Help upgrading XPS Ram

Hello rdesi,

Which operating system are you using? and what OS 32 or 64 bit?  Also, are the new RAM sticks firmly down in place?

Vista 32 bit will only "see" a little over 3.2 GB of RAM.  You would need Vista 64 bit in order to read all 4 GB of your RAM.  As to why your rig is locking up, I think it is your OS, but not sure until you post which you are using.

Best,

Darrell WV

I am running Vista 32-bit OS.  And, yes, the RAM has been secure.

Well I went over to the XPS Club Forum and looked at your owners manual to make sure about the following information:

The recommended memory configurations are:

•  
  • A pair of matched memory modules installed in connectors DIMM_1 and DIMM_2
    or
  • A pair of matched memory modules installed in connectors DIMM_1 and DIMM_2 and another matched pair installed in connectors DIMM_3 and DIMM_4
    
• If you install mixed pairs of DDR2 533-MHz (PC2-4300), DDR2 667-MHz (PC2-5300), and DDR2 800-MHz (PC2-6400) memory, the modules function at the slowest speed installed.
  
• Be sure to install a single memory module in the DIMM_1 connector, the connector closest to the processor, before you install modules in the other connectors.
  
• While installing memory modules, ensure that you do not mix ECC and non-ECC memory.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xps410/en/SM_EN/parts.htm#wp1462641

Be sure to look at the picture of placement of RAM, as the paired  DIM's are not side by side.  Channel A and Channel B, which is what your error code is, indicates that you may be placing the new RAM into the wrong "pairs" but that is a guess at this point.  Follow the link and see the diagram of placement, the DIM's are listed in the following order:   1; 3; 2; then 4.

Best,

Darrell WV

the 410 is another of the Dell finicky ram systems. Try booting the system with one stick at a time in slot 1 the slot closest to the processor. Repeat with the second stick. this will check that both stick are at least good. Next if you can provide a link to the specs on the ram I can possibly tell if they will really work or not. The problems come into play when populating all four ram slots the problem is the voltage requirements of the ram sticks.

Thanks for the replies.  So far I left the old RAM in place and tried just one stick of RAM in DIMM_3 and left DIMM_4 empty and the computer boots just fine.  It appears that my computer doesn't want more RAM.  Is this right?  Seems like I should be able to put just one more GB of RAM =)

Like i mentioned before there is voltage issues on the 410 when populating all four slots. what is the voltage requirements for the ram sticks?

Try clearing the NVRAM on the motherboard by changing the jumpers.  That has worked for me a couple of times when I was upgrading.

Ken

Thanks for the help.  I haven't tried clearing the NVRAM yet, but I found that the voltage is 1.8V.

The voltage level is good. Try booting the system with just the new ram in it. you need to test to make sure each stick is good one bad stick can bring down the whole apple cart so they say.