Upgrading RAM in abit ip35 pro

[bobbyboulders]

Hi

I want to upgrade the RAM in my aged computer (amongst other parts) to give it one last hurrah.

Current Hardware:
abit ip35 pro
intel q6600 core 2 quad
Akasa 500w (going to update but not yet!)
radeon hd4850 (going to update but not yet!)
2x1gb OCZ PC2 6400 800mhz DDR2 RAM (which states in the text before BIOS that it is dual 667mhz and also on the invoice from when i bought it that it is PC2 5300 667mhz)

So I bought:

2 x 2gb (generic - but I've worked out it is Micron) PC2 5300 667 mhz DDR2 RAM (thinking that my RAM was 667mhz as it said on the invoice, but is actually 800mhz!)

When I switched on after putting the new RAM in, black screen. I replaced with my old RAM and it's fine, same as it has ever been and no problems at all.

Things I've tried:

Reseating/unseating RAM
Updating BIOS (to version 14)
Trying 1 stick of each RAM at a time
Resetting CMOS with the mobo switch
Resetting CMOS by removing battery
Trying all 4 slots with the RAM (new and old)

What happens with the new RAM (if you are aware of ip35 pro error codes) is a C1 message (RAM issue)

I can't work out what is wrong but I suspect it is that the RAM is a different speed. My motherboard supports 667mhz RAM but it just won't recognise this set. Do I need RAM at exactly the same speed to boot up? Can I change the speed of my current RAM in the BIOS (to 667mhz), turn off and put the new slower RAM in and it will boot (because the speed will be the same, but twice the size of RAM, 2gb to 4gb)

I'd value any help.

 

[laviniuc]

maybe the new ram is bad... got any other pc to try it with?

 

[bobbyboulders]

It has come from a vendor saying it is working 100% fine. No other PC to try it in.

 

[photonboy]

It's not likely going to work.

Probably the only hope you have is to do a motherboard BIOS update if newer exists and hope that your memory will work.

But basically your issue is either:
a) the DDR2 memory is defective, or
b) the motherboard just won't work with it for whatever reason (motherboards have a QVL which guarantees the memory that works. If it's not on the list it may or may not work.)

Micron:
That may just be the chips themselves. It doesn't matter though because aside from updating the BIOS you have no options.

Change speed and reboot?
NO. Won't work. The motherboard would simply detect the hardware change and go back to its default (unworking) settings.

 

[bobbyboulders]

Thanks for the reply. Would anyone happen to know if Micron made RAM for anyone (crucial, ocz etc.)?

The RAM I have now isn't on a QVL. Is it worth buying the 2x2gb version of my current ram (2x1gb) for the same brand at the same speed?

 

[bobbyboulders]

Ok so I returned the RAM and received a different type:

Crucial PC2 5300 667 mhz DDR2 RAM (low density - which was my error, I had high density before)

and now 1 x stick (either one) added to my current pair will work, but only in the 2nd channel (with the other two in channel 1 and 3).

If I put the other new 2gb stick in channel 4 the pc boots but then resets back to bootup at the windows logo.

Anyone know how I could get this combo to work?

I tried putting the new ram in slots 1 and 3, old in 2 and 4 and it doesn't get past the initial boot screen.

 

[Mint__]

I did an upgrade to IP35 PRO XE and used set of four OCZ DDR2-1066 4GB (2x2GB) which is equivalent to PC2-8500 and it worked fine.