"Memory Compare Error"

aran_fusion · 10-20-2008, 08:39 PM

Ok, I just got a brand new Dell Inspiron 530s and it was working great for two days, and then I started getting blue screen errors. I got ahold of Dell tech support and they determined it to be a RAM issue and are replacing all four of my RAM sticks, but I've read that using a 800mhz ram stick and a 667mhz one together could cause problems.

the two 1gb sticks are 667mhz, and the two 512mb sticks are 800mhz, will this cause a problem? (I don't have an option since this is what they built my PC with.)

Oh, and running the dell diagnostics on the bad ram gives me 'memory compare error' and I'm not sure what that means. Any information is helpful, thanks. I'm currently running the PC with 1.5gb of RAM (667mhz 1gb and 800mhz 512mb) and the two sticks in there are fine, but the other two cause the system to blue screen with 0x0000000A errors or wont boot at all.

I just want to make sure all my options have been tested before I keep this PC and decide to return it to Dell or not.

the 1gb is > pc2-6400u-666-12-e1 667mhz
the 512 is > pc2-6400u-666-12-d0 800mhz

dai · 10-20-2008, 09:08 PM

sounds like someone picked up the wrong sticks and put in
they should all be the same speed let dell replace them

aran_fusion · 10-20-2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai

sounds like someone picked up the wrong sticks and put in
they should all be the same speed let dell replace them

Yeah they are, but they're sending me the exact same sticks, will it cause a problem or will my pc be fine with them?

dai · 10-20-2008, 09:28 PM

mixed speeds can cause instability and all will run at the lower speed
phone them back i cannot see dell installing mismatched ram on purpose

aran_fusion · 10-20-2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai

mixed speeds can cause instability and all will run at the lower speed
phone them back i cannot see dell installing mismatched ram on purpose

well as i said, the numbers match up for the most part, minus the mhz, will it cause blue screens and stuff? or just run a little slower?

dai · 10-20-2008, 09:46 PM

the mhz numbers need to match

aran_fusion · 10-20-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai

the mhz numbers need to match

how so? I'm running right now with 1gb 667mhz and 512mb 800mhz fine

:o

dai · 10-20-2008, 10:23 PM

and it is running both sticks at the slower 667mhz instead of the faster 800mhz because they are mismatched

aran_fusion · 10-21-2008, 09:50 AM

Thats fine with me, as long as it won't blue screen.

10-20-2008, 08:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
aran_fusion Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 30 OS: XP	"Memory Compare Error" Ok, I just got a brand new Dell Inspiron 530s and it was working great for two days, and then I started getting blue screen errors. I got ahold of Dell tech support and they determined it to be a RAM issue and are replacing all four of my RAM sticks, but I've read that using a 800mhz ram stick and a 667mhz one together could cause problems. the two 1gb sticks are 667mhz, and the two 512mb sticks are 800mhz, will this cause a problem? (I don't have an option since this is what they built my PC with.) Oh, and running the dell diagnostics on the bad ram gives me 'memory compare error' and I'm not sure what that means. Any information is helpful, thanks. I'm currently running the PC with 1.5gb of RAM (667mhz 1gb and 800mhz 512mb) and the two sticks in there are fine, but the other two cause the system to blue screen with 0x0000000A errors or wont boot at all. I just want to make sure all my options have been tested before I keep this PC and decide to return it to Dell or not. the 1gb is > pc2-6400u-666-12-e1 667mhz the 512 is > pc2-6400u-666-12-d0 800mhz Last edited by aran_fusion; 10-20-2008 at 08:58 PM.

10-20-2008, 09:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,759 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: "Memory Compare Error" sounds like someone picked up the wrong sticks and put in they should all be the same speed let dell replace them __________________

10-20-2008, 09:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,759 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: "Memory Compare Error" mixed speeds can cause instability and all will run at the lower speed phone them back i cannot see dell installing mismatched ram on purpose __________________

10-20-2008, 09:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,759 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: "Memory Compare Error" the mhz numbers need to match __________________

10-20-2008, 10:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,759 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: "Memory Compare Error" and it is running both sticks at the slower 667mhz instead of the faster 800mhz because they are mismatched __________________

10-21-2008, 09:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
aran_fusion Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 30 OS: XP	Re: "Memory Compare Error" Thats fine with me, as long as it won't blue screen.