vaio w/xp Ram upgrade not recognized

farmboy · 02-26-2009, 07:09 AM

Vaio PCG-K33 running XP home. Had 2 Infineon 256MB DDR 333MHZ 2700 in 2 slots. Removed them and installed 2 Kingston 512MB DDR 333MHZ 2700. System info says I still have only 512 ram. Tried to trouble shot by removing 1 512 to see if one side was not being read and system says I have 256 ram. I did everything by the book, unhooked power,removed battery, tried reinstalling 2 more times. Bios is up to date. I have searched but I am at a loss. Everything I have found says system should recognize up to 1 gig. Did a memory scan from crucial to see what I could use before I started the process. I have tried to include all info and hope someone can help. Thanks

Grant101 · 02-26-2009, 11:42 AM

Is it possible you have been sold 2 x 256MB sticks?

farmboy · 02-26-2009, 04:49 PM

Well I guess that's possible but they are packaged from Kingston and marked as 512 on package and on card. There was another thread back in about november from someone with the same laptop, doing the exat same upgrade with the same outcome but nobody replied to his question.

**wrench97** · 02-26-2009, 04:53 PM

What is the part number of the Kingston sticks?

farmboy · 02-27-2009, 10:34 AM

KVR333SO/512R, 512MB DDR PC2700 333MHz. Troubleshot each one in each slot, will only read as 256 each. computer boots fine but says only 512 total with both cards in and 256 with one card in, doesn't matter which card or which slot.

Grant101 · 02-27-2009, 10:57 AM

hmm, were your previous RAM reading at their true values? (your old RAM before the upgrade). Why are you upgrading your RAM? Just purely out of interest because 333Mhz is pretty slow and wont respond very well for gaming.

farmboy · 02-27-2009, 12:32 PM

old ram read fine, need to run faster, 333 is max for machine, don't do any gaming on this machine

**wrench97** · 02-27-2009, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmboy

KVR333SO/512R, 512MB DDR PC2700 333MHz. Troubleshot each one in each slot, will only read as 256 each. computer boots fine but says only 512 total with both cards in and 256 with one card in, doesn't matter which card or which slot.

According to Kingston you should be using KSY-V505/512 sticks, so I would say the ram is not compatible.

http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/conf...submit1=Search

farmboy · 02-27-2009, 05:37 PM

Thanks, I just recieved an email from Kingston tech support and they had the same advice. thanks for your help

Grant101 · 02-28-2009, 03:56 AM

Well done wrench

farmboy · 02-28-2009, 07:46 AM

This was Kingston's reply to my problem, Maybe this will help someone else with a ram compatibility issue.(Kingston) This is probably a compatibility issue. The Value Ram memory is not tested for compatibility in brand name machines such as for Dell, Compaq, Hp, Gateway, Sony etc. Because it is not tested for compatibility, we do not know if it is going to work for you. Value Ram (KVR) is our standard memory line and was designed with the whitebox user and system integrator in mind. Kingston ValueRAM products are engineered to meet industry standard specifications and are rigorously tested to ensure quality. However quite frequently brand name systems call for specific memory timings and may have limits to the DRAM densities used to support these systems. ValueRam may not meet these system specifications requirements, therefore Kingston suggests that you use memory specifically made for your system. If you need help choosing memory for your system please contact Kingston sales at 800-835-6575 or use our configurator at www.Kingston.com. I ordered the Ram that didn't work from Tiger Direct and returning it was not an issue, easy to deal with. Thanks all.

02-26-2009, 07:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
farmboy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 18 OS: xpsp3	vaio w/xp Ram upgrade not recognized Vaio PCG-K33 running XP home. Had 2 Infineon 256MB DDR 333MHZ 2700 in 2 slots. Removed them and installed 2 Kingston 512MB DDR 333MHZ 2700. System info says I still have only 512 ram. Tried to trouble shot by removing 1 512 to see if one side was not being read and system says I have 256 ram. I did everything by the book, unhooked power,removed battery, tried reinstalling 2 more times. Bios is up to date. I have searched but I am at a loss. Everything I have found says system should recognize up to 1 gig. Did a memory scan from crucial to see what I could use before I started the process. I have tried to include all info and hope someone can help. Thanks

02-26-2009, 11:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
Grant101 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 49 OS: Vista Home Basic	Re: vaio w/xp Ram upgrade not recognized Is it possible you have been sold 2 x 256MB sticks? __________________ If at first you do not succeed.....skydiving is not for you

02-26-2009, 04:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
farmboy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 18 OS: xpsp3	Re: vaio w/xp Ram upgrade not recognized Well I guess that's possible but they are packaged from Kingston and marked as 512 on package and on card. There was another thread back in about november from someone with the same laptop, doing the exat same upgrade with the same outcome but nobody replied to his question.

02-26-2009, 04:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,579 OS: Win7	Re: vaio w/xp Ram upgrade not recognized What is the part number of the Kingston sticks? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-27-2009, 10:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
farmboy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 18 OS: xpsp3	Re: vaio w/xp Ram upgrade not recognized KVR333SO/512R, 512MB DDR PC2700 333MHz. Troubleshot each one in each slot, will only read as 256 each. computer boots fine but says only 512 total with both cards in and 256 with one card in, doesn't matter which card or which slot.

02-27-2009, 10:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
Grant101 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 49 OS: Vista Home Basic	Re: vaio w/xp Ram upgrade not recognized hmm, were your previous RAM reading at their true values? (your old RAM before the upgrade). Why are you upgrading your RAM? Just purely out of interest because 333Mhz is pretty slow and wont respond very well for gaming. __________________ If at first you do not succeed.....skydiving is not for you

02-27-2009, 12:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
farmboy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 18 OS: xpsp3	Re: vaio w/xp Ram upgrade not recognized old ram read fine, need to run faster, 333 is max for machine, don't do any gaming on this machine

02-27-2009, 05:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
farmboy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 18 OS: xpsp3	Re: vaio w/xp Ram upgrade not recognized Thanks, I just recieved an email from Kingston tech support and they had the same advice. thanks for your help

02-28-2009, 03:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
Grant101 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 49 OS: Vista Home Basic	Re: vaio w/xp Ram upgrade not recognized Well done wrench __________________ If at first you do not succeed.....skydiving is not for you

02-28-2009, 07:46 AM	#11 (permalink)
farmboy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 18 OS: xpsp3	Re: vaio w/xp Ram upgrade not recognized This was Kingston's reply to my problem, Maybe this will help someone else with a ram compatibility issue.(Kingston) This is probably a compatibility issue. The Value Ram memory is not tested for compatibility in brand name machines such as for Dell, Compaq, Hp, Gateway, Sony etc. Because it is not tested for compatibility, we do not know if it is going to work for you. Value Ram (KVR) is our standard memory line and was designed with the whitebox user and system integrator in mind. Kingston ValueRAM products are engineered to meet industry standard specifications and are rigorously tested to ensure quality. However quite frequently brand name systems call for specific memory timings and may have limits to the DRAM densities used to support these systems. ValueRam may not meet these system specifications requirements, therefore Kingston suggests that you use memory specifically made for your system. If you need help choosing memory for your system please contact Kingston sales at 800-835-6575 or use our configurator at www.Kingston.com. I ordered the Ram that didn't work from Tiger Direct and returning it was not an issue, easy to deal with. Thanks all. Last edited by farmboy; 02-28-2009 at 07:47 AM. Reason: spelling