[SOLVED] Dell Precision T3500 can't upgrade to 24gb ram, new ram won't work

[speshlj]

Hello, I currently have a Dell Precision T3500 w3565 with 12gb Ram. I am trying upgrade RAM to 24gb, but it won't let me. I updated the BIOS to A17. The RAM I am attempting to use is Hynix DIMM 1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM. For some reason I am unable to get into the BIOS. It says Legacy BIOS mode. It just says Dell motherboard, no model. When I do advanced start up there is no UEFI option. Am I doing something wrong? Link below to the RAM I bought. Thanks in advance.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/36-GB-of-Memory-9-x-Hynix-4GB-DIMM-1333-MHz-PC3-10600-DDR3-SDRAM/192757249874?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

[wowmow]

Are you using the old RAM with the new RAM?

 

[speshlj]

No, all new RAM. I tried installing 6 4gb sticks, then I tried 3 4gb sticks

 

[wowmow]

It could be that the Motherboard doesn't support the MHz of the RAM, I don't know what motherboard you have though so i'm not sure

 

[william p]

I would try re-setting the BIOS to default with the jumper to clear the old RAM timings.
FYI the memory controller is on the CPU. The 3500 Nehalem based CPUs top out at 1066 speed, and will slow down to 800 if all slots are populated. It's possible your newer modules don't have timings for that speed. One of the faster versions of the 3600/5600 Xeons can run DDR3 1333 in all slots.
Try running 3 modules and see if that works. It will tell you if they're compatable at all. But IMO a CPU upgrade ( with BIOS update frist) is called for.

 

[cscotty]

The RAM wont work because its Registered (Buffered) RAM and the T3500 does not support that RAM. It only supports ECC and NonECC Unbuffered/Unregistered RAM. I checked out the eBAY ad where you purchased and the seller didn't indicate that it was Registered. But he did indicate that it was 'Server' RAM which is often Registered. I would have definitely questioned it before purchasing.

Oh, and to be sure, here is the link to the Hynix website that states the RAM is registered:

https://www.skhynix.com/eolproducts.view.do?pronm=DDR3+SDRAM&srnm=HMT151R7BFR4C&rk=20&rc=module

Hope this helps,
Scott

 

[william p]

That would do it. They should have been described as RDIMMs. They've gotten to be much cheaper thatn regular DDR3 UDIMMs so this will probably happen a lot if sellers don't make it clear what they're offering.