Are these RAM modules interchangeable? - Page 2

**Done_Fishin** · 02-03-2007, 11:39 PM

I don't have another PC to use that has DDR400 except for my son's PC .. but he's usually on it most times of the day except when his girlfriends around .. and then they are in the same room as the PC .. so it's a bit difficult. Don't want to be a fly on the wall

**Kalim** · 02-04-2007, 03:58 AM

I think checking them one by one is your best bet now.

**Done_Fishin** · 02-04-2007, 04:42 AM

That's the plan, see which is faulty then see if I can get it/them changed. The time is ripe for a shutdown anyway ..
TTFN

**linderman** · 02-04-2007, 05:57 AM

mixing ram brands is a hit & miss thing ~~~ even when the ram being used is on the list; the list is meant to mean they will work by that brand and model name in either a

single stick, dual stick or 4 stick configuration then you have to read the SS (single sidded) DS (double sided) chip stuff

the QVL will even list which ram make and model will be compatible with four sticks

however; as I am sure you guys are aware, the list does not include mixing matches and getting dual channel performance

thats really squeezing the lemon

but often times it does work, but it works most oftenwhen when the mixed pairs are the same spec Cas latency, speed, DS & SS stuff etc

the more the variables on the mixed pairs the more the chance for failure / end of story

I think you will have no problem getting a replacement stick for your dead one with the lifetime warranty, send them both in though if they are a matched pair. Otherwise they may send you one back that isnt a match

keep us posted

**Done_Fishin** · 02-04-2007, 06:55 AM

Well as it happens I shut down and then tried each stick (after cleaning off the edge contacts) again but in different slots ie one was tested in slot 1 then the other in slot 3. Both passed 2 rounds of tests without a hiccup. So I then ran a copuple of rounds of tests as a pair (slot 1 + slot3). That passed the tests too. So I added one of the other PAIRS in slots 2 & 4 .. and that's when the failures staretd showing. Removed the 256's and just ran the 512's as a pair. All working OK. So I figure that my problem is not the sticks but the combination. I must have confused my testing techniques earlier. I am now running JUST the 512's on my PC and I'll see where that takes me.
Seems I just can't get my 1534MB as yet.

Thanks to all for the help and guidance .. moral about mixing RAMS .. just cause they're compatable with your mobo doesn't mean that they're compatable with each other!

**Kalim** · 02-04-2007, 08:43 AM

To me it doesn't seem like a brand incompatibility but one of mix-match sizing. If you can ever get hold of a similar make/model 512MB RAM stick then place that in slot 2 or 4 and check to verify this. If they work, its the sizing.

It is pure "speculation" if any piece of RAM will work alongside another of a different brand, size, latencies. The latter and voltage is where I've seen most incompatibilities. (even myself

)

Thanks for keeping us posted and you're welcome

I'm actually fiddling to get working some RAM on a system myself today

**Done_Fishin** · 02-04-2007, 09:16 AM

The stats ( that I haven't delved into to understand) say that the 256's are 2.5-3-3 whilst the 512's are 3-3-3.
I am still running well after leaving the 512's installed. I am wondering whether the problems are caused by a mix of single side / double side memories. Without having access though to some double sided memory of the Transcend / JetRAm style though I can't prove anything. Transcend and JetRam are to be found on the same site at transcendusa.com if anyone is wondering.
Strange stuff memory .. never had problems mix'n'matching before I went over to DDR!

**Kalim** · 02-04-2007, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Done_Fishin

The stats ( that I haven't delved into to understand) say that the 256's are 2.5-3-3 whilst the 512's are 3-3-3.

In the BIOS, they can sometimes be set to run at only one latency. If set by SPD they will run at separate native timings AFAIR. If you run SiSoftware Sandra or HWiNFO32 it will portray to you what they're running in at the moment. 3 clock cycle delay is obviously slower than 2.5 but I'm sure that both can run both those timings so that won't be a problem. 3 CAS is the safest config and slowest, while 2 is the quickest and least stable.
CAS Latency aka Column Address Strobe Latency aka CL is basically the amount of time in nanoseconds (measured in clock cycles usually) between a request to read the memory, and when it is actually output. Thats the first numerical value appended infront of the latency values.

Quote:

I am wondering whether the problems are caused by a mix of single side / double side memories. Without having access though to some double sided memory of the Transcend / JetRAm style though I can't prove anything.

If you recall back to 24th November '06, I was having the same problem and had ample RAM sticks to verify this. My mobo was not accepting double sided but low density RAM but accepted single sided of exactly the same density, brand, size and latency. It was a new one for me back then...

I couldn't possibly know with yours sorry.

**Done_Fishin** · 02-04-2007, 09:52 AM

This is one of those times when RTFM doesn't help and only Brute Force or "suck it & see" tactics will show the answer. I am not going (at the present time at least) going to waste any more time chasing it up. It's not worth the hassle. Experience tells me that there must be a difference running single sided and double sided boards. At first I thought that the memory might have worked because I had cleaned the edge connectors. I have had that problem back in the days of 386's on VGA cards ..
Right now I have 1024MB RAM (in 2 sticks of 512MB) up and running on my PC. I will see wheteher it stays working. My Other 4 sticks of 256MB has been relegated to my spares box awaiting employment or just as a back up in case of future problems. Should I stumble across some other double sided DDR400 memories looking for a good home, then I will take up where I am leaving off now.

