Pavilion p6510y memory upgrade

[erico]

"I always understood that as long as you are within the "specs" you could use any memory. "

Not in HP computers or any other manufactured PC that I am aware of.  That is why what you are trying  is not working.  Computers have changed quite a bit from the Windows XP days. What you have not gathered yet is that there is BIOS support  only for memory which falls within the parameters of the primary and secondary timings of the memory modules that is in the BIOS ROM code. Read up on BIOS and memory. Most people are not even aware that there are primary and secondary timings and module voltages requirements that must be met for memory modules to work with specific motherboards.

If the BIOS rejects a memory module as not within the acceptable parameters, then it will not allow the boot process to continue since the POST has not passed. That is why your attempt to upgrade has failed.

  If you have ever built a DIY PC with an enthusiast motherboard and  tied your hand at overclocking, you would understand what I mean. 

Manufacturers of motherboards provide a list of memory that is compatible with their motherboards. All of them do that. Go to ASUS and Gigabyte and Intel and any of the others and check it out.  It is for the reason I described. Some of the memory compatibility lists are many pages long. Only memory that the manufacturer has tested with their motherboard will be on  the list.  

Attempting what you have tried to do in the manner you did because of "I always understood that as long as you are within the "specs" you could use any memory. " is likely to fail, as you now know.

A sample memory compatibility list for the motherboard   ASUS R.O.G. Crosshair V Formula-Z of the DIY PC I am typing this on. http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/SocketAM3+/Crosshair_V_Formula/Crosshair_V_Formula_DRAM_QVL.zip?...

When I was selecting components prior to the build, If a memory module isn't on the Crosshair V Formula DRAM QVL (qualified vendor list) list I would not consider it as  candidate memory for my motherboard. I like my DIY builds to go smoothly and without problems.

[KWB2]

Thank you for your reply and lesson. (I am not trying to be flip) I now understand somewhat better. If I had asked the correct questions or you had explained it this way I would not have been frustrated for a week. Yes I have built several DIY computers but no I have not felt that it was necessary to overclock. That was one of the thing was I didn't understand just how much had changed since Windows XP.  

[erico]

No worries.

I walked away from the PC and then came back and composed the reply.  I have patience and a pretty thick skin.

I am glad that I was able to bump up your knowlege level of upgrading memory in PCs.

Wait until you find the time to read about the new replacement for the legacy BIOS that is called UEFI (universal Extensible firmware interface) and the GPT format that is used in newer PCs.  Then you will see just how much things have changed since the old school XP PC days.

We are here to help. That is the only reason we volunteer our time.

[KWB2]

Slept on this overnight and I still have a question. Please chalk it up to my "hardheadedness". I am trying to find this list that tells me what memory will work for my motherboard. The Memory that I purchased and tried to install into the computer. The computer recognizes it and shows me there is 4096 MB in DIMM slots 1 & 2. However it is also telling me it is only using 3.24 GB of this installed 8 GB of memory. That is my problem! If it sees 8 GB why is it only using 4 GB of that 8 GB? I would think that if the memory was wrong it would not see any memory and therefore not work. Am I looking at this in a incorrect context? Does the BIOS or whatever say "I see 8 GB but since it is not "approved" I will only use 4 GB of it. Also the memory I purchased, I was told was compatible with the p6510y HP computer.

H-RS880-uATX(Aloe)  motherboard

Unable to find any informaation on the specs of the motherboard other than on the HP website. The HP website Memory upgrade info: 1. Four DDR3 DIMM (240-pin) sockets. 2. Supports 1gb, 2gb, & 4gb DDR3 DIMMs per socket. 3. Supports Dual Channel. 4. Supported speeds PC3-10600@1333MHz*, PC3-8500@1066MHz. 5. Non-ECC memory only, unbuffered. 6. Supports up to 16gb on 64-bit PCs (run at DDR3-1066) 7. Supports up to 4gb* on 32-bit PCs. 

* Actual available memory maybe less.  

