HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower Business PC - Upgrading RAM

[Linus99]

Dear all, 

I am looking to upgrade my RAM on my current PC but am confused as to terms used in the manual provided by HP.

1) For example, the manual specified DDR-4 SDRAM DIMMs. Certain RAMS are named as DDR-4 DRAM (eg corsair lpx vengeance), but on reddit and other websites, I read that most desktops use SDRAM and that for the purposes of desktops, SDRAM and DRAM are the same things, it is just naming quirk. My question is this, can I used the corsair LPX vengeance that states it is a DRAM as a memory module for my PC? 

2) I dont understand the PC4 part of the "Unbuffered non-ECC PC4-17000 DDR4-2400 MHz-compliant". An explanation would be much appreciated.

3) As per the manual, the SDRAM requires 15-15-15 timings. However, when using CPUZ to check my PC specifications, the timings I see are 17-17-17. So am I only limited to 15-15-15 timings?

Thank you for the help you give, it is much appreciated.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

The easiest thing to do would be to buy one of the Crucial memory chips listed in the report for your PC at the link below.

https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/hp---compaq/hp-prodesk-400-g4-microtower

That takes all the guesswork out of buying memory because they guarantee compatibility.

You probably can't buy the memory directly from Crucial in Malaysia, but you can enter the part number you are interested in buying where you normally can buy computer components.

To answer your questions...

1.  DDR4 SDRAM, and DRAM, single channel, dual channel...all are the same memory types.

However, Single rank and dual rank are different types of memory configurations.  Looks like your PC can use either single or dual ranked memory according to the Crucial report.

2.  Unbuffered non-ECC ---this is important.  Your PC cannot use Buffered, ECC memory.

The PC2400 is the speed at which the memory can run at.

3. Timing specs...see this link for more info.

https://www.hardwaresecrets.com/understanding-ram-timings/

Stick with PC4-2400 memory, because that is the fastest speed the processor can run the memory at, unless it has a 6th gen core processor, which can only run the memory at 2133 MHz.

Adding faster memory such as DDR4-2666 or DDR4-3200 will do nothing to increase performance, as it will just downclock to 2400 MHz.

If you can afford the cost, you may as well max the memory out to 2 x 16 GB and be done with it.

[Linus99]

Hello there! Your reply is much appreciated, thanks for helping me understand RAM better giving me advice on which RAM would be compatible!

I got the RAM from CRUCIAL as you suggested, however trying to install it, it sends me to a POST error, 2E1 Memory Size Error. However, after trying to press the ENTER button as suggested on the error message, it doesnt do anything just remains at the same screen for ages. Any idea what the problem may be? The POST error goes away after reinstalling my old memory stick.

[Linus99]

Specifically, I got the 

Crucial 8GB DDR4-2666 UDIMM

as my upgrade.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

My HP business desktop PC's also give me that error when I install memory.

What I do to get rid of the error is to press the F1 key, and then the PC proceeds to boot up, and I never see the error again.

If you have pressed the F1 key, and continue to receive that error, unfortunately I don't know what the problem could be.

[Linus99]

Hey, unfortunately, the F1 method did not work. But hey, I got it to work some other way! As usual i got the POST error, so I proceeded to turn the desktop off via the power button. I disconnected the power cord, waited 30 seconds, plugged the power cord back in and voila it worked!

Thank you very much for all that you've done! Stay well and healthy!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance, and I am glad that you found a way for the PC to accept the memory upgrade.

You stay healthy and well too!