Asus R565JA won't start with added RAM

[jantar314]

Hello,
first post here.
I have this Asus R565JA-EJ3405W laptop with soldered 8 Gb RAM. I thought about adding 8 Gb more.

After searching on the net I found that the laptop has Samsung RAM and the upgrade should be DDR4 SO-DIMM. I ordered this RAM from Amazon as I could not find anywhere locally.
Now, the cutout slot is not aligned when the sticker is seen (like on the upgrade videos on Youtube) (images). The cutout slot is aligned and I can install RAM when I turn it so the RAM info sticker is facing the motherboard. Is it still ok?
But the laptop won’t start. The battery LED is blinking: two blinks and a pause.
When I remove RAM the laptop works fine.

So, RAM compatibility issue? Defective RAM?

Your thoughts are appreciated!

[xrobwx71]

It could be both. What BIOS version are you on?

Heck, lets do this:

Download and install Speccy from here

[HEADING=3]To publish a Speccy profile to the Web:[/HEADING]
[ol]
[li]In Speccy, click File, and then click Publish Snapshot.[/li][li]In the Publish Snapshot dialog box, click Yes to enable Speccy to proceed.[/li][li]Speccy publishes the profile and displays a second Publish Snapshot dialog box. You can open the URL in your default browser, copy it to the clipboard, or close the dialog box.[/li][/ol]

[jantar314]

Ok, here is the info from Speccy. I did not include the long list of services and hotfixes. So the BIOS is American Megatrends Inc. Version: X515JAB.308

Information removed[COLOR=rgb(243, 121, 52)] for security reasons.[/COLOR]

[Malnutrition]

@xrobwx71 Is asking for the speccy link… Not text from the program output.

Speccy Scan.

[ul]
[li]Please go here and download Speccy.[/li][li]Install and run the program.[/li][li]Upon Completion:[/li][li]Hit File[/li][li]Publish Snap Shot[/li][li]A link will appear, post that link.[/li][/ul]

[jantar314]

Ok, sorry, here it is:

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/IPqqsWqdMVk3drhdXdcNiKJ

[xrobwx71]

Thanks for that, I just want to double check something

Hit start, type Dxdiag, in the right-hand pane, choose Run as Administrator.

When it opens, under the System tab, what do the lines System Model and the line BIOS show?

[jantar314]

Ok, here is the screenshot of the tab.

[xrobwx71]

You have a BIOS update which may help. I can’t say for sure as Asus doesn’t give any info on the changelog of the new BIOS.
You are on BIOS version 308.

https://www.asus.com/us/supportonly/x515jab/helpdesk_bios/

[jantar314]

Ok, thanks, I updated the BIOS to 3.10, but it did not solve the RAM problem.
Could you tell me if I can add 8 Gb RAM from other manufacturerer? I googled a bit, but could not get a definitive answer, looks like the answer is “yes, but it depends”.
As the Samsung one is soldered to my laptop, I can’t find any Samsung locally and have to order from Amazon. I am no sure if it was ununsed RAM I bought from Amazon (it was advertized as such) , but looks like it was opened at some time. So, defective RAM could very well be a possibility.
So, can I mix it with, say, Kingston 8GB (1 x 8GB) ValueRAM, DDR4 3200MHz, SO-DIMM, CL22, 1.20V ?
Will the MHZ and voltage (and other possible parameters) be ok? I can’t find MHz speed and voltage of my soldered RAM from Speccy, also I never seen a soldered RAM and I could not find it on motherboard.

[xrobwx71]

Mixing RAM is never a good idea but when you’re dealing with one soldered on it’s hard to match it exactly.

https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/asus/vivobook-15-x515j#memory

[phillpower2]

I ordered this RAM from Amazon

Have you got a link to the RAM that you purchased.

Fwiw, I’ve never seen RAM inserted with the information label face down.

[jantar314]

Yes, here it is:

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B0C8TFLXHZ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

[phillpower2]

Can you get your money back, the RAM is the correct spec but in addition to the packaging being opened and the RAM not working you have been overcharged for it, same RAM here

[COLOR=rgb(44, 130, 201)]Edit: Same price at Crucial who 100% guarantee that their RAM will work.[/COLOR]

[jantar314]

Thanks for suggestions! There is some difficulty, because not all sellers ship to Finland (or the shipment is very pricey+customs).

I also noticed that the RAM I bought is a bit concave, it can be seen in the image that there is a small gap in the middle. Not sure if it is still within acceptable limits or a defect/damage. It was not physically interfering with installation, though.
Also, the package was taped, the tape does not look original to my eyes.

I will contact the seller and we will discuss about it. The laptop is working good and maybe I’ll leave it as it is or order another RAM later. Now the RAM usage is quite small, I believe I just noticed RAM usage when the windows was constantly updating from the fresh start, maybe I was planing upgrades too quickly. And I thought it is very simple, so why not

Thank you all for help, much appeciated!

best regards,
G

[phillpower2]

You are welcome

Kingston Technology ValueRAM KVR32S22S8/8 muistimoduuli 8 GB 1 x 8 GB DDR4 3200 MHz