More RAM or more serious upgrade

[Erebus]

Hello there,

I tried to post just after I registered my account, but it seems my post has been discarded without any explanation. So I’m posting it again.

I have a rather old PC which has been gradually updated. So some of its parts (HDDs, PSU) are decent, some more or less alright (video card, CPU) and some are pretty much junk. I’ve removed a floppy drive from this computer around a month ago.

The CPU is Core 2 Duo E6850 @ 3.00GHz.

But my motherboard only accepts DDR2 non-ECC unbuffered memory up to 8GB and has only two slots. Currently I have 4GB (2x2GB).

Generally speaking I am satisfied with my PC, I can browse the Web, watch videos, do some software development. But recently I’ve started to bump into problems. Web sites have become bulkier and IDE (IntelliJ IDEA) allocates more memory.

An obvious solution would be to add more RAM. But 2x4GB of non-ECC unbuffered DDR2 memory for Intel chipsets costs around 100 USD on eBay. (Less from China, more from the UK.)

Basically I’m considering two options:

1. [li]Buy 8GB of second-hand RAM for $70-$150 of eBay.[/li][li]Replace motherboard, RAM and CPU.[/li]

Caveat: I want to move to a foreign country in a couple of years, and I can’t take my desktop PC with me. So I do not want a serious investment into my PC.

Also I do not want to reinstall software, which I’ll have to do, if I pick the second option.

Which option is more practical?

[veeg]

Hello

Since you are satisfied with your pc i would think just adding more ram would be a way to go. If you buy a mobo you will need new hardware to go with that mobo (ram,gpu,maybe a new psu…etc)

Also $75+ seems to be a bit high for that ram..

[jmarket]

Agree, DDR2 ram is cheap.

[Erebus]

Well if you go to eBay, you’ll get lots of 2x4GB lots for ~$20. But all of them have a notice: AMD chipsets only. I have an Intel chipset and need non-ECC unbuffered memory. I once purchased such a lot of eBay. The RAM cards do fit into the slot but the PC does not boot. I tried tinkering with BIOS setting to no avail.

[jmarket]

It’s an age old argument about NON INTEL RAM on these ancient memory sticks. Never found DDR2 ram that doesnt work in either system, but then that’s stretching ones memory, doesn’t mean there aint any but ram is ram.

https://www.quora.com/Is-there-such-...-Intel-chipset

[veeg]

Agreed on the ram..

[Erebus]

Hello again,
I’ve tried to tinker with my 2x4GB RAM chips again. No luck. The system does not even boot, no even BIOS config.

My chipset is:
[ul]
[li]Northbridge: Intel® G31[/li][li]Southbridge: Intel® ICH7[/li][/ul]

RAM timings on my working 2x2GB RAM are: 5-5-5-15

I’ve tried to set timings manually. But as far as I understand the computer should boot to BIOS setup at least.

[veeg]

Sounds like some part of your hardware has failed..

@Bruce

[Bruce]

Just to get my head around this, your 2x2gb setup was working, you changed to 2x4gb which didn’t work, and now even going back to 2x2gb isn’t working?

And it sounds like you have changed bios settings as well.

If that’s all true, I’d be resetting the bios back to defaults and using the 2x2gb hardware until I know the pc is stable again.

Of course now the rub is to get the pc started is seems.

Make sure the ram contacts are clean and the mono slots. Then just use one chip at a time to get the pc booted.

Also remove, clean and reseat other components like graphics card and CPU.

[Erebus]

Ouch, sorry for ambiguity. My system has always been working and still works with my 2x2GB chips.

It does not work with my 2x4GB chips. (Yes, I’ve tried them one at a time, each.) I do not have any other computer where 2x4GB chips could be tested.

An article linked by gus states

Therefore, while DDR3 and DDR4 (and most DDR2) will usually work interchangeably between platforms
. I have DDR2, the question is which memory parameters (timings etc.) should I look for to get compatible RAM. Also what are signs of RAM incompatibility? Should the system boot and crash? Should I get any beeps? Post codes? Albeit I do not have a POST code card, or how is that device called.

[phillpower2]

Can you post the brand and model name or number of the MB for us so we can check the specs, being an older board it may not accept 4GB sticks of RAM.

[Erebus]

My motherboard does support memory up to 8GB.

I’ve just purchased 2 more 4GB modules. These modules are explicitly specified as compatible by the motherboard manufacturer. (The manufacturer provides a list of compatible RAM modules.) Let us wait for a couple of weeks and let the modules to arrive. I was able to purchase them for less than 30 EUR.

Thanks for educating me on that “AMD only RAM” issue.

[phillpower2]

My motherboard does support memory up to 8GB.

Why not post the MB details for us, we are trying to help you here but can only do so if you provide the requested info

[Erebus]

The motherboard is ASRock G31M-GS R2.0 .

[phillpower2]

Thanks, only two reasons that I can see why the 4GB sticks will not work, they are below the minimum 667MHz speed required by the CPU or both sticks of RAM are bad.

I’ve just purchased 2 more 4GB modules. These modules are explicitly specified as compatible by the motherboard manufacturer. (The manufacturer provides a list of compatible RAM modules.)

That is called the QVL (qualified vendors list) and on your boards QVL I could see five Xs 4GB stick options listed, never heard of one of the brands so hope that what you have purchased is from either G-Skill, Kingston or OCZ in that order.

I’ve tried to set timings manually. But as far as I understand the computer should boot to BIOS setup at least.

Incorrect settings in the BIOS can exhibit various symptoms depending on what is being affected and you only get error beeps if there is an onboard speaker, a black screen and no error beep is normally a sign of failed hardware.