Dell e520 Memory Issues

[Vunkmeister Tech]

Hi,

I I have a Dell Dimension e520 motherboard that I've modified to fit in an Antec case. I use it on the regular. It runs currently on 4 GB ram, but I used to be able to run a total of 8 GB on it. One day, it just started beeping at me to lower the ram amount and I can't install more than 4 GB on more that 2 sockets anymore. If I put 1 GB ram in each socket, it won't boot at all, but it doesn't beep. It's the strangest problem and I want to be able to use the full 8 GB again.

How do I fix this?

 

[william p]

Look for bad capacitors on the MB. Staining in the grooves on top IS leaking. The E520 motherboard in my sig. is starting to go now too.
TV repair shops can solder new ones in. I think it's worth fixing. here's why.
http://valid.x86.fr/top-cpu/496e74656c28522920436f726528544d29322045787472656d652043505520513638303020204020322e393347487a

 

[Vunkmeister Tech]

Look for bad capacitors on the MB. Staining in the grooves on top IS leaking. The E520 motherboard in my sig. is starting to go now too.
TV repair shops can solder new ones in. I think it's worth fixing. here's why.
http://valid.x86.fr/top-cpu/496e74656c28522920436f726528544d29322045787472656d652043505520513638303020204020322e393347487a

Thanks. However, I've visually checked the caps and I don't see any that are bulging or leaking. They all look brand new.

 

[william p]

Try removing the heatsink, and chipset heatsink, cleaning them and putting new thermal paste (less is better). A ball of paste the size of a pea in the center of the CPU, About 1/2 the size of a grain of rice on the smaller chip. I have no idea what the problem is specifically. Did you use the E520 front I/O header? It has 4 diagnostic lights there that may point o something specific.

 

[Vunkmeister Tech]

I changed the paste 2 months ago, so that isn't a problem. I modified the I/O header and reverse engineered a pinout schematic of the cable, so I'll need to attach LEDs to the pins to find out. I'm busy with other stuff right now, so I'll let you know when I get it working.