Optiplex Memory Problem

Question

Hello,

I have a Dell Optiplex 745 (Serial Number DCXXBD1 Model Number DCSM) that stopped booting about 2 years ago due to a memory error (3 and 4). It has dual channel memory, slots 1 and 3 are channel one and slots 2 and 4 are channel two. At the time it stopped working each had a GB of RAM in it.

When I looked at it closely, it seems that the first memory slot has melted on a single copper electrode. RAM from other machines that are working will not work in the first slot.

My question that I am hoping someone can answer is. Do I have to have RAM in slot 1? Can I put RAM in the 2 and 4 slots and boot safely enough to image the hard drive onto a NAS I recently bought to make copies of all my old hard drives in order to try and make virtual machines from them. Can I put RAM in all but slot 1 and boot safely?

Thank you in advance and thank you for your time

Philip

Da_Vinman · Answer

You should be able to run single-channel in Slot 2 and dual-channel is Slot 2 & 4, assuming noting more is wrong with the MB than a bad Slot 1.

Just give it a shot in this order:

2

2 & 4

4

3

The last 2 are the least likely, but you never know as the first DIMM socket in a channel is labelled motherboard-specific. I had an old first-gen Core i7 MB (with the triple-channel memory) and the primary socket for single-channel was 5.

fireberd · Answer

2 and 4 should work without problems.  Actually 2,3,4 will work although with only 3 its not dual channel.  But 2 and 4 should let you do what you want, assuming nothing is wrong with slot 1.

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