02-03-2007, 11:39 PM	#21 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 5,038 OS: Win ME, Win XP Pro SP3, Ubuntu 7.04, Mepis 6.5 My System	I don't have another PC to use that has DDR400 except for my son's PC .. but he's usually on it most times of the day except when his girlfriends around .. and then they are in the same room as the PC .. so it's a bit difficult. Don't want to be a fly on the wall __________________ D_F How to mark your thread as solved

02-04-2007, 04:42 AM	#23 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 5,038 OS: Win ME, Win XP Pro SP3, Ubuntu 7.04, Mepis 6.5 My System	That's the plan, see which is faulty then see if I can get it/them changed. The time is ripe for a shutdown anyway .. TTFN __________________ D_F How to mark your thread as solved

02-04-2007, 05:57 AM	#24 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 14,022 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	mixing ram brands is a hit & miss thing ~~~ even when the ram being used is on the list; the list is meant to mean they will work by that brand and model name in either a single stick, dual stick or 4 stick configuration then you have to read the SS (single sidded) DS (double sided) chip stuff the QVL will even list which ram make and model will be compatible with four sticks however; as I am sure you guys are aware, the list does not include mixing matches and getting dual channel performance thats really squeezing the lemon but often times it does work, but it works most oftenwhen when the mixed pairs are the same spec Cas latency, speed, DS & SS stuff etc the more the variables on the mixed pairs the more the chance for failure / end of story I think you will have no problem getting a replacement stick for your dead one with the lifetime warranty, send them both in though if they are a matched pair. Otherwise they may send you one back that isnt a match keep us posted __________________ If you cant be polite and friendly; then please be silent. Last edited by linderman : 02-04-2007 at 05:58 AM.

02-04-2007, 06:55 AM	#25 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 5,038 OS: Win ME, Win XP Pro SP3, Ubuntu 7.04, Mepis 6.5 My System	Well as it happens I shut down and then tried each stick (after cleaning off the edge contacts) again but in different slots ie one was tested in slot 1 then the other in slot 3. Both passed 2 rounds of tests without a hiccup. So I then ran a copuple of rounds of tests as a pair (slot 1 + slot3). That passed the tests too. So I added one of the other PAIRS in slots 2 & 4 .. and that's when the failures staretd showing. Removed the 256's and just ran the 512's as a pair. All working OK. So I figure that my problem is not the sticks but the combination. I must have confused my testing techniques earlier. I am now running JUST the 512's on my PC and I'll see where that takes me. Seems I just can't get my 1534MB as yet. Thanks to all for the help and guidance .. moral about mixing RAMS .. just cause they're compatable with your mobo doesn't mean that they're compatable with each other! __________________ D_F How to mark your thread as solved

02-04-2007, 09:16 AM	#27 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 5,038 OS: Win ME, Win XP Pro SP3, Ubuntu 7.04, Mepis 6.5 My System	The stats ( that I haven't delved into to understand) say that the 256's are 2.5-3-3 whilst the 512's are 3-3-3. I am still running well after leaving the 512's installed. I am wondering whether the problems are caused by a mix of single side / double side memories. Without having access though to some double sided memory of the Transcend / JetRAm style though I can't prove anything. Transcend and JetRam are to be found on the same site at transcendusa.com if anyone is wondering. Strange stuff memory .. never had problems mix'n'matching before I went over to DDR! __________________ D_F How to mark your thread as solved

02-04-2007, 03:58 AM	#22 (permalink)
Kalim Roaming To Help Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,609 OS: Many	I think checking them one by one is your best bet now.

02-04-2007, 08:43 AM	#26 (permalink)
Kalim Roaming To Help Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,609 OS: Many	To me it doesn't seem like a brand incompatibility but one of mix-match sizing. If you can ever get hold of a similar make/model 512MB RAM stick then place that in slot 2 or 4 and check to verify this. If they work, its the sizing. It is pure "speculation" if any piece of RAM will work alongside another of a different brand, size, latencies. The latter and voltage is where I've seen most incompatibilities. (even myself ) Thanks for keeping us posted and you're welcome I'm actually fiddling to get working some RAM on a system myself today

02-04-2007, 09:52 AM	#29 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 5,038 OS: Win ME, Win XP Pro SP3, Ubuntu 7.04, Mepis 6.5 My System	This is one of those times when RTFM doesn't help and only Brute Force or "suck it & see" tactics will show the answer. I am not going (at the present time at least) going to waste any more time chasing it up. It's not worth the hassle. Experience tells me that there must be a difference running single sided and double sided boards. At first I thought that the memory might have worked because I had cleaned the edge connectors. I have had that problem back in the days of 386's on VGA cards .. Right now I have 1024MB RAM (in 2 sticks of 512MB) up and running on my PC. I will see wheteher it stays working. My Other 4 sticks of 256MB has been relegated to my spares box awaiting employment or just as a back up in case of future problems. Should I stumble across some other double sided DDR400 memories looking for a good home, then I will take up where I am leaving off now. __________________ D_F How to mark your thread as solved