RAM questions

[zoottrooper89]

Hi all,

I’m hoping you can help me with my issue. I’ve been wanting to upgrade my RAM for a long time now and finally have the opportunity. However it… it just isn’t working. I want to go from 8GB of RAM to 16GB. I’ve researched, I’ve watched videos I’ve taken notes and I finally got the proper parts. I tried adding another 8GB stick into slot 2 but my laptop would turn on and then die suddenly. When I took out the old one and put the new one in, it worked. So I figure I’ll get another of the new part instead of mixing and matching. Same thing. Did not work. Single sticks work, 2 don’t. Finally got a 16GB with all the right specifications and the same thing again. It will turn on and then die. Am I doing something wrong or is 8GB my maximum allowed memory for this laptop?

[NonSequitur777]

@zoottrooper89,

Welcome to our HP User Forum!

You did your homework A-OK: your OMEN By HP - 15-Ce008ca laptop is -or rather should be, compatible with up to 2 x 8GB of DDR4 PC4-21300, 2666 MHz, Non-ECC, Unbuffered, SODIMM, 260-pin RAM sticks. Btw, from what I was able to derive from HP sources, a single 16GB RAM stick may not be compatible.

Crucial confirms the above: HP - Compaq | Memory RAM & SSD Upgrades | Crucial.com.

Question: have you tried to boot your laptop with a single 8GB RAM stick in RAM slot 1, and then in RAM slot 2?

Reason I am asking, is that we want to ascertain that there are no issues with either RAM slot.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[zoottrooper89]

@NonSequitur777 thanks for responding! The thing is I did get the right specs for an 8Gb ram. And I tried it on it’s own and it worked fine but when I put the same 8Gb ram stick in slot 2 it wouldn’t start. That’s why I tried the single 16GB stick but that also did not work. I’ve never ever tried to fiddle with RAM upgrading before till now so there should be no damages. One thing is though for a long time I couldn’t update my windows system… would that have caused it? Would it work now that I’ve reset my computer and upgraded the proper drivers? Or do I also have to change the HDD and SD? Or any of those?

ETA: my battery life is also not that great? Idk if that has anything to do with anything. It’s an old computer as you can see but I’ve taken quite good care of it so I don’t understand why I can’t upgrade my memory… I just wanted to be able to play better games on it.

[NonSequitur777]

@zoottrooper89,

The fact that the 8GB RAM stick didn't work in RAM slot 2 could be a clear indication that this RAM slot is defective, and the reason why adding another 8GB RAM stick didn't work.

Have you closely looked at RAM slot 2 (magnifying glass) to see if any of the little copper RAM pins are bend/damaged, and have you used compressed ('canned') air to see if perchance any dirt is compromising proper electrical contacts?

Please check your drivers here: OMEN by HP - 15-ce008ca Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Customer Support, and of course, make sure your Windows is up to date: Update Windows - Microsoft Support.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[zoottrooper89]

@NonSequitur777 so I did run another test. Slot 2 works, it’s just when 2 of them are in there that it doesn’t. I don’t understand it honestly. The only problem is when both slots are being used. Do I have to do anything beforehand? Am I missing something? 

[NonSequitur777]

@zoottrooper89,

What 8GB RAM modules do you use -I'm specifically asking for the product number(s) aka model(s).

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[zoottrooper89]

@NonSequitur777 I’m not sure what you mean but I got crucial 8GB Ram sticks. I even looked at the website to see what would be compatible. 

This is what I bought. One of them is now in my computer but if I put this one In it doesn’t want to turn on. I mean if I use both of them. 

[NonSequitur777]

@zoottrooper89,

All right, that is what I needed, thank you.  The RAM you showed is a Crucial 8GB RAM stick with p/n: CT8G4SFRA32A (see: https://www.crucial.com/memory/ddr4/ct8g4sfra32a) running at 3200 MHz.  Since your laptop cannot run RAM speed above 2400 MHz, this RAM should down throttle to run at 2400 MHz without any problem.

My question is this: are both 8GB RAM sticks identical (brand and part number)? -Preferably, RAM should be installed using a matching kit.  For best results, brand, model, speed and timings should be identical.

