RAM Upgrade Problem

millsy5 · 03-12-2008, 06:32 AM

I have a Dell Dimension 4600. There are 4 (2 banks of 2) RAM slots.

According to Crucial: http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...mension%204600

- each slot can handle 1GB, therefore a max of 4GB of RAM.

- uses pc3200

- non ecc

I currently have 2 sticks of 256MB PC3200 Non-ECC RAM. I purchased 2 sticks of 1GB PC3200 Non-ECC RAM. I removed the 2 256MB sticks and inserted the 2 1GB sticks in the same slots (same bank). When I power up the PC I get 6 beeps during the POST test. I have reinserted them a few times to make sure they were inserted correctly.

I cannot see why the PC won't recognise the new RAM. The frequencies are definitely the same and the new RAM is definitely non-ECC. Please help!!

voovode · 03-12-2008, 07:05 AM

Your mobo page is mistaken
So... 6 beeps mean, in case of:
AMI BIOS then: Bad CPU or Motherboard
AWARD BIOS then: It should be going [beeping] all the time... (memory failure)
PHOENIX BIOS then: Its a code, its not loops, it has a certain beep code, be more specific.

millsy5 · 03-12-2008, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voovode

Your mobo page is mistaken
So... 6 beeps mean, in case of:
AMI BIOS then: Bad CPU or Motherboard
AWARD BIOS then: It should be going [beeping] all the time... (memory failure)
PHOENIX BIOS then: Its a code, its not loops, it has a certain beep code, be more specific.

My BIOS is Pheonix. The code is 1-3-2. However this code is not on the Pheonix BIOS list. I'm 100% certain that I heard the code right.

**mattlock** · 03-12-2008, 11:39 PM

The BIOS code is correct and it is memory failure.

http://bioscentral.com/beepcodes/phoenixbeep.htm

Try your new RAM one stick at a time to see if you got a bad stick. Did you buy it from Crucial?

millsy5 · 03-13-2008, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattlock

The BIOS code is correct and it is memory failure.

http://bioscentral.com/beepcodes/phoenixbeep.htm

Try your new RAM one stick at a time to see if you got a bad stick. Did you buy it from Crucial?

Your beep list is different than I one I used. I must have listened it the beep about 20 times to confirm that code

.

I brought the RAM to a computer store and they popped it into a PC there and it worked fine. The person there said that he thinks some 'generic' RAM does not work with Dell and that maybe I need branded RAM. The sticks I have do not indicate the brand, but the chips themselves are Samsung.

I bought the RAM off eBay so I won't be able to return as it does work.

millsy5 · 03-13-2008, 12:32 AM

the link should be

http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...mension%204600

**mattlock** · 03-13-2008, 12:53 AM

Can you post the Ebay link?

It's possible that you ordered high density RAM and your MB may not be compatible with high density memory.

millsy5 · 03-13-2008, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattlock

Can you post the Ebay link?

It's possible that you ordered high density RAM and your MB may not be compatible with high density memory.

I checked the RAM description and it is high density.

03-12-2008, 06:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
millsy5 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 9 OS: XP	RAM Upgrade Problem I have a Dell Dimension 4600. There are 4 (2 banks of 2) RAM slots. According to Crucial: http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...mension%204600 - each slot can handle 1GB, therefore a max of 4GB of RAM. - uses pc3200 - non ecc I currently have 2 sticks of 256MB PC3200 Non-ECC RAM. I purchased 2 sticks of 1GB PC3200 Non-ECC RAM. I removed the 2 256MB sticks and inserted the 2 1GB sticks in the same slots (same bank). When I power up the PC I get 6 beeps during the POST test. I have reinserted them a few times to make sure they were inserted correctly. I cannot see why the PC won't recognise the new RAM. The frequencies are definitely the same and the new RAM is definitely non-ECC. Please help!!

03-12-2008, 07:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
voovode Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 26 OS: Windows Xp Pro SP3	Re: RAM Upgrade Problem Your mobo page is mistaken So... 6 beeps mean, in case of: AMI BIOS then: Bad CPU or Motherboard AWARD BIOS then: It should be going [beeping] all the time... (memory failure) PHOENIX BIOS then: Its a code, its not loops, it has a certain beep code, be more specific.

03-12-2008, 11:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
mattlock Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,183 OS: XP SP2, Win 7 Beta, Win 7 RC My System	Re: RAM Upgrade Problem The BIOS code is correct and it is memory failure. http://bioscentral.com/beepcodes/phoenixbeep.htm Try your new RAM one stick at a time to see if you got a bad stick. Did you buy it from Crucial? __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free!

03-13-2008, 12:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
millsy5 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 9 OS: XP	Re: RAM Upgrade Problem the link should be http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...mension%204600

03-13-2008, 12:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
mattlock Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,183 OS: XP SP2, Win 7 Beta, Win 7 RC My System	Re: RAM Upgrade Problem Can you post the Ebay link? It's possible that you ordered high density RAM and your MB may not be compatible with high density memory. __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free! Last edited by mattlock; 03-13-2008 at 01:01 AM.