Ram ?

[bugmenot1983]

PC 2008 HP A6600F Vista 64bit

Foxconn MCP73M01H1
Corsair 400watt psu
XFX 9800GT

Unit came with 3GB of ram: 1 x 1GB Samsung DDR2 PC2-6400 800 Mhz and a Hynix 1x 2GB DDR2 PC2-6400 800Mhz. System ram fine for a long time before it began to bsod with multiple error codes. Research turned up that it was a memory problem. I ram the different testers without too much of an answer other than HP's 'BIOME-1' . I tried the 2gb stick but it would continue the bsod and I got rid of it. Running the 1 GB samsung has been flawless aside from a slow OS due to 1 GB running a 64bit memory hog. I bought a brand new PNY 1 x 2GB DDR2 PC2-6400 800Mhz stick that says it is compatible with 6400, 5300, and 4200. It has a fancy silver metal shield on both sides over the chips. one side the metal is bent inward on both front and back in an erratic way, and the other end isn't bent at all.

Upon booting with this new stick by itself or paired with the samsung stick it fails to boot: one long loud beep. Research indicates that means bad ram. But the samsung 1 GB stick runs it just fine. could this just be a faulty stick? And would running a brand new memory stick in it's package over those mats so it won't set off the alarm at the doors to the store mess it up? returning it today to exchange it for another one just incase it was faulty and try the new stick tomarrow.

 

[jaquith]

I 'wish' BIOS didn't care about Speed, CAS timings, Voltage, and Type {including chips/side} - BUT it does.

If it were 'me' {option #1} one of (2) options: 1. Get a Matched-Set of 2x2GB as linked below, 2. 'Try' to Jerry-Rig the Speed, CAS, and Voltage and 'hope' it works and won't fail when you really need it not to fail.

HP Pavilion a6600f - http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01527396&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&product=3794742

Use this RAM -> http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Pavilion%20a6600f

Crucial:
Part #: CT901959 • DDR2 PC2-6400 • CL=6 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR2-800 • 1.8V • 256Meg x 64
Part #: CT901961 • DDR2 PC2-8500 • CL=7 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR2-1066 • 1.8V • 256Meg x 64

Jerry-Rig option:
Please post the following (2) images {I need EXACT part-numbers} <or> 'my preference' a link to the EXACT RAM sticks themselves.

Use CPUz - http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

 

[bugmenot1983]

budget and time were the issue and reason I bought just the one stick. http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/316132699/Ram_DDR2_2GB_PC6400.html is basically the spec sheet of the original ram that came preinstalled. (aside from being dual channel) and http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0293682 for the pny stick I bought

 

[jaquith]

DDR2 800 5-5-5-15 @ 1.8V - 2.0V ; Dual Channel Kit non-ECC
DDR2 800 5-5-5-15 @ 1.8V ; Non-Dual Channel non-ECC
=========================
On paper great -> read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-channel_architecture

Mixing Memory on ONE Dual Channel requires nearly identical RAM manufactured by the SAME RAM Mfg with identical IC used + memory modules on DIMM. Otherwise it is a crapshoot to get it to work together.

You 'can' run Memtest create a bootable CD/DVD {ISO/zip}; test for 2 passes - http://www.memtest.org/

Also you can try to 're-seat' the DIMM module and or clean the RAM contact with Isopropyl alcohol; sometimes the Mfg uses oils. There's nothing to set in the BIOS the speed, CAS, and voltage are all the same.

Otherwise bite the bullet and get the RAM as I linked above.