Upgrading Memory

[Onesnark]

Rad;

No, its not 2 x 3 gb. The configuration is 3 x 2gb! THREE CHIPS!!

I suspect this setup will work - in single channel mode only.

So. . .unless I hear something surprising from HP tech support (emails have been sent!)-> no way will I buy a 6gb machine! Probably would opt for a 4gb machine now, with an eye to popping in 4 (or even 😎 gb on two sticks down the road.

- - - - - - - -

Seperate topic: I have been emailing tech support regarding i7 and tri-channel ram. To summarize the muddle of responses:

Yup. HP sells "unbalanced" configurations. And "unbalanced" configurations lead to 'less than optimal' memory usage. It remains unclear if a 6 x 2gb (perfectly balanced) configuration will run tri-channel (one email indicates yes; another no); but one thing is certain: AN 8GB MACHINE WITH 4 MEMORY CHIPS WILL NOT RUN AS PURE TRI-CHANNEL. A 9GB MACHINE WITH 5 MEMORY CHIPS WILL NOT RUN AS PURE TRI-CHANNEL.Best case scenario is dual channel.(this was stated in one email)

Worst case scenario is the whole kabuddle runs single channel, 

I suspect 3 sticks will be addressed as tri-channel and the oddball unbalanced sticks as single. 

My conclusion: I am not paying $1100 for a computer for which I am guessing if the memory is configured to run better than in a $300 machine from Walmart.

Note to HP: It is one thing to have India handle Tech support. It is another to have India support sales support.

[babe70]

Hi...

I am in desperate need of help!!!

I have an HP Pavilion a120.uk desktop PC which i bought in 2003. The problem i have is it is running very slow and my bro in law suggested buying more RAm for it. Now the question i have is how do i find out what i need to purchase ie DDR or DR Ram?? At present if i go to Control Panel...System and General it tells me the following

HP Pavilion Intel(R) Pentium (R)

4CPU 2.66 GHZ     2.67 GHz

256MB of RAM

I also have a serial number which is CZB31703VX

and a System Number which is DF132A

Have i come to the right place to get help???

[RAD45]

Hi Babe70... all the specifics you gave on your machine need to be plugged in at HP.com/#support.  You'll see myriad choices for finding information about your machine (and you will need all those numbers) to get exact specifications. You really need to study up on your machine.  Meanwhile, I found, according to HP, your motherboard is manufactured by MSI (Micro Star International) for HP. It uses an older Pentium-4 proc, which means you use DDR memory (from DDR PC-1600 to PC-2700). You only have two memory slots and can only use a maximum of 2-Gigs of memory.  My advice... buy two-1GB sticks of PC-2700 memory and fill both slots. Do not try mixing in your original 256MB memory stick.  If $$ is an issue, then buy two 512MB sticks of memory... just keep everything matched up to avoid any problems.  Just remember, you have a maximum of 1-GB per slot.. times 2- available slots... so no 2-GB memory sticks!  Good luck.  You'll find the extra memory will make the machine run a LOT faster and smoother.
    One other thought... before installing the new memory, run the Windows "hard drive cleanup and defragmentation" programs. It's tidying up your computer before plugging in the memory.  You should see results immediately.

Message Edited by RAD45 on 12-02-2009 02:41 PM

[RAD45]

Sorry, Onesnark... my fingers don't necessarily hit the keys I'm aiming for!   Yeah, tri-channel uses three matched sticks of memory in configs of 1,2, or 4G's each.  If the proc (an i7) is supposed to run in tri-channel, then an "unbalanced" memory setup will cause the motherboard to default to dual-channel with a resulting hit on performance -- though in most cases you won't notice because of the i7's horsepower.  A multi-channel core proc will rarely, if ever, default to a single-channel memory mode.   Yeah, you've found a nasty scenario will online memory choices, and a big tipoff that the motherboard in question is NOT set in tri-channel memory mode no matter what the proc indicates (i7 versus i5).  Tri-channel only works with three or six matching memory sticks, anything else is dual-channel.  What can I say about overseas tech support... it's cheaper, not necessarily as good.

