Need help with RAM too, apparently...

[Snake]

Hello there, again,

I finally got the RAM I ordered. I just put it in and I don't think it's being recognized. I right clicked on "My Computer" and properties and it still says I have 512MB of RAM when it should be just over a Gig.

I shut down and made sure it was pushed in all the way and still it says 512MB.

What in the name of God am I doing wrong? Is it possible to perchace the wrong kind of RAM? I looked up RAM for Dell Dimention 2400 and was recommended what I bought.

The brand is G.Skill, if that helps.

Thank you for any help before I pull my remaining hair out.

[Ishmael]

If you've got a newer motherboard you might need to check if the slots are correct. There's some channel business with them nowdays. For example my 2 gigs goes to slots 1 and 3 or 2 and 4, don't remember which but they're supposed to be a slot apart. Don't know what's the deal with modules from separate packages, but a thought to concider nevertheless.

[Oliwerko]

Yup, it's important where you insert them. I have my 2 gigs and they are in slots 1 and 3.  Sometimes the slots are even different colors. On my Intel motherboard for example, the 1 and 3 slots are blue, while 2 and 4 are black. If I inserted both of those 1gig modules into 2 and 4, it wouldn' recognize it. So probalby the best way for all motherboards is to begin from slot 1. If you have two modules, try inserting them into 1 and 3 and see what happens.

[Snake]

I just double checked both RAM chips. Except for brand names, they are the same.

I don't know about the mother board, only that it is the one that came with it in '04 (I believe '04).

There are only 2 slots for memory. One is used (512mb) and the other one I insterted the new RAM (512mb). There is also no indication of what should be insterted into each slot, no writing, no colors, just black.

Is there any diagnostic test or anything?

I remember when I put more memory in my Compaq, the first time it booted, it recognized the memory and added it all up before loading Windows.

[Khris]

Remove both modules and put the new one in slot 1. Try to boot the PC. If it does, put the old one in the other slot (after turning the PC back off, of course ).
Does it see 1 Gig now?
If not, the second slot might be dusty or simply broken. I'd get a 1 Gig module then. They are very cheap here, around â,¬ 10.

Also, make sure you bought the correct type; currently the most common are DDR and DDR2. Your board is ~4 years old, so it probably still uses DDR.
There's also the issue of speed; in theory, a board that doesn't support 800MHz RAM should run it at e.g. 667MHz, but it might not run it at all.

[Snake]

They are both DDR.

I put the new RAM in the first slot and left the other one out. The computer came on, left a black screen and did nothing but beep at me.

I've already put it back in it's shipping wrap ready to send back to NewEgg. I'll just bring the computer to the computer store and have them install new memory.

[LimpingFish]

To know what went wrong, you'd have to count the beeps and check the warning lights on at the back of the case.

Memory can be a bit tricky, but it sounds like your new module might be dead. This might have have happened the first time you tried the computer with the new ram (compatability problems, power surge, misaligned...thingy, etc), or it could just be a faulty product. If the specs match your old ram, it should work.

Send it back.