RAM Upgrade for an old ailing PC

[big_del]

I'd be grateful for any help anyone can offer with the following:

I have a Mesh Matrix 1400+ Desktop with the following spec:

Processor - AMD Athlon XP1700+ (1.48ghz)

RAM - 512MB PC2100 DDR2 (2 x 256MB)

Mobo - Asus A7A266-E

Running Windows XP SP2

It's running like a pig so I thought I'd upgrade the RAM to 1gb might help. To that end I bought a 1GB strip of PC2700 RAM from Novatech.

However, when I installed it, the PC didn't seem to see it (only appeared to register 16MB of RAM being present) and refused to start. I put the old RAM back in and it started up OK (also started with just 1 stick in).

I returned the PC2700 stick and purchased a 1GB stick of PC2100 thinking it might be the speed that was the problem, but fitting that produced exactly the same result.

Should I be buying and installing 2 x 512MB sticks (will PC3200 work as it's cheaper?), or should fitting a single 1GB stick work ok?

[fynn]

is this the motherboard you have? http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/motherboard/asu ... e/details/ (http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/motherboard/asus-ali-chipset-a7a266-e/details/)
if so then going by the specs its DDR ram, and not DDR2
Supported RAM Technology SDRAM, DDR SDRAM
RAM Installed ( Max ) 0 MB / 3 GB (max)
Supported RAM Speed PC2100, PC1600, PC133

so i surgest double checking your system by using CPU-Z as it looks like you brought the wrong ram for it, and if that is the case then it may be worth while looking at a motherboard bundle upgrade

[system7]

It's a low density DDR requirement here, as is often the case on older two slot boards.

This 2X 1GB Corsair PC3200 pair has more chance of working:
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?CSR-VS402G

Do an exchange. Or bite the bullet and upgrade as Fynn says. Newer memory is a lot cheaper. :)

[Jonny2Bad]

Yes agree dont spend good money after bad, stick with your old ram and save for newer mobo and cpu and ram. :wink:

[big_del]

My mistake, the memory I purchased http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?RAM-21/1GB IS DDR memory and NOT DDR2.

Is this High Density memory, or Low?

[system7]

My mistake, the memory I purchased http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?RAM-21/1GB IS DDR memory and NOT DDR2.

Is this High Density memory, or Low?
You tell me! :D

It's down to the number of banks that CPU-Z will display, if you can run it. Single bank is high density.
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=25166
I'd bet that Novatech module is single bank. Memory isn't really all that mysterious, but manufacturers could do everyone a favour by specifying the SPD tables, stable voltages and the number of banks. It varies a lot. Generally, branded stuff is more predictable and better engineeered. BTW, 2X 512Mb of branded stuff should be fine too. What you're running into is that the motherboard probably only supports a bank size up to 512MB.

[big_del]

Thanks for that. :D

I'm going over to Novatech this evening and will probably go for the 2x512MB option.

If that doesn't work, maybe I will bite the bullet and upgrade the mobo. :(

[djgandy]

You need DDR memory. Athlon XP's didn't support DDR2 nor does PC2100 DDR2 exist.

I'm guessing you want double sided ram (assuming density defines the density of the modules on the stick)

[big_del]

Hurray!! :D

2 x 512mb PC2100 DDR sticks did the trick. PC has gone from limping to ambling speed!!! :wink:

Thanks all for your input.