Trying to upgrade RAM memory and running into some problems...?

Question

Trying to upgrade RAM memory and running into problems with incompatible chips, slots, or both.

Here's what I'm working with:

Computer:

Acer Aspire AST180, AMD Athlon 64 X 2 Dual Core Processor 4000+

Windows Vista Home Premium

Original RAM chip:

512 MB, DD2 DIMM, F

64TFT PO 132144.3

Made in: TAIWAN

Chip I'm trying to add:

Samsung, 1GB 2Rx8 PC2-6400U-666-12-E3

Made in China

M378T2953EZ3-CF7 0804

806080

There was another Samsung chip also, but it hasn't worked in any configuration and I figure it's bad. When I put these two chips in the motherboard in various configurations of the 4 slots, I get these results:

[512MB] - [ ] - [ ] - [ ] = Shows 512 MB in Windows

[ ] - [512MB] - [ ] - [ ] = Shows 512 MB in Windows

[1.0GB] - [ ] - [ ] - [ ] = Continued beeps on startup (memory problem)

[ ] - [1.0GB] - [ ] - [ ] = Continued beeps on startup (memory problem)

[1.0GB] - [ ] - [ ] - [512GB] = Continued beeps on startup (memory problem)

[ ] - [512MB] - [1.0GB] - [ ] = Continued beeps on startup (memory problem)

[512MB] - [ ] - [ ] - [1.0GB] = Shows 512 MB in Windows

[ ] - [ ] - [512MB] - [1.0GB] = Shows 512 MB in Windows

[ ] - [ ] - [1.0GB] - [512GB] = Continued beeps on startup (memory problem)

[ ] - [ ] - [ ] - [1.0GB] = Shows 1 GB in Windows

[ ] - [ ] - [1.0GB] - [ ] = Shows 1 GB in Windows

What I glean from this is that the 512MB and the 1GB chip do not play well together. Only in some configurations does the computer start at all with both chips in, and then it only detects the 512 MB chip. The only way to get it to see the 1GB chip at all is for it to be alone in one of the back two slots.

Here are my questions: Is there something wrong with the 1GB chip? If I get another 1GB chip, is it going to work with its brother (in one of the back slots)? And why don't they work in the front slots?

San Q very much.

Answer 1

you cant have 2 different types RAM because the latencies and/or frequency is different causing the system to be unstable. just use the one gig Module  

Answer 2

The memory is not compatible with your system.

Corsair recommends: Corsair VS1GB667D2 1GB DDR2-667 PC2-5300 Value Select Memory Retail

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDet...

Size 1GB  Latency 5-5-5-15-2T

I would suggest using two of these for a total of 2GB.

Answer 3

DD2? did you miss the "R" - DDR2? btw, DDR2 and PC2 is the same type.

your mobo doesn't support PC2-6400 (800Mhz) ram.

the fastest memory you can have is PC2-5300 (667Mhz). could be that Windows can recognise that 1GB memory but the hardware platform doesn't support it. check the manual of your mobo.

there are also certain memory brands they are incompatible to each other.

Hynix ram chips (Taiwan) are horrible.

Answer 4

You have to use the same type of chip... if a DD2 chip came out, a DD2 chip has to go in.