[SOLVED] Weird RAM problem - no idea what’s happening

[WaynesterUK]

Hi guys

i have a fairly old HP PC, it’s fine for what I use it for
The Motherboard comes as standard with 2 x 2GB DDR2 800mhz 240 pin, giving me 4GB, it’s Windows 10 Home 64 Bit…

i can put a total of 16GB in it
(4 x 4GB DDR2)

My motherboard is here
https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c01635734

I bought 2 new 4GB Rams and put them in it alongside the existing 2 x 2GB Rams already installed, so could have had a total of 12GB, i turnt my PC on, I can hear it’s on but just get a blank screen and it freezes… when I removed the new Ram, the PC works fine….. but stuck with the existing 4GB!

I thought maybe the new ram is faulty?

what if my remove the existing 2 x 2GB Rams and leave the 2 new 4GB Rams in, i done that and it worked fine and PC booted up with no issue, so I now have 8GB of ram in 2 slots, with 2 slots empty which I want to fill with the same 2 rams

the new Ram is this exact one

4GB 800MHz Memory Module, 240 Pin RAM DDR2 Large Capacity Memory Module Fast Data Transmission Memory Module for AMD https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B093ZM28K7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_NJJTVXEJY4V1PDPP1YQY

I then received another stick of 4GB ram with exactly the same spec, but this time it was just a different brand because I couldn’t find anymore of the same brand as I’d bought… I put this new ram in and nope! PC froze again….

Here is the ram I bought
Domilay New 4GB Memory DDR2 800MHZ PC2-6400 240 Pin Desktop DIMM for Motherboard https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09C1M6...abc_W6FH940KQ66NXGGDHYP2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1


Any ideas Why I’m having all these issues?

do you have to use exactly the same brand of ram?
why does the existing ram not work with my new ram, but then works when I remove the new ram ?

AARRRRGGHHHHHHH

 

[rgd1101]

return all the 4GB and get a 4x4GB kit

 

[WaynesterUK]

I got a 4 x 4GB Ram Kit today

guess what?? It doesn’t work!
black screen and freezes yet again

this is the ram below that now has to go back to Amazon, complete waste of time 🤦‍♂️

8GB DDR2 800MHz - 2x 4GB Kit - PC2-6400 RAM PC Memory Kit PC6400 240-Pin - Compatible with 533 / 667 MHz / for AMD and VIA ‘NOT Compatible with Intel” https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B010B6Y...abc_B55PKNY3SWYPHQEQKACZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1


I don’t understand why my machine works with some rams and won’t work with other identical spec rams

have I gotta take it somewhere to be looked at??

Had enough of it 😤😤

 

[geofelt]

Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
The internal workings are designed for the capacity of the kit.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards, can be very sensitive to this.
This is more difficult when more sticks are involved.

Go to a ram site like crucial or kingston and access their ram upgrade app.
Enter your pc and you should get a list of compatible upgrade kits.
Pick one of the 4 x 4 kits as a total replacement.

 

[rgd1101]

I got a 4 x 4GB Ram Kit today

guess what?? It doesn’t work!
black screen and freezes yet again

this is the ram below that now has to go back to Amazon, complete waste of time 🤦‍♂️

8GB DDR2 800MHz - 2x 4GB Kit - PC2-6400 RAM PC Memory Kit PC6400 240-Pin - Compatible with 533 / 667 MHz / for AMD and VIA ‘NOT Compatible with Intel” https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B010B6Y...abc_B55PKNY3SWYPHQEQKACZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1


I don’t understand why my machine works with some rams and won’t work with other identical spec rams

have I gotta take it somewhere to be looked at??

Had enough of it 😤😤

how do you get 2x4gb as 4x4gb?

 

[WaynesterUK]

Why does it matter?
Both 2 x 4GB kits are the same!!
Hence I ordered 2 of them
What’s the issue?

 

[rgd1101]

read @geofelt said

what your cpu? slow ram like that should work most of the time

 

[WaynesterUK]

read @geofelt said

what your cpu? slow ram like that should work most of the time

my CPU is AMD Phenom(tm) 8650 Triple Core Processor 2.30ghz

currently have 8GB ram in 2 slots
But it takes 16GB in total