, apparently the motherboard can take upto 512k so I bought a 256 strip from ebuyer. Pulled my machine apart slapped the memory in and powered it up.... Problem! For some unknown reason when it does a memory count it only report`s 64k as OK or if I press escape it jumps to 255k OK then nothing not a dickie bird, only once has it "tryed" to load the OS but then all it displayed was a screen of pretty colours flashing away? I dont have another PC to check this stick out on so does anyone know if the Presario has any problems with recognizing larger memory or would it be safe to assume the memory is buggered?


Anyone.... please.

What`s the exact make and model number of the motherboard? What type of RAM is it (EDO, SDRAM, DDR) and at what speed does it run (e.g 100 or 133 for SDRAM)?

Nick

http://www.crucial.com/uk has a really good memory checker - enter your PC make, model etc and it will tell you what memory suits. Don`t need to buy it from them - it will say DDR 2100 or PC133 EDO etc. Might be a good strat to check you have the right stuff.

The Compaq will undoubtedly need proprietary RAM i.e. not generic Crucial stuff.

The thing is, if you do buy it from Crucial using the memory selector, they offer a full guarantee that it`s compatible with your machine - whereas Ebuyer will probably just say `hard cheese`. It`s well worth it for the peace of mind it gives you.

And the Presario 5456 *is* listed on the Crucial website, so clearly it`s not necessary to use proprietary Compaq bits (even if Compaq try to tell you otherwise!)

Mike

Its 168 PC100 SDRAM, the 2x64mb that came out the unit have no ID mark so I couldnt even check that out. Further more, if I add one of the 64mb strips to the 256mb strip the PC will boot to the Windows 2000 screen for a moment then a blue screen is displayed but not long enough for me to read the message before shuts down a re-boots again and again and again, its looping if you like? As for the Motherboard I have no idea other than is got Intel 810 chips set, aint much help.


Beats me!

This item was edited on Wednesday, 9th April 2003, 16:44

I think Fecker has hit on the root of your problems - Compaqs are/were renouned for needing to use their specific memory, which generally has a higher price ...

blue screen eh?.. well compaqs are a bit fussy with what memory you put in.. in this case sounds like an overflow is giving you blue screen of death...

i suggest you buy matched memory .. sorry i don;t have any good news and i imagine everyone else will tell you the same thing

You machine use the following type of RAM:

168-PIN DIMM, SDRAM, NON PARITY, PC100 CL=2

Now then has the RAM you purchased a Cas Latency of 2, that`s what the CL=2 refers to, having said that most generic memory is in the main capable of being driven as CL2 even if it is of type CL3. Me thinks that EBuyers have sent out a duff, after all it`s not been unheard of them to send crap out but you do need to test it in another machine before starting the torturous process of returning it. If you do locate a suitable test machine make sure that it running W2K or XP as Win98 in most cases will load and appear fine but W2K and XP uses more of the RAM and uses it in a different fashion which will quickly shows up any deficiencies.

It seems ive made a big balls up with the memory ive selected for this machine, just tryed it on my sisters P2 running windows 98 and though it only shows 128 and not 256 it still works on her machine? That will teach me to buy before first checking things out properly!

Last question, why would it work on her machine and not on the Presario, is it a case of more expensive memory for the Compaq?


Thanks for posting you lot!

This item was edited on Wednesday, 9th April 2003, 21:29