[tksoh]

Hello, I need help with upgrading of memory

My desktop is a Compaq SR1955AP,based on the system info, the maximum RAM allowed is 2 x 1GB.

I had been using a single 1GB for the longest of time and recently I decide to add into another 1GB RAM.... Both of them are KINGSTON KVR667D2N5/1G... however after I turn on the computer, the system information still reflect as 960MB.... I tried to use some free system information software and it also says the same thing. There is only 2 slots... I tried all the combinations, this ram slot1 singly, that ram this slot singly... swop both RAMS... PC boots up fine but the system info remains the same. CPUZ both slots selectable and show each RAM installed. so i am sure each piece of RAM is not defective.

One thing I notice is in the BIOS set-up. The following:

Installed Memory : 1024 MB/ PC2-4200
Memory Bank 1 : 1024 MB/ DD2 SDRAM
Memory Bank 2 : Not installed.

Does this say anything?

According to CPUZ, my motherboard is ECS Alhena 1.0 Chipset ATI RS400/RC400/RC410
Bios : American Megatrends Inc Version 3.19 Date 09/06/2006

is it a ciruitary problem or the motherboard simply cannot take >1GB? lost what to do next....

[misterg2009]

Hi all not sure if i posted this the right way but would appreciate some advice please-

 
 Product HP Pavilion t190.uk Desktop PC 
 Select a problem area:  hardware 
 What is your serial number (SN):  czb32207dk 
 What is your operating system?:  Microsoft Windows XP Home  

 
 Problem Description:  I wanted to upgrade the RAM. I checked the spec of my pc on hp website. It confirmed that my PC has 1gb of ram and the max it could hold was 2gb (max 1gb in each DDR bank), also the type of RAM it takes was shown as PC2700 333MHz 184 Pin DIMMS. I also read on hp site that DIMMS can be mixed i.e. it can hold a 512mb in 1 bank and a 1024mb in another. I purchased a 1024mb DIMM PC2700 333MHz module. Unfortunately I am unable to get my PC to recognise the new module as 1024mb.   

 I have tried different confirgurations. If I remove the original 2x 512 mb modules and put the 1024mb module in DDR 1 bank the CMOS only recognises it as 32mb. If I put 1024mb in DDR1 bank and 512mb in DDR2 bank CMOS/BIOS only recognises 32MB total memory. However if I put a 512mb in DDR1 bank and the 1024mb in DDR2 bank CMOS recognises the DDR1 bank holding 256mb ram and DDR2 bank and 796mb although the total RAM still shows as 32mb.  

Do i need to update the CMOS/BIOS to recognise 1024mb in a singular DDR bank? if so, how would i do this? is the new ram faulty? can you confirm I have purchased the right DIMMS (pc2700 184pin DDR SDRAM 1024mb 333mhz)? can you also confirm my PC can hold max 2gb ram, 1 gb in each slot? thanks. 
 How would you describe your technical skill level?:  Intermediate  

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[babe70]

Hi Rad45

Thankyou so so much for your input...it has been extremely helpful. I will try and max it with 2x1GB and see how i go...anything is better than what i'm having to put up with right now...it runs like a bag of S**t...lol

Thanks again for you time

It is greatly appreciated

Donna x.

[binojvputhur]

Many thanks for the information regarding memory upgrade.

I'm not sure whether to put this question under this topic. I own an HP s3230.uk with the on-board graphic card - ATI Radeon 2350. I feel like it is pretty much basic. Could you please help me with suitable choices for upgrade my graphic card, if at all ?

[RasterBlaster]

Sure.. if you haven't changed the graphics card, you have a ATI Radeon HD2350. You can install any PCIEx16 card that has better specs than the HD2350.

My personal opinion, is that you should install an nVIDIA card. It's not that I like NVIDIA more than ATI... but your motherboard is using an NVIDIA chipset.

I would also read the power supply label to find out the wattage. You might need to upgade the power supply as well if you upgrade to a beefy card.

[poohraider]

yes it will work, but you need windows 7 64 bit to recognize anything above 3.3gigs of ram or any version of windows that's 64 bit. 32 bit versions ONLY recognize 3.3gigs