Laptop won't boot with new RAM in upper slot, works in lower or with old RAM

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MailboxMonster

MailboxMonster

Commendable
May 24, 2016
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1,510
Hi,

I decided to upgrade my old laptop with 2x4GB Corsair CM3X8GSDKIT1066 PC3-8500 Ram sticks (DDR3, 1066 Mhz, 7-7-7-20, 1.5V, non-ECC). What happens is that as soon as I put any one of the new Ram in the upper of two slots, the laptop refuses to even post (power and wifi led light up, screen remains black, no beeps), while I have no issues at all when I put any of the two Corsair sticks on its own in the lower slot. The laptop even boots normally when I combine any of my old Ram with the new sticks, as long as I don't put a Corsair stick in the upper slot.

Specs:

  • Model: Lenovo G550 20023
    Mainboard: Lenovo NITU1 with Intel GM45 chipset
    CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T4300
    Old Ram: Micron DDR3 PC-8500 1066MHz, CL7, 1.5V, non-ECC, 1x2GB & 1x1GB (mt16jsf25664hz-1g1f1 & mt8jsf12864hz-1g1f1)
    Bios: Pheonix 18CN44WW (V2.53)
Things I have tried:

  • Updated Bios to latest 64-bit version
    Disconnected battery/AC and held power button for 30 sec to clear CMOS
    Cleaned memory slots with air can
    Checked each Corsair stick on its own with memtest86, 0 errors
Any suggestions are welcome!
 
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MailboxMonster

MailboxMonster

Commendable
May 24, 2016
8
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1,510
Here are the screenshots, first the old ram:

vPq9DGs.png


And the new ram:

SrYzqjI.png
 
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Starcruiser

Starcruiser

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May 18, 2013
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Let me be more clear then:
The manufacturer says the computer supports up to 4 GB.
Variances in the components can make some motherboards and processors slightly higher quality, enough to allow for slightly above normal specification. The same is true when overclocking.
To be honest I think you're lucky it works with 6 GB, as that is beyond the manufacturer specs already. The guy that got 8 GB was a fluke.
If both of the sticks are functional, then both of them would work. I'll bet if you used just the upper slot and left the other empty, it may work. Of course, if it doesn't, then it comes back to variances in the silicon.
 
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MailboxMonster

MailboxMonster

Commendable
May 24, 2016
8
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1,510


Ok, thank you for your answer. I tried both sticks on their own in the upper slot and it doesn't work.

The chipset specs state that 8GB are supported, that's why I believe that something else is at fault. Would it be possible that a new CPU (I've ordered the T9800) might resolve the issue?

 
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Starcruiser

Starcruiser

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May 18, 2013
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The CPU has the memory controller integrated into it, so it may resolve the problem. Of course, I've also seen some manufacturers *cough cough*dell*cough* actually set the max RAM in BIOS so you literally cannot go higher no matter what.
 
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MailboxMonster

MailboxMonster

Commendable
May 24, 2016
8
0
1,510


Unfortunately, BIOS doesn't allow that. The old ram runs at 1066MHz as well, but it is limited by my current CPU (T4300) which has an 800MHz FSB. I think I'll wait for the new CPU to arrive and hope that it fixes the issue. I'll update with results.

Thank you both for your answers.
 
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MailboxMonster

MailboxMonster

Commendable
May 24, 2016
8
0
1,510
Update:

With the new cpu installed, the ram didn't work at all. After some research, I found out that the Intel GM45 chipset is not compatible with ram modules that have high density chips on them. The Corsair ram has 4 chips on each side, so that's 8x512MB=4GB, which are high density chips.

I decided to return the Corsair ram and ordered the G.Skill F3-8500CL7D-8GBSQ instead, which has 8 chips on each side. The laptop now works flawlessly.
 
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