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pat333

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21 years ago

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pat333

128 Posts

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February 25th, 2006 10:00

memory problem ?

My sisters computer is a Dell Dimension L500cx that has 64MB SD Ram PC100 with Win 98se and I am attempting to upgrade it to the max of 512. I contacted Dell and they said to purchase..
" DELL - 256 MB Module for a Dell Dimension L Series System
256 MB SDRAM, PC133, Non-Parity, Unbuffered
Dell Part #: A0501728, Manufacturer Part #: D48WJW
Usually Ships: Within 24 Hours
Units Req.: 1"
                       I did purchase that type of ram but the computer would not boot so I called the ram manufacturer and they told me that I can only use PC 100 ram because the computers Bus speed is 66mgz.So I  purchase 2- 256 MB SD Ram PC100 but after I installed the 2 sticks of ram the computer makes 4 beeping sounds and in the back of the computer the "ABCD" lights the D light was yellow. Then the computer would freeze at the Win 98 screen? I swithced the sticks with the same results. I reinstalled the original 64 MB of ram along with 1 stick of 256 MB and the computer booted with a total of 318 MB of ram.
          The computer has allof its original parts..Motherboard etc and does meet the minimum system requirements. Any ideas why it wont accept both sticks of 256 MB of ram? below are the computers ram specs..Thanks in advance for your help.
Pat..
Memory 
Architecture non-ECC SDRAM 168-pin modules 
DIMM sockets two; gold contacts
DIMM capacities 32, 64, 128, 256, and 512 MB
Minimum RAM 32 MB (64 MB for systems running Microsoft Windows NT)1
Maximum RAM 512 MB
Frequency 100 MHz
Clock cycle 10 ns (supports four clocks only)
CAS latency three
SPD revision 1.2
Buffering unbuffered
Voltage 3.3 V
Data bus width 64 bits
BIOS address F0000h
1 Video memory uses 1 or 2 MB of system memory (RAM). Total RAM reported is 1 or 2 MB less than RAM installed."
  • osprey4

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    Posted February 25th, 2006 11:00

    Hi, Pat:

    If you are running Win 98, 512 MB is tremendous overkill. If the system runs with the 318MB, you are not going to see any improvement with 512MB.

    Not exactly sure the reason the two 256-MB sticks don't work. They may be ECC RAM, in which case they will only work with a non-ECC DIMM in the first slot.

    I hope this ordeal did not cost you too much money.
  • rickmktg

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    Posted February 25th, 2006 11:00



    @pat333 wrote:
    My sisters computer is a Dell Dimension L500cx that has 64MB SD Ram PC100 with Win 98se and I am attempting to upgrade it to the max of 512. I contacted Dell and they said to purchase..
    " DELL - 256 MB Module for a Dell Dimension L Series System
    256 MB SDRAM, PC133, Non-Parity, Unbuffered
    Dell Part #: A0501728, Manufacturer Part #: D48WJW
    Usually Ships: Within 24 Hours
    Units Req.: 1"
                           I did purchase that type of ram but the computer would not boot so I called the ram manufacturer and they told me that I can only use PC 100 ram because the computers Bus speed is 66mgz.So I  purchase 2- 256 MB SD Ram PC100 but after I installed the 2 sticks of ram the computer makes 4 beeping sounds and in the back of the computer the "ABCD" lights the D light was yellow. Then the computer would freeze at the Win 98 screen? I swithced the sticks with the same results. I reinstalled the original 64 MB of ram along with 1 stick of 256 MB and the computer booted with a total of 318 MB of ram.
              The computer has allof its original parts..Motherboard etc and does meet the minimum system requirements. Any ideas why it wont accept both sticks of 256 MB of ram? below are the computers ram specs..Thanks in advance for your help.
    Pat..
     
    What does "I did purchase that type of RAM mean"?  Does that mean you bought the memory from Dell?  No, it appears that you bought it elsewhere as you note you "called the RAM manufacturer".  Did the manufacturer have a clue that your machine REQUIRES LOW DENSITY MEMORY?  I suspect not. 

  • pat333

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    Posted February 26th, 2006 11:00

    osprey4,

           Thanks for the help. If 318MB of ram will do thats fine with me.The ram is not ECC and I will just return the other stick..thanks again..

     

    rickmktg

       Dell's web site said to purchase "256 MB SDRAM, PC133, Non-Parity, Unbuffered" so I purchased the same ram at compusa but it did not work. I did call dell after that also and they said that the computer could only use PC100 so the web site was incorrect. What does "REQUIRES LOW DENSITY MEMORY?" mean? Thank you.

     

     

  • osprey4

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    Posted February 26th, 2006 12:00

    Pat:

    PC133 will not work with your system unless it is low density. High density mean the RAM is built with modules greater than 32MB, while low density has 16-MB or smaller modules. These are the individual chips on the DIMM itself. A 256-MB DIMM might have 8 32-MB chips, or 16 16-MB chips. The former is high and the latter low density.

  • pat333

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    Posted February 26th, 2006 20:00

    osprey4
           Thank you for all of your help.
     
    pat...