Bought wrong RAM?

Question

Hi to everyone.

I have a DELL Optiplex 760 SFF.

I want to get it its the maximum RAM capacity. I've read in specs that it can hanlde 8GB RAM, so I began buying two 2BG modules, planning to buy other two later.

But the PC is just beeping when I connect that modules. Can anyone help me to understand what is wrong with them? They are DDR2 RAM 240pin 533mhz non ECC unbuffered.

You can see there. http://www.almacen-informatico.com/KINGSTON_-KTH-XW4200AN-2G_28726_p.htm

Any help is very appreciated.

DELL-Kalyan S · Accepted Answer

Hi asdf.d,

Welcome to Dell community!

OptiPlex 760 SFF supports 677 MHz and 800 MHz DDR2 memory speeds, and the maximum memory supported is 8GB. So ideally the 533MHz memory modules that you have purchased should work with the system. But if existing memory modules are of 677 MHz or 800 MHz speeds, the system will run at 533 MHz.

May I know the number of beeps heard when you power on the computer? Remove all existing memory modules and try powering the system with only the new 533 MHz memory module.

Also, try testing the new memory module in all the available memory slots.

Mary G · Answer

Try the scanner at crucial.com. It says 4gb is the max for the small form. Are you sure you have the small form factor? Crucial says it has only 2 slots and you mention 4.

asdf.d · Answer

Hi Mary G. Mine is Small Form Factor, not Ultra Small Form Factor. So it's this: www.crucial.com/.../ListParts.aspx

Mary G · Answer

OK--Optiplex has so many models. Sorry. You should try Crucial to get the correct chips. They guarantee they will work. They have Dell compatible memory. I've always used crucial or Dell to upgrade memory.

asdf.d · Answer

Hi Kalyan. Even trying the modules separately, the error persists. The beep is a long beep, and it repeats forever. It's not a high pitched beep, it's something like boooooooooooob xD

asdf.d · Answer

Update: tested in another computer, work OK. What makes them incompatible with my Optiplex? DDR2 533MHz non ECC unbuffered Seems silly to me...

JM204984 · Answer

Try Crucial like others say: www.crucial.com/systemscanner www.crucial.com/index.aspx

RoHe · Answer

Dell PCs are fussy about RAM, even when the specs match...

asdf.d · Answer

I've tried. It says:

Memory Type: DDR2 PC2-6400, DDR2 PC2-8500, DDR2 (non-ECC)

Kalyan posted above "So ideally the 533MHz memory modules that you have purchased should work with the system."

But it seems not. Do you thinkk tha fact is the 533GHz speed?

asdf.d · Answer

RoHe, I see xD

DELL-Kalyan S · Answer

Hi asdf.d,

May I know if you have checked the specification of the old memory installed in your computer?

Test the old memory modules in all the four memory slots to ensure the slots are functional. If the memory slots are fine, then it would be best to get new memory modules of same specification as the old memory modules in your computer.

asdf.d · Answer

Yes, all slots are working. I'll take the frequency difference as de final cause, because no other makes sense. Thank you all people who participated. Kind regards

RoHe · Answer

Are you adding the new RAM in addition to the old RAM or replacing the old? If replacing, I presume you're using the slots the old RAM was in. If adding the new RAM, try swapping them into the slots originally occupied by the old RAM and put the old RAM in the remaining empty slots. Make sure the modules snap into place and you lock the retention clips.

Either way, once the RAM is installed, remove the motherboard battery and press/hold power button for ~30 sec. Reinstall the battery (right-side-up!) and see if it'll boot now with only mouse, monitor and keyboard connected.

DELL-Kalyan S · Answer

Hi asdf.d, You're welcome! Do let us know how it goes once you get different memory modules of same speed.

asdf.d · Answer

Yeah! Working with 4 x Kingston 2GB DDR2 800MHz modules. I'm glad of your interest. Kind regards.

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Bought wrong RAM?

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