New guaranteed RAM won't work with eMachines T-3516A

larrywalk · 11-08-2009, 01:31 PM

I have an eMachines T3616A with a RC410-M Rev 1.1 motherboard running
Windows XP SP3. I am trying to upgrade the memory from 512 Mb to 2 Gb. I
bought two DIMMs - Ultra DDR2 memory 1024 MB, which is guaranteed to be
compatible. It didn't work!

Here are the results...

-With both new DIMMS installed, or a single new DIMM alone, the PC would
not boot to POST, or beyond, nor did anything else appear on the screen.

-With the old 512 MB DIMM re-installed, it booted fine, as before, with the
system information showing 512 MB of physical memory and 47.4 MB available.

-With the old DIMM installed and one new DIMM (either one) installed, the
system booted and also entered windows as above, but the system information
showed 1024 MB of physical memory and 383 MB available.
This shows that half of a new DIMM is in use, but why can't both new DIMMs be recognized?

I went to eMachines website and downloaded the latest BIOS and flashed it,
but there was no change in the results.

I did an online chat with eMachines tech but that tech was clueless and
wanted to sell me 30 minutes of "Emachines Answers" for $60 with no guarantee of success.

So, the question remains, "Why won't the new Ultra memory work?

Additional info: I cleared the CMOS and tried the two new DIMMs again - still no POST or display;
no beeps either. I then pulled one new one and re-installed the old DIMM.

Had to reset the time and date in the BIOS, but the configuration was still no better than 1024MB (above).

Out of ideas for now

**Tyree** · 11-08-2009, 05:29 PM

What are the specs of the RAM (should be 667MHz PC2-5300) and who guaranteed it to be compatible?

larrywalk · 11-08-2009, 06:05 PM

ULTRA DDR2 Memory 1024MB; PC2-5300 667MHz

Label in the package says, "Guaranteed Compatibility*Lifetime Warranty";
Ultra Technical Support has not yet responded to my call for help.

larrywalk · 11-08-2009, 06:09 PM

When you ask for "PC Specs", is this the same as system information?

larrywalk · 11-08-2009, 06:22 PM

Here's the System Information:
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name YOUR-9EC669DBD1
System Manufacturer Gateway
System Model RC410-M
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 6 Stepping 4 GenuineIntel ~3199 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 080012, 1/29/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name YOUR-9EC669DBD1\Owner
Time Zone Central Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 1,024.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 417.89 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 1.36 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Is anything else needed?
Thanks!

**Tyree** · 11-08-2009, 08:43 PM

I just wanted the RAM specs. I got the info off the web but thank you for posting it.
My best suggestion would be to go to Crucial's site. Their RAM is the best solution for prebuilt PC's.

larrywalk · 11-09-2009, 04:32 AM

Why would Ultra's ram not work? It has the same spec. Is there another facet of ram that must be compatible?

**wrench97** · 11-09-2009, 05:35 AM

Several other aspects, on oem motherboards you can not make any adjustments in the bios so ram has to a perfect match to the specs. Or you may have recieved bad sticks, either way it needs to go back.

11-08-2009, 01:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
larrywalk Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP, SP3	New guaranteed RAM won't work with eMachines T-3516A I have an eMachines T3616A with a RC410-M Rev 1.1 motherboard running Windows XP SP3. I am trying to upgrade the memory from 512 Mb to 2 Gb. I bought two DIMMs - Ultra DDR2 memory 1024 MB, which is guaranteed to be compatible. It didn't work! Here are the results... -With both new DIMMS installed, or a single new DIMM alone, the PC would not boot to POST, or beyond, nor did anything else appear on the screen. -With the old 512 MB DIMM re-installed, it booted fine, as before, with the system information showing 512 MB of physical memory and 47.4 MB available. -With the old DIMM installed and one new DIMM (either one) installed, the system booted and also entered windows as above, but the system information showed 1024 MB of physical memory and 383 MB available. This shows that half of a new DIMM is in use, but why can't both new DIMMs be recognized? I went to eMachines website and downloaded the latest BIOS and flashed it, but there was no change in the results. I did an online chat with eMachines tech but that tech was clueless and wanted to sell me 30 minutes of "Emachines Answers" for $60 with no guarantee of success. So, the question remains, "Why won't the new Ultra memory work? Additional info: I cleared the CMOS and tried the two new DIMMs again - still no POST or display; no beeps either. I then pulled one new one and re-installed the old DIMM. Had to reset the time and date in the BIOS, but the configuration was still no better than 1024MB (above). Out of ideas for now

11-08-2009, 05:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,629 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: New guaranteed RAM won't work with eMachines T-3516A What are the specs of the RAM (should be 667MHz PC2-5300) and who guaranteed it to be compatible? __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

11-08-2009, 06:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
larrywalk Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP, SP3	Re: New guaranteed RAM won't work with eMachines T-3516A ULTRA DDR2 Memory 1024MB; PC2-5300 667MHz Label in the package says, "Guaranteed Compatibility*Lifetime Warranty"; Ultra Technical Support has not yet responded to my call for help.

11-08-2009, 06:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
larrywalk Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP, SP3	Re: New guaranteed RAM won't work with eMachines T-3516A When you ask for "PC Specs", is this the same as system information?

11-08-2009, 06:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
larrywalk Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP, SP3	Re: New guaranteed RAM won't work with eMachines T-3516A Here's the System Information: OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600 OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation System Name YOUR-9EC669DBD1 System Manufacturer Gateway System Model RC410-M System Type X86-based PC Processor x86 Family 15 Model 6 Stepping 4 GenuineIntel ~3199 Mhz BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 080012, 1/29/2007 SMBIOS Version 2.3 Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32 Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1 Locale United States Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)" User Name YOUR-9EC669DBD1\Owner Time Zone Central Standard Time Total Physical Memory 1,024.00 MB Available Physical Memory 417.89 MB Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB Page File Space 1.36 GB Page File C:\pagefile.sys Is anything else needed? Thanks!

11-08-2009, 08:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,629 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: New guaranteed RAM won't work with eMachines T-3516A I just wanted the RAM specs. I got the info off the web but thank you for posting it. My best suggestion would be to go to Crucial's site. Their RAM is the best solution for prebuilt PC's. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

11-09-2009, 04:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
larrywalk Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP, SP3	Re: New guaranteed RAM won't work with eMachines T-3516A Why would Ultra's ram not work? It has the same spec. Is there another facet of ram that must be compatible?

11-09-2009, 05:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,597 OS: Win7	Re: New guaranteed RAM won't work with eMachines T-3516A Several other aspects, on oem motherboards you can not make any adjustments in the bios so ram has to a perfect match to the specs. Or you may have recieved bad sticks, either way it needs to go back. __________________ Power Supply and Selection