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3085
June 22nd, 2020 08:00
dell optiplex 780 sff ram upgrade
hi guys, i have a optiplex 780 with a e5400 cpu and 4 gb of ram, so basically i want to upgrade the ram to 8 gb and used the specs that crucial recommended to purchase the ram. when i plug the ram in i get a 6beep error (cant see any lights on the front because someone has drawn on them) which indicates from the other posts i i ha read that its a memory detection error. so i try the old check each stick in slot 1 to find that they all work, i try them all in slot 3 with different ones in slot 1 and they all work together, but as soon as i add anything into slot 2 and 4 it kicks off and does the 6 beep error that i got to begin with. i have tried updating the bios from a15 to a15 as some people have said this might work and it hasn't. so i i ha turned to making my own post about it any help would be very much appreciated
bradthetechnut
7 Technologist
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9.2K Posts
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June 26th, 2020 18:00
Please keep in mind I read what you said about slots 2 & 4. That alone can sound like the MB. But there's some other things I'm still wondering.
When you install the RAM, is it all matching in size, speed, and brand? Some Dell's, as some other PC's, can be finicky about that.
Did Crucial sell you RAM with the correct speed? The 780 can take either 1,066MHz or 1,333MHz RAM. In late April, Crucial sold 1,600MHz RAM to another 780 user and it didn't work.
Crucial had, and still does, have 1,600MHz showing on their website. This after I exchanged emails with them at the time and linked them the Tech Guide.
Images will appear when approved by moderation:
Above is from the 780 Tech Guide.
Above is from Crucial's website.
Mary G
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20.1K Posts
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June 22nd, 2020 08:00
You cannot just use the specs from Crucial or from your manual. Some other brands of ram don't work in Dell computers. Buy the ram from Crucial or Dell. I doubt Dell would stock ram for your 10 yr old model.
Don't forget this-- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-7-end-of-life-support-information
bradthetechnut
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June 22nd, 2020 22:00
"...as soon as i add anything into slot 2 and 4 it kicks off and does the 6 beep error that i got to begin with." Are you hot swapping the RAM? Hopefully not. PC should be powered off and unplugged in between each change.
mooip123
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June 26th, 2020 05:00
no power off and power cable out thats what i mean had to take a bit out because its a lengthy explanation
donm4599x
2 Intern
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June 26th, 2020 15:00
I would recommend returning it to crucial and getting them to replace it, or refund it.
They have an Ironclad warranty for Dell.
Then order directly from Dell. For some reason Dell has apparently engineered their motherboards to be very picky and not compatible with third party standard memory.
Some folks have better luck, but it's a crapshoot if you don't buy official parts.
mooip123
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June 26th, 2020 16:00
But ive tried the ram in the computer by itself and it works fine just as soon as i put any ram in slots 2 or 4 it doesnt work
mooip123
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June 27th, 2020 18:00
not entirely i went from crucial and what was in the machine it say 12800 u on the sticker i i think but even with the random combination i put into slot 1 and 3 it registers as what it is all at the same speed. so might be motherboard problem. any way i i could look at fixing this or would it be new board time
bradthetechnut
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9.2K Posts
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June 27th, 2020 19:00
12800 isn't the speed though.
Chances are it can't be fixed if it's slot specific. If you want to keep it going, at least MB's for it on ebay are cheap. Try to get one with a return policy just in case.