When I looked at OMEN By HP - 15-Ce0xx benchmarks here: https://www.userbenchmark.com/System/HP-OMEN-by-HP-Laptop-15-ce0xx/59252, it shows your motherboard ID as HP 8390.  Please check this for me: type in system information in your Windows search bar, and look to the right of "BaseBoard Product", and if you can't find it there, type in cmd in your Windows search bar, right-click on the "Command Prompt" App, left-click on "Run as administrator", and click "Yes" to confirm, and copy/paste/enter the following command exactly as shown here:

wmic baseboard get product,Manufacturer

You should see something like this (using my PC):

Anyway, here are 2x8GB RAM pairs that all run at 2400 MHz:

Crucial CT8G4SFS824A.C8FN 2x8GB
Crucial CT8G4SFS824A.C8FP 2x8GB
Samsung M471A1K43CB1-CRC 2x8GB
Kingston HyperX DDR4 2666 C15 2x8GB
Kingston HP26D4S9S8MH-8 2x8GB
Crucial Ballistix BL8G26C16S4B.8FD 2x8GB
Hynix HMA81GS6AFR8N-UH 2x8GB

And -somewhat to my surprise, I even found your laptop being compatible with 2 x 16GB RAM pairs, such as this example:

Crucial Ballistix BL16G32C16S4B.16FE 2x16GB as seen here: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/46435922.

Please remember, that whenever you swap/change out RAM, please remove your SR04XL (preferably) or SR03XL battery first.

Look, if all else failed up to this point, one of the things I would consider if your laptop were mine, is to reset CMOS.  This is not something that you should do lightly.  It's sort of a slash hammer approach, but it has solved some issues for me in the past.  Here is the HP link what to do: HP Notebook PCs - Recovering the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) | HP® Customer Support, and for a visual presentation: Restore the BIOS on HP Computers with a Key Press Combination | HP Computers | HP Support - YouTube.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[zoottrooper89]

@NonSequitur777,

First of all, let me say thank you for your help. Secondly, I did check the baseboard and it says it is 838F by baseboard product and The baseboard version is 40.26. The two sticks I have and I also bought another set are all the same. I bought the kit for the second one. The thing is though, I never knew I had to take out the battery first? Should I try again with it not plugged in and without a battery? Have I potentially ruined my computer? I mean it's still working obviously. Also, I just reformatted my computer now and it's under windows 10 now... I think. Sorry for asking so many questions. 

 this is what I got so.... 

[NonSequitur777 · Accepted solution]

@zoottrooper89,

No worries, happy to assist.

Thank you for checking your motherboard's SSID. Your 838F doesn't change anything: its upper RAM speed just like the 8390 is still 2400 MHz, and it should also definitely support (at least) 2 x 8GB RAM.

You could try (re-)installing the RAM with your battery removed, but that may not solve your issue.

However, let's try this. With your battery removed, reinstall two identical 8GB RAM sticks in RAM slots 1 and 2.  Make sure that each RAM stick is securely 'snapped' into place, and secured. Reinstall your battery.  Connect to power. Immediately upon powering on your laptop, hit the F11 key repeatedly (tap tap tap, etc.) and let's keep our fingers crossed that your laptop allows you to access BIOS.

If it does -and lest I forget, your laptop may ask you to "Choose an option", if it does, choose "Troubleshoot", then choose "UEFI Firmware Settings", Restart, and choose "System Information (F1)". Anyway, the point is to see if BIOS 'sees' your 2x8GB (16384 MB) as seen here on one of my other PC's BEFORE your laptop boots into Windows:

Regardless if your laptop sees your RAM or not, exit out and reboot.  If it does boot, see if your laptop allows you to run these two CMD instructions (type in cmd in your Windows search bar, right-click on the "Command Prompt" App, left-click on "Run as administrator", and click "Yes" to confirm, and copy/paste/enter the following commands one at a time exactly as shown here):

sfc /scannow

May take a while to complete, let it run.

Once completed, run this:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

May take even longer to complete, let it run.

If all of this is completed as hoped for, restart your laptop, and see if this has fixed your RAM issue.

If it failed at any point, power down, remove your battery, remove the RAM stick in slot 2, replace your battery, and restart your laptop.  Once up and going, run the two previous CMD instructions again. If any errors were detected and fixed, repeat the first part of my post again (reinstall RAM in slot #2).

It's getting later, and need to go.  I'll have to respond to you in about 8 hours.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777