asRAM Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Hi, there is a Dimension 3000 desktop i bought Corsair memory for. I purchased the VS512MB400C3 RAM. When I tried to install the RAM, I installed it with the OEM memory installed and the VS512MB400C3 stick by itself. In both instances the computer did not boot. According to the configurator, it is a compatible unit with the Dimension 3000. The desktop has a Pentium 4 processor and no modifications other than an additional optical drive. THe dimension site: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3000/en/SM/specs.htm#wp1075776 What can possibly be wrong and how can it be fixed? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekT Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 It is never a good idea to mix and match DRAM. The timings could be different. Different chip compatibilities abound. The Corsair VS512MB400C3 has been tested to work in that board, but not tested to work with a mix and match of the different modules that Dell might decide to install in their systems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted February 15, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted February 15, 2008 That part is in the list but you would need to be running a 800 FSB CPU to run DDR400 memory, if you have a 533 FSB CPU DDR333 would be suggested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asRAM Posted February 16, 2008 Author Share Posted February 16, 2008 I also attempted to boot the computer with just the 512 module installed by itself. If mixing and matching was an issue, the pc would have booted then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekT Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Can you test the DRAM in another machine? What Pentium 4 processor are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJLeong65 Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 I also attempted to boot the computer with just the 512 module installed by itself. If mixing and matching was an issue, the pc would have booted then. If you tested the VS512MB400C3 stick by itself, and the system refused to POST, then there is only one thing: You have a 2.8GHz Pentium 4 with a 533MHz FSB (which is actually 133MHz quad-pumped) or a Celeron D processor, while the VS512MB400C3 stick does not use the same SPD chip as the Dell OEM modules. As such, the memory is stuck at DDR400 (actually 200MHz double-pumped) speed, which results in an out-of-spec 67MHz differential in actual clock speeds between the memory and the processor's FSB. Intel's DDR1 chipsets dictate that memory can only run +PCICLK, or +33MHz (actual clock speed) faster than the processor's actual FSB clock speed (this will limit your choice of memory to DDR333 maximum for your particular processor). (By contrast, Intel's DDR2 and DDR3 chipsets can run the memory's effective speed up to the effective speed number of the processor's FSB; for example, an FSB800 processor can run DDR2 memory up to DDR2-800 speed.) Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asRAM Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 The PC runs a 2.8 Pentium 4, in which case thanks for the info. That sure seems to clarify the issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warpig Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Would this pc333 ram be 184 pin? My parents have the same comp and It really needs an upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekT Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Would this pc333 ram be 184 pin? My parents have the same comp and It really needs an upgrade. Yes it would be 184 pin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warpig Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Thanks a ton!! Too bad that 184 is more expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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