My new RAM does not want to work! CPU-z says one thing, but Windows says another.

Sep 4, 2018
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Hey guys, my name is Corbin, and I just recently purchased a 16gb RAM stick.

I previously had 2 x 4gb RAM sticks, but took them both out and installed the 1 x 16gb RAM stick. When I turned my computer on, nothing happened. The power light came on, but it did not start up. I put in one of the 4gb RAM sticks with the 16gb RAM stick, and it boots just fine.

The problem I am having at the moment is what is going on. CPU-z recognizes that I have 20gb of RAM, but my computer itself only detects 4gb of RAM. Why does CUP-z detect the correct amount of RAM, and the computer not? Also how can I fix this to get 20gb of RAM, or at least use the 16gb RAM stick that I bought?

TRIED:
-2 x 4gb RAM = 8gb RAM (so I know that both sockets work)
-1 x 16gb RAM in left side = no boot.
-1 x 16gb RAM in right side = no boot.
-1 x 16gb RAM in left side, 1 x 4gb RAM in right side = boot, but windows only sees and uses 4gb RAM. CPU-z detects 20gb RAM.
-1 x 16gb RAM in right side, 1 x 4gb RAM in left side = boot, but windows only sees and uses 4gb RAM. CPU-z detects 20gb RAM.

Right now, I am running the "Windows Memory Diagnostic" to see if I can determine the problem via means of that sort, but that's it.

SYSTEM SPECS:
-Motherboard: Dell Inc. Model 088DT1
*link: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=2HK-001F-005U7
-CPU: Intel i5 4460
-RAM (trying to install): HP 1x16GB Dual Rank x4 PC3-14900R 1 DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Internal Memory 708641-B21
*link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F5NURLY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Any help at all would be great help. Please ask me anything, and if you want me to show you an image, you might have to walk me through how to get you the information you need. Thank you in advance.

All images will be located at the link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IiAfDHpzKZgwtWlv3ZPkmpNMf0oBQtUb?usp=sharing
 
Solution




Your board doesn't support 16GB sticks. Probably 8GB at the most. 2x8GB

 
Sep 4, 2018
3
0
10


It does say under the link that I had for the motherboard: "Supported Memory Configuration: 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, 12 GB, and 16 GB", so does that mean that it can support UP TO only 16GBs? Even then, I have my 1 x 16GB stick that I would like to use, and that should be ok, right?
 




Up to 16GB. Another thing I looked over that another user posted is the RAM is ECC which is server RAM, so it wouldn't work regardless.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/16GB-2X-8GB-DDR3-PC3-12800-1600-Mhz-Desktop-Computer-Memory-PC-Ram-DIMM/163236003314?hash=item26019fbdf2:g:CzQAAOSwDLVbjJht:sc:USPSFirstClass!49127!US!-1
 
Solution

Karadjgne

Titan
Ambassador
Maybe, depends. Most mobo's nowadays have the ECC traces to allow for ECC unbuffered usage, but consumer cpus are generally not ECC compliant, and since the memory controller is now part of the cpu, you need both to make ECC work, like using a Xeon. However, there's not just ECC memory there's also Registered memory which is buffered and entirely different in design. Registered ram absolutely will not work on consumer mobo's or with consumer cpus or even some mobo's classified as workstation mobo's. Most ECC ram is not the unbuffered type, but is ECC Registered, which is buffered, and only usable on server specific mobo's with a server capable cpu.

You can always tell Registered ram, see that smaller IC chip dead center of the stick? That's the buffer. Non - Registered ram won't have that IC. If you look at the listing, the model number also tells you, it's pc3 14900R, which means it's Non-ECC but is Registered ram, so will not work on that mobo whatsoever.

Return it asap, before any rma warranty runs out. Amazon should have declared it is Registered, somewhere.