Can't boot after installing new RAM

[alukah]

Hello, yesterday I bought a new generic RAM but for some reason I can't use it together with my old ram. Both RAMs are 2 GB DDR2 PC2-6400 and the mobo supports up to 4GB. Whenever I try to put them together the BIOS won't boot and the CPU fan gets a bit noisy, as if it was under load, but each RAM works perfectly if I plug them individually, also both DIMM sockets work perfectly if I use them individually.

Motherbaord is ECS G31T-M7 V1.0
(http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Product/Product_Detail.aspx?DetailID=897&MenuID=16)


(took these shots with my phone, in case I needed them with the PC off)

Old memory:

New memory:

I've tried resetting the BIOS removing its jumper and manually choosing the SPD settings.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Gate9er]

Hi

Can you run in safe mode?

 

[alukah]

With either of the RAMs alone I can run everything normally, but if I try to use both I can't even load the BIOS.

 

[Gate9er]

That's weird. Run a windows memory diagnostic for each of the RAMs and see if any errors occur..

 

[bak0n]

Do you have the ability to change the memory controller from bios?

 

[alukah]

That's weird. Run a windows memory diagnostic for each of the RAMs and see if any errors occur..

No errors found :/

Do you have the ability to change the memory controller from bios?

Nope, the only options available are change the frequency (667/800) and SPD settings

I also tried changing the SPD settings to match the info of the slowest of the two RAMs (5-5-5-18) with no success

 

[Gate9er]

I also tried changing the SPD settings to match the info of the slowest of the two RAMs (5-5-5-18) with no success

You are saying that the RAM slots are not the same??

 

[alukah]

I mean the CAS latency, delay and precharge of both RAMs is different, one is 6.0 and the other is 5.0.

Now, in the BIOS I can either set this as automatic (set by default) and it will detect the CAS settings or I can manually set them, I tried both with no success.

 

[johnlee04009]

You'd better refresh the old DIMM's SPD, not just set the BIOS.
Or you can find a normal SPD file to refresh both.
Because:
Old one: SPD defines the 800/533/400MHZ, but the CL value is uncommon in 800(CL=tRCD=tRP=5).
New one: SPD just defines the 800 settings, CL=tRCD=tRP=6.
In this case, system does't know how to set parameters for both...
PS: i think the brand of the new one is not popular...

 

[alukah]

I was searching around about editing/updating the SPD and I found this http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20349

Though it seems quite dangerous and I'm not sure what exactly I'm supposed to modify...

BTW I just noticed CPU-Z doesn't include much info about the new one, it's this one http://www.addoncomputer.com/aa800d2n52g.aspx


EDIT: Would it work if I fully replace the old SPD with a dump from the new one?

 

[johnlee04009]

EDIT: Would it work if I fully replace the old SPD with a dump from the new one?
-- If the DIMM config is the same, yes. It means they are both 2Rx8/2GB, for instance.

 

[bak0n]

Was just thinking. Are the memory modules the same voltage? If they are different it could cause issues.

 

[alukah]

It worked Thank you very much everyone!

Everything works smoothly, even ran a memory diagnostic test just in case, all good.

 

[alukah]

Best answer selected by alukah.