computer help.

[pimtool]

I am trying to add a memory card to my desk top.

I got a used 512MB card, I put it in the open slot. (has 2 slots on mother board) It said something about cards not identical, I turned on the computer and it would not start up.
So I replaced the original with the used one I got, it would start up and then shut down over and over.

Do I have to get a card that is identical to the original?

Is the used card no good?

Is there something I have to do to set up and run the changed card?
Thanks for any and all help.

 

[alaskan155]

might just be a bad stick, try removing the old stick and trying the new one in both slots, if that dosen't work the stick may be bad, or you might have the wrong kind

if the system is a brandname or if you got the model of the motherboard i might be able to help you more

 

[pimtool]

It says

INTEL DESKTOP BOARD
D865GSA

I did notice it looks like one of the gold pins is a little discolored.(new used one)
The original is 256MB and works fine alone.

 

[marriedmanw]

The used memory stick may be bad, but what type of memory stick is the used one? Most of them will have a small sticker on them with the specs. Incorrect/Bad memory sticks will cause a no boot error like you had. According to your motherboard it will support DDR400, DDR333, and DDR266 SDRAM sticks, which are very commonly used. You can also take your good memory stick and install in the second memory bank to ensure the memory bank isn't bad itself.
http://support.intel.com/products/motherboard/d865gsa/index.htm

 

[Mark_88]

If you tried booting with just the 512MB card and the system would not boot properly then you probably have a bad chip...

Make sure you put it in the original chip slot...discoloured pins could indicate the metal is oxydizing and you can clean it up with rubbing alcohol or something similar...just let it dry before you install it again...and use only dry, lint-free cloths or something designed for cleaning computer parts...if the system still won't boot with just the 512MB card then it's probably pooched...

 

[superdave1984]

Go here
http://www.memtest86.com/
Download the free version and put it on a floppy if you have a floppy drive, or CD if you don't. Boot to it and run the test. Let it make several passes with each RAM stick individually. I would start with the one you just bought. And if it fails, get a refund.

 

[pimtool]

The one I just got was a used one. So I will get a new one.

So I can replace the 256MB,(the original) with a larger one 1GB and not have to find one that is compatable with the old?

Is 512MB enough?

Is 1GB too much?
Thanks for all your help.

 

[superdave1984]

Go to http://www.crucial.com and run their memory scan tool. It will tell you what you have and what you can get. 512 is fine for XP if you are not running games with lots of graphics. If you're a gamer, you need at least 1 GB.

 

[srteach]

The max amount of memory is dependent on the board capacity. You may only be able to use 512 in each slot, or 1G in each slot. Go to Crucial Memory and have their memory scanner do its' thing to find that information. Memory is cheap, get the most you can afford that will fit in your machine.

Smooth operation of XP requires 512MB of ram. It will operate on less, but not at full efficiency. Any other programs (Anti-virus, games, browsers email) require additional ram beyond that. I don't run anything less than 1G on any of my machines.

 

[One Sick Puppy]

If you can post a picture of the ram you have, that would be useful.

The mainboard you have supports up to 2GB of Ram. That would mean 1GB in each slot. It is not absolutely necessary that both sticks be the same capacity or even speed, but usually that is the recommendation, to minimize the chance of problems.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The one I just got was a used one. So I will get a new one.

So I can replace the 256MB,(the original) with a larger one 1GB and not have to find one that is compatable with the old?

Is 512MB enough?

Is 1GB too much?
Thanks for all your help.

It depends a lot on what you're doing. If you mainly just do e-mail, web browsing, and run stuff like Word, then you don't need much memory.

Myself, I know I'm hard on memory. I often like to have several things open at once, do some gaming now an then, and play around with photo and video editing. So when I built my computer http://www.newegg.com was having a deal on matched pairs of Corsair memory that would work with my comp. So I picked up a matched pair of 1 gig sticks... thought about it for a week and picked up another matched pair.... I had budgeted enough to get that much and figured it would be worth it, so now I have 4 gigs of memory plugged in to my comp. Is it overkill? Perhaps. But you woln't here me whining about it.

 

[smokey]

what memory did you buy? the type you bought it dependant on the processor you have on the board.
To use this type of DIMM... The processor's system bus frequency must be...
DDR400 800 MHz
DDR333 (Note) 800 or 533 MHz
DDR266 800, 533 or 400 MHz