Memory I purchased:

4gb (1x4gb) memory    RAM for Pavilion P6510nl, P6510y, P6514fr Desktop

Product Description:

4gb Total memory using 1pc of 4gb 1333MHz Module 240pin DIMM DDR3 10600. Genuine CMS brand, CMS is one of the most trusted names in the Computer Memory industryand this product carries a Lifetime Warranty from CMS Max Memory: 16gb Sockets for Upgrading: 4 Max memory per socket 4gb if 4gb is installed, the recognized memory may be reduced to 3.5gb or less (depending on system configuration and memory allocation). Maximum configurations require a 64-bit operating system. MODULES MUST BE ORDERED AND INSTALLED IN PAIRS for Dual Channel mode. Compatible with the following Systems: HP Pavilion p6510nl, p6510y, p6513it,p6514fr.

I ordered a pait of these 4gb RAM Memory modules and installed them as a pair except for when you told me to put them into sockets 2 & 4. At the current time they are in DIMM sockets 1 & 2.

Is this the incorrect memory? just a yes or no please.

[erico]

"Genuine CMS brand, CMS is one of the most trusted names in the Computer Memory industryand this product carries a Lifetime Warranty from CMS Max Memory"

That is not a mainstream brand nor is it one that computer enthusiasts are familiar with. I have never heard of them

Did that blurb come from the company"s own website?  The warranty part is a good thing.

Corsair, Transcend,Samsung, Crucial, Kingston, OCZ, HP, ADATA and G.Skill, Elixir and Fujitsu are all mainstream brands.

Guaranteed compatible memory from Crucial for your PC. Using their memory is not a gamble.

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/HP---Compaq/pavilion-p6510y

It is your choice. That is my last post in your thread.

[KWB2]

Not sure if I am sad or what that you won't be posting again. You still have not solved my problem to MY satisfaction, nor did you answer the last post from me with the info about the memory.  I asked for a simple yes or no answer to my post and got a CYOA BS answer because the memory meets the specs for the motherboard and you don't have another answer.

If you are so positive that the memory is the problem I will make you a deal. Buy the memory and if it works I will pay all your expences of obtaining the memory and sending it to me. I am so sure that it will not work I would put a $50.00 side bet on it.

[erico]

If you are not willing to accept the fact that not purchasing guaranteed compatible memory from HP or a major memory manufacturer  is likely to result in a memory upgrade with problems, then that is your own problem. 

Everyone who accepts that as a condition when upgrading a manufactured PC has a memory upgrade that works the first time. After all, the memory is guaranteed to work in your PC by the manufacturer. Usually there is a lifetime guarantee.

Turnkey PC  and notebook manufacturers, like HP, Apple or Dell, do not have  an obligation  to provide a list of memory that works in the motherboard they chose to make the PC a product.

All they provide, as you know, is a basic specification of the memory that they used, without details that could be critical.

Upgrading memory is pretty simple if you do it in a way that always works.WE are here to help and guide you, if you let us help you. You choose to go down a different path. That is your perogative, but when your method of choice does not work it is all your own fault.

You agreed to discuss issues in a civilized manner when you agreed to the rules of participation that were a prerequisite when you joined this forum. You did violate the rules of participation in your last post.

[jvtech]

Hi, instead of getting totally hung up on the memory compatibility issue I would also consider why the BIOS reports the full 8Gb or 12Gb and Windows only sees 3.24Gb and rule out Windows as the cause.

Past experience suggests that there is potentially an issue of some description with Windows - my HP P6730es reports 3.24Gb when I have 32 bit Windows loaded.

Can you try the following: -

• Download Windows 64 bit boot
• Burn this to a memory stick using Rufus 
• Boot your PC using the memory stick
• Check how much memory is available to Windows

This will at least rule out Windows as being the issue.

[erico]

@jvtech

I know you are trying to help, but if you had read the very first post in this thread you would have seen that the installed OS is a 64-bit version of Windows.  That would have saved you the trouble of composing your reply.

[jvtech]

I fully appreciate that you have taken time to reply too.

But my point still remains and is valid.

Whilst absolute matching memory is the desired it is not a pre-requisite - my P6730es is proof.

So, I would ask you to re-read my post and understand that I said, and meant, that I have seen these issues before and Windows has been the problem not memory compatibility.

Therefore, if the poster tries my solution and proves that it is not Windows then that is one less thing to consider...