Upgrading RAM

Hello,

I have some G.SKILL RAM installed already in my machine (2x2GB) which is DDR2 F2-8500 CL 5-5-15 2.0v-2.1v

I bought some RAM which I thought matched this another (2x2GB) to take my system to 8gig of RAM.

I have put the RAM in the spare slots and swapped them about but my system fails to load windows (7 enterprise 64bit) or if it does load it crashes within a minute or so.

I have booted with just the new RAM and the system is fine, I have booted with the old RAM and the system is fine but with both sets in no joy.

Is there anything I am doing wrong? Below is a link to the two sets of RAM if this helps


http://www.mediafire.com/view/?xbpfjwxz75lodor

With just the 4GB installed, try Crucial System Scanner to advise you on how to configure: "View Quick Configurations".

Stupid MediaFire wants me to upgrade my up-to-date IE8 w/out which I can't see your pix. How difficult can it be to display a few images?

Edited by XRaySpeX (Tue 14-May-13 20:26:24)

What motherboard?

It's a Giga-Byte GA-EP35C-DS3R (rev. 2.1)

On the cruicial scanner it says

Memory Type: DDR2 PC2-6400, DDR2 PC2-8500, DDR2 PC2-5300, DDR3 PC3-10600, DDR3 PC3-12800, DDR2, DDR3 (non-ECC)
Maximum Memory: 8GB
Currently Installed Memory: 4GB
Total Memory Slots: 4
Available Memory Slots: 2
You system has two different slot configurations.

I cant seem to locate the view quick configuration on the page though :/

If you don't have it yet, I would suggest you start by updating the BIOS to version F12.

http://uk.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pi...

You never know. Sometimes a BIOS update can fix memory slot loading issues. Personally, I never use all four slots on a motherboard. I tend to double up the RAM size in two slots instead.

What you can do is check out the RAM speed settings and drop them a little to see if the system runs with them in. It could be that the more aggressive settings are not compatible with four sticks at once, or it may be a lack of voltage to the RAM (but don't go revving up the voltage; rather, monitor the voltage to the RAM, and see if it's what it should be).

Ahh...just spotted the picture on the link I gave. You have six slots.


From the manual:

When memory modules of different capacity and chips are installed, a message which says
memory is operating in Flex Memory Mode will appear during the POST. Intel® Flex Memory
Technology offers greater flexibility to upgrade by allowing different memory sizes to be
populated and remain in Dual Channel mode/performance.

I would check out the BIOS updates, and the memory / memory voltage settings before anything else. If you're getting past the POST, it's probably a memory settings/voltage thing.

Edit: Originally linked to the 1.x mobo, have changed to the 2.1 Rev.

Edited by camieabz (Tue 14-May-13 21:14:09)

Can you use ddr2 and ddr3 at the same time ?

hmpfff well the BIOS update is a non starter as I downloaded it and it says it is incompatible with my system and check if I have a 32bit or 64bit operating system. I know I have a 64bit operating system but there is no 64bit download

That mobo manual states 4 slots DDR2 or 2 x DDR3.

Maybe he's not using the right slots...worth a double check OP.

Hmm. In that case, skip that bit. See my most recent post.

I am using the right slots, well 99% sure I am as the DDR3 slots are a slightly different shape so DDR2 will not fit in them. Like I say in my first post I have tested the 2x2GB slots with both sets of RAM in both slots and it boots up fine and works fine. That is why I am at a loss. I have tried googling for things but I cannot really find anything.