Attempted RAM upgrade, Laptop stays dead

[milesarc88]

Hi Folks,

I'm trying to upgrade the RAM on a ASUS ul80VT-a1 laptop from 2x2G sticks to 2x4G sticks. I've done every configuration between all four, but if either of the 4G sticks are in the motherboard, the system is unresponsive. I press the power button, get a few steady lights (I can hear some internal hardware kick on), but the screen remains unpowered.

What specifications must match for this to work?
The original sticks: 2x 2GB/1066mhz/1.35V.
The new sticks: 2x 4GB/1600mhz/1.5V.

So far as I understand, I can't go into the BIOS and change the RAM settings, as I could with a desktop, Is this the case?

Big thanks for any pointers!

 

[heavyartillary9]

my guess is you have to go with low voltage

 

[heavyartillary9]

I'm not 100 % sure, but I would go with the same exact spec ram, but laptops are not my specialty

 

[milesarc88]

my guess is you have to go with low voltage

Is there a way to change the voltage to match the new specs? I see people talking about doing so on builds.

 

[heavyartillary9]

you can up voltage on a desktop if you have a mother board that supports it, but I'm not sure on laptops, or if you can go down at all

 

[DSzymborski]

It always depends on the motherboard -- laptop motherboards tend to be very proprietary -- but quite often motherboards will not cooperate with more RAM than they officially support. This laptop only officially supports up to 4 GB of 1066 RAM. If you want to try to push over that limit, I'd recommend matching your existing RAM's specs as closely as possible, but even then there's no guarantee.

As for changing the voltage, laptop motherboards from large OEMs are notorious for allowing only very minimal changes. I'd find RAM that matches the specs or not bother - you're talking a laptop going on 8 years old and I don't think I'd futz around with the voltages even if I could in this case.