probs with RAM, can anyone help me?

[woutervdb]

Hello,

I am Wouter, 23yo, from Belgium. I stumbled on this forum while searching for some info. I know more about computers then my mother does, yet my knowledge is still very limited.
I have an old Compaq PC as an internet-machine (I also have another, more powerful machine for video-editing, but don't want it to connect to internet in any way possible) but it runs quite slow on 2x64 RAM with XP pro (SP1) for OS.
I wanted to upgrade to 512 RAM, since I found that was about all the mobo could take. The mobo is a Compaq, replacement part n° 166049-101. However, the Kingston KVR133X64C3/512 doesn't work. The PC doesn't get further then a black screen saying 'Compaq'...
Could it be possible that it would work with 2x256 instead of 1x512 ? Or Is that the wrong RAM for my mobo (the salesman told me it would work)?

can anyone plz help me out?

Thanks

 

[Stebly]

Hello,

I am Wouter, 23yo, from Belgium. I stumbled on this forum while searching for some info. I know more about computers then my mother does, yet my knowledge is still very limited.
I have an old Compaq PC as an internet-machine (I also have another, more powerful machine for video-editing, but don't want it to connect to internet in any way possible) but it runs quite slow on 2x64 RAM with XP pro (SP1) for OS.
I wanted to upgrade to 512 RAM, since I found that was about all the mobo could take. The mobo is a Compaq, replacement part n° 166049-101. However, the Kingston KVR133X64C3/512 doesn't work. The PC doesn't get further then a black screen saying 'Compaq'...
Could it be possible that it would work with 2x256 instead of 1x512 ? Or Is that the wrong RAM for my mobo (the salesman told me it would work)?

can anyone plz help me out?

Thanks

Have you tried moving to other slot? Do you get any beeps?
How old is the computer? You might
have to put one of the other sticks into second slot.

 

[woutervdb]

Thanx for the reply .
The PC is kind of old. I don't know how old exactly since it was built on a Compaq Presario base with some spare parts from a friend. It works fine as it is, yet a bit to slow to be comfortable. It runs otherwise perfectly with 64 in only one slot (but then it is to slow to actually work with) and also with 64 SDRAM in both slots, thus 128.
The combination of the 512 and 64 doesn't work, nor does only the 512. I have tried every possible combination of slots. I had hoped a bit of trial and error would do the trick, but obviously it doesn't
Tomorrow, or better today since it is 5AM here, I would like to go back to the store and exchange the 512 for two times 256. I hope someone could confirm me that that would be a (possible) solution before I spend to much money.


I see Swifter had kind of the same ordeal with his PC, but his post dates back from 2005. Anyone knows if he's still active here?

 

[Stebly]

Thanx for the reply .
The PC is kind of old. I don't know how old exactly since it was built on a Compaq Presario base with some spare parts from a friend. It works fine as it is, yet a bit to slow to be comfortable. It runs otherwise perfectly with 64 in only one slot (but then it is to slow to actually work with) and also with 64 SDRAM in both slots, thus 128.
The combination of the 512 and 64 doesn't work, nor does only the 512. I have tried every possible combination of slots. I had hoped a bit of trial and error would do the trick, but obviously it doesn't
Tomorrow, or better today since it is 5AM here, I would like to go back to the store and exchange the 512 for two times 256. I hope someone could confirm me that that would be a (possible) solution before I spend to much money.


I see Swifter had kind of the same ordeal with his PC, but his post dates back from 2005. Anyone knows if he's still active here?

Sorry that I couldn't help woutervdb, I remember that Compaq always were
very hard to find parts for that were not proprietary, hope your retailer can help
you out.
Edit; Maybe take the box with you to the shop and test right there?

 

[woutervdb]

I can't test it over there. It is a shop chain (dunno if that's correct Englisch) that is three times cheaper then other places, they have lots and lots of products for very small prices there but the disadvantage is less possabilities to test and ask. But they do take stuff back, so I guess I will have to exchange the 512 for two times 256 and hope that works . I will let you know if it does.

 

[Stebly]

I can't test it over there. It is a shop chain (dunno if that's correct Englisch) that is three times cheaper then other places, they have lots and lots of products for very small prices there but the disadvantage is less possabilities to test and ask. But they do take stuff back, so I guess I will have to exchange the 512 for two times 256 and hope that works . I will let you know if it does.

OK, will watch for you, good luck!

 

[Stebly]

OK, will watch for you, good luck!

I did look up your board # 166049-101, there are entries for it
so tell the salesperson that #. It's from Deskpro model.

 

[woutervdb]

it did not work. Seems like this piece of junk just doesn't want to be upgaded... And meanwhile my other PC decide to take its own life also...

 

[RollingThunder]

it did not work. Seems like this piece of junk just doesn't want to be upgaded... And meanwhile my other PC decide to take its own life also...

Some of the Compaq RAM is proprietary (only works Compaq PC). Not all Compaq machines are proprieatry.

Check this site for your Compaq machine:

http://www.crucial.com/index.asp

 

[woutervdb]

yep, Compac is indeed one of those brands known for such a difficulties...

the site you mentioned doesn't say anything about the Presario 7954. I am not even sure wether it is the original case. It would be useful to be able to search on motherboard number. Google also doesn't give me much info on this specific issue.
Even when I find out what RAM is supported, it wil be extremely difficult to find such a specific product, since SDRAM is beginning to be very rare around here.

 

[Stebly]

yep, Compac is indeed one of those brands known for such a difficulties...

the site you mentioned doesn't say anything about the Presario 7954. I am not even sure wether it is the original case. It would be useful to be able to search on motherboard number. Google also doesn't give me much info on this specific issue.
Even when I find out what RAM is supported, it wil be extremely difficult to find such a specific product, since SDRAM is beginning to be very rare around here.

Hi woutervdb, here's a url that lists #166049-101 as a Presario 7900 board;
http://www.kamcom.com/compaq/compaq5.htm
(scroll just more than 1/2 page down).
And here is a site that sells ram guaranteed to work or money back;
http://www.archmemory.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=33189
I guess the question is at what point is it cheaper to just get new box.
Then you can trash that P.O.S.

 

[woutervdb]

Just found out a friend of mine has lots of SDRAM stached, he says I can have some for free if its compatible. I will check your links for that.

thanx for all the help !

 

[woutervdb]

Just found out a friend of mine has lots of SDRAM stached, he says I can have some for free if its compatible. I will check your links for that.

thanx for all the help !

It is alive !

 

[Stebly]

It is alive !

Hey man, good to see you on the forum!! I can't believe you've still got the
beast, and it's alive.

 

[woutervdb]

and it died on me again...

now I also get the fancy 'Compaq' screen, but is cuts to some black screen saying something about intel boot agent (it's an AMD ?????) and to press ctrl + S

In the ctrl + S menu I don't see anything specific that could solve this issue, in bios all looks normal...