Why won't my RAM upgrade work?

SmoothJK · 22-09-2008, 03:02 AM

I recently purchased 4 sticks of faster RAM (DDR2 PC5300 667 as opposed to DDR2 PC4200 533) and put it in. But when I tried to boot, it wouldn't work. One time I got an error message about the frequency being out of range or something weird like that.

So I put in my old RAM again and it worked fine.

Here is my system:

Gateway GT5252
Motherboard: ~Welcome to First International Computer, Inc.~

The motherboard info shows that the RAM I bought should work. I even went to crucial's site (the memory brand's website) and it recommended either the pc4200 or pc5300 for my system.

I'm stumped.

Ghostman 1 · 22-09-2008, 01:58 PM

Straight from Gateway..Gateway Support - Specifications

I think you have to stick with PC-4200/533 ...

SmoothJK · 22-09-2008, 02:24 PM

That's weird, considering the motherboard supports faster RAM...I guess there are just things I don't get. My theory was maybe because my stock PSU (300W) is inadequate in light of my video card, sound card, and RAM upgrades. Once I put in my new PSU (550W), I was hoping the RAM might work by some longshot chance.

SmoothJK · 24-09-2008, 06:22 PM

Any chance it's due to the timing/latency?

Again, my motherboard specs show that it should support 667 RAM.

The other sticks I bought (Crucial) had a latency of 5, but I'm looking at these now, which shows the same timing as my current, pc2 4200 RAM: 4-4-4-12:

Newegg.com - GeIL 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) System Memory - Desktop Memory

Anyone know if this might solve the problem?

jaggy · 25-09-2008, 02:45 AM

One or more of the sticks might be bad? RMA maybe?
-Try to see if you can boot with one of them. If it won't boot try another one. Go through all of them if you have to. If one boots, try a second one in Channel 2 slot. If you have a good pair and you bough two pairs then you only have to RMA one of the packages.
-If you bought a 4 pk. then don't even bother, just send them in.

SmoothJK · 02-10-2008, 07:30 PM

I installed the GEIL RAM, and it definitely works! Of course, I don't see a noticeable difference from the PC2-4200 to the PC2-5300 (533 to 667 MHz). Oh well, at least it works.

22-09-2008, 03:02 AM	#1 (permalink) Top
SmoothJK Geek Trainee Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 14 Status: Offline	Why won't my RAM upgrade work? I recently purchased 4 sticks of faster RAM (DDR2 PC5300 667 as opposed to DDR2 PC4200 533) and put it in. But when I tried to boot, it wouldn't work. One time I got an error message about the frequency being out of range or something weird like that. So I put in my old RAM again and it worked fine. Here is my system: Gateway GT5252 Motherboard: ~Welcome to First International Computer, Inc.~ The motherboard info shows that the RAM I bought should work. I even went to crucial's site (the memory brand's website) and it recommended either the pc4200 or pc5300 for my system. I'm stumped.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New Work Rig	3321thec	New Build / Upgrade Advice	4	13-08-2008 04:27 PM
Can't get MFP to work	BV55	Printers, Scanners and Digital Cameras	0	14-09-2007 08:41 AM
Will this work?	ginnaw	Power Supplies and UPS's	2	28-01-2007 03:57 AM
Help! Nothing Will Work!	unisole	General Hardware	3	15-12-2006 10:04 PM
Will this work together?	djdy	New Build / Upgrade Advice	4	11-09-2006 03:29 AM

22-09-2008, 01:58 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Ghostman 1 Ultra Geek Join Date: May 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 730 Times Helpful: 34 My Mood: Mellow Status: Offline	Straight from Gateway..Gateway Support - Specifications I think you have to stick with PC-4200/533 ...

22-09-2008, 02:24 PM	#3 (permalink) Top
SmoothJK Geek Trainee Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 14 Status: Offline	That's weird, considering the motherboard supports faster RAM...I guess there are just things I don't get. My theory was maybe because my stock PSU (300W) is inadequate in light of my video card, sound card, and RAM upgrades. Once I put in my new PSU (550W), I was hoping the RAM might work by some longshot chance.

24-09-2008, 06:22 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
SmoothJK Geek Trainee Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 14 Status: Offline	Any chance it's due to the timing/latency? Again, my motherboard specs show that it should support 667 RAM. The other sticks I bought (Crucial) had a latency of 5, but I'm looking at these now, which shows the same timing as my current, pc2 4200 RAM: 4-4-4-12: Newegg.com - GeIL 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) System Memory - Desktop Memory Anyone know if this might solve the problem?

25-09-2008, 02:45 AM	#5 (permalink) Top
jaggy Geek Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 73 Times Helpful: 1 My Mood: In Love Status: Offline My Computer	One or more of the sticks might be bad? RMA maybe? -Try to see if you can boot with one of them. If it won't boot try another one. Go through all of them if you have to. If one boots, try a second one in Channel 2 slot. If you have a good pair and you bough two pairs then you only have to RMA one of the packages. -If you bought a 4 pk. then don't even bother, just send them in.

02-10-2008, 07:30 PM	#6 (permalink) Top
SmoothJK Geek Trainee Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 14 Status: Offline	I installed the GEIL RAM, and it definitely works! Of course, I don't see a noticeable difference from the PC2-4200 to the PC2-5300 (533 to 667 MHz). Oh well, at least it works.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)