Is This Bad RAM or Incompatible with Motherboard!?

[TheFuteballer]

So I'm trying to upgrade my moms old crappy Dell C521 and I'm swapping out their 512 MB 400 Mhz RAM for 2x1GB 800 Mhz that I bought for $10 from Canada Computers.

Now when I install them and boot up, everything runs but nothing on the screen and I get the beep code (1 long, 2 short) which according to the Dell service manuals means "Memory test failure (bad memory during memory sizing)". Now I don't know if that means it is defective RAM or if the motherboard can't handle it?

I already exchanged one set of RAM for another today thinking it was defective but the same thing is happening again!

Any clues?

[SLee]

Which memory is it? Dell are picky in memory, they'll only accept memory that has the SPD settings that meet the JDEC standards and there are no BIOS options to change any of those settings. For DDR2-800, it needs to 5-5-5 at a voltage of 1.8v.

[TheFuteballer]

Which memory is it? Dell are picky in memory, they'll only accept memory that has the SPD settings that meet the JDEC standards and there are no BIOS options to change any of those settings. For DDR2-800, it needs to 5-5-5 at a voltage of 1.8v.

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=010870&cid=RAM.346.307

That would make sense but so stupid.. why wouldn't they mention this in the manuals!?

Which RAM would you recommend so I can make sure it will work? Is it safe to say that most 5-5-5 's run at 1.8v?

[CalgaryRunner]

Some types of "performance" memory won't work at 1.8v. A better choice would be to buy some "value" memory like Corsair Value Select PC2-5300 (http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=009850&cid=RAM.346.314) or Crucial Rendition PC2-5300 (http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=012568&cid=RAM.346.314). I've given you links to CC since that's where you bought the original memory but there may be better prices available elsewhere.

[SLee]

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=010870&cid=RAM.346.307

That's strange, I have the 2GB 1066 version of this memory and they do have the proper SPD settings for DDR2-800. I've placed them into a Dell E521 system without any problems. You wouldn't happen to have another system to try the memory?

And as CalgaryRunner mentioned, the value type memory from big manufacturers like Crucial or Kingston are all rated at the standard specifications so there are no compatibility problems.

[Kwirky]

Some types of "performance" memory won't work at 1.8v.

Looks like you're correct, OCZ specs say these modules need at least 1.9v: http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr2_pc2_6400_platinum_revision_2_dual_channel

[willy]

Some types of "performance" memory won't work at 1.8v. A better choice would be to buy some "value" memory like Corsair Value Select PC2-5300 (http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=009850&cid=RAM.346.314) or Crucial Rendition PC2-5300 (http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=012568&cid=RAM.346.314). I've given you links to CC since that's where you bought the original memory but there may be better prices available elsewhere.
I agree ... Crucial Rendition should work ...

[TheFuteballer]

That's strange, I have the 2GB 1066 version of this memory and they do have the proper SPD settings for DDR2-800. I've placed them into a Dell E521 system without any problems. You wouldn't happen to have another system to try the memory?

Unfortunately the rest of my family has converted to laptops so I can't really test anywhere else.

Regardless thanks for the input, I can't believe I didn't find out about this before, wasted a good day and a half :| I think I'll probably go for the value ram since my mom doesn't really do anything special anyways.

[Amourek]

You should always buy value RAM for such systems for maximum capatibility. Brands like OCZ always require extra voltage.