I am trying to upgrade the RAM of an HP 15 series notebook. The laptop has a single SO-DIMM slot, with stock memory capacity of 4GB. HP offered an 8GB version, catalog P/N listed below. I bought what seems to be an equivalent 8GB stick, tossed it in, and got no boot. Laptop powers on (lights and fans) but screen stays black and both indicator lights stay on steady indefinitely. Power down, remove, reseat, repeat. Nothing. So I swap back to the original and it works fine again. Hmmm....
The stick I bought was from A-TECH. I have had good experiences with them in the past when I needed some older generation DIMMs to revive old hardware, though they seem to simply re-label various OEM cards and re-sell them? So, I called A-TECH customer service (actually a very pleasant experience) and they confirmed that it should be compatible and said it sounded like it was possibly damaged and they sent a replacement. The first one I got uses Hynix dyes but i'm not sure the rest of the branding, the second is a Samsung. Anyway, the second attempt gave the exact same result.
Now I'm thinking it may not be bad RAM and may be some other compatibility or BIOS issue. I checked for signal on the HDMI port and got nothing there either. Tried reseating them both multiple times. nothing. But the OEM RAM still consistently boots the computer just fine and without any problems seating. I booted into UEFI BIOS settings menu with the old RAM and to look for a possible setting to enable auto-detection of hardware changes but did not see anything. I cannot even access the BIOS menu with the new RAM to try a memory test.
So I have an old Lenovo ThinkPad T540p notebook running Windows 7 Professional that has two DDR3L SO-DIMM slots currently running a pair of 8GB PNYs (info below). I swapped these for the two A-TECH DIMMs and the Lenovo booted no issues!?! I also tried one of the PNYs in the HP and got nothing. I ran Piriform's "Speccy" on them all in the Lenovo and the timings and specs of the two A-TECHs seem to match the Kingston branded OEM stick exactly. So why does it not work???
I still have both DIMMs from A-TECH, I only have one paid envelope to either send the one back or both back and get a refund. So what do I do?
HP model 15-f233wm
OS=Windows 10 Home
https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-15-notebook-pc-series/7527799/model/8857447
System board with Intel Celeron N3050 processor (eDP models)828168-001, -601
HP memory part numbers according to manual
Memory modules (PC3L, 12800, 1600-MHz):
2 GB memory module 691739-001
4 GB memory module 691740-001
8 GB memory module 693374-001
The new RAM is listed here. However, see the speccy results below as the two sticks they sent me were different
A-Tech 8GB DDR3L 1600 MHz SODIMM PC3L-12800 (PC3-12800) CL11 DDR3 2Rx8 1.35V Laptop RAM Memory Module
https://www.amazon.com/Tech-1600MHz-PC3L-12800-Unbuffered-Notebook/dp/B00C5389HQ
SPECCY RESULTS:
HP's OEM module
Type DDR3
Size 4096 MBytes
Manufacturer Kingston
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number HP16D3LS1KBGH/4G
Serial Number 319690879
Week/year 01 / 18
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 381.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 14
tRC 19
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #7
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V
PNY modules in Lenovo
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Manufacturer PNY Electronics
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V
A-TECH module 1
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Manufacturer Unknown
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number S939A2SGS-ITR
Serial Number 3976200743
Week/year 16 / 22
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 381.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 14
tRC 19
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #7
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V
A-TECH module 2
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Manufacturer Samsung
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number M471B1G73DB0-YK0
Serial Number 942385973
Week/year 19 / 14
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 381.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 14
tRC 19
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #7
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V
The stick I bought was from A-TECH. I have had good experiences with them in the past when I needed some older generation DIMMs to revive old hardware, though they seem to simply re-label various OEM cards and re-sell them? So, I called A-TECH customer service (actually a very pleasant experience) and they confirmed that it should be compatible and said it sounded like it was possibly damaged and they sent a replacement. The first one I got uses Hynix dyes but i'm not sure the rest of the branding, the second is a Samsung. Anyway, the second attempt gave the exact same result.
Now I'm thinking it may not be bad RAM and may be some other compatibility or BIOS issue. I checked for signal on the HDMI port and got nothing there either. Tried reseating them both multiple times. nothing. But the OEM RAM still consistently boots the computer just fine and without any problems seating. I booted into UEFI BIOS settings menu with the old RAM and to look for a possible setting to enable auto-detection of hardware changes but did not see anything. I cannot even access the BIOS menu with the new RAM to try a memory test.
So I have an old Lenovo ThinkPad T540p notebook running Windows 7 Professional that has two DDR3L SO-DIMM slots currently running a pair of 8GB PNYs (info below). I swapped these for the two A-TECH DIMMs and the Lenovo booted no issues!?! I also tried one of the PNYs in the HP and got nothing. I ran Piriform's "Speccy" on them all in the Lenovo and the timings and specs of the two A-TECHs seem to match the Kingston branded OEM stick exactly. So why does it not work???
I still have both DIMMs from A-TECH, I only have one paid envelope to either send the one back or both back and get a refund. So what do I do?
HP model 15-f233wm
OS=Windows 10 Home
https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-15-notebook-pc-series/7527799/model/8857447
System board with Intel Celeron N3050 processor (eDP models)828168-001, -601
HP memory part numbers according to manual
Memory modules (PC3L, 12800, 1600-MHz):
2 GB memory module 691739-001
4 GB memory module 691740-001
8 GB memory module 693374-001
The new RAM is listed here. However, see the speccy results below as the two sticks they sent me were different
A-Tech 8GB DDR3L 1600 MHz SODIMM PC3L-12800 (PC3-12800) CL11 DDR3 2Rx8 1.35V Laptop RAM Memory Module
https://www.amazon.com/Tech-1600MHz-PC3L-12800-Unbuffered-Notebook/dp/B00C5389HQ
SPECCY RESULTS:
HP's OEM module
Type DDR3
Size 4096 MBytes
Manufacturer Kingston
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number HP16D3LS1KBGH/4G
Serial Number 319690879
Week/year 01 / 18
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 381.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 14
tRC 19
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #7
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V
PNY modules in Lenovo
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Manufacturer PNY Electronics
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V
A-TECH module 1
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Manufacturer Unknown
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number S939A2SGS-ITR
Serial Number 3976200743
Week/year 16 / 22
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 381.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 14
tRC 19
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #7
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V
A-TECH module 2
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Manufacturer Samsung
Max Bandwidth PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Part Number M471B1G73DB0-YK0
Serial Number 942385973
Week/year 19 / 14
Timing table
JEDEC #1
Frequency 381.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 5.0
RAS# To CAS# 5
RAS# Precharge 5
tRAS 14
tRC 19
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #2
Frequency 457.1 MHz
CAS# Latency 6.0
RAS# To CAS# 6
RAS# Precharge 6
tRAS 16
tRC 22
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #3
Frequency 533.3 MHz
CAS# Latency 7.0
RAS# To CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
tRAS 19
tRC 26
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #4
Frequency 609.5 MHz
CAS# Latency 8.0
RAS# To CAS# 8
RAS# Precharge 8
tRAS 22
tRC 30
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #5
Frequency 685.7 MHz
CAS# Latency 9.0
RAS# To CAS# 9
RAS# Precharge 9
tRAS 24
tRC 33
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #6
Frequency 761.9 MHz
CAS# Latency 10.0
RAS# To CAS# 10
RAS# Precharge 10
tRAS 27
tRC 37
Voltage 1.350 V
JEDEC #7
Frequency 800.0 MHz
CAS# Latency 11.0
RAS# To CAS# 11
RAS# Precharge 11
tRAS 28
tRC 39
Voltage 1.350 V
Last edited: