Two RAMS if same specs but differnt size

[ldc]

Hello,
I am kind of panicking now after what has happened (though it's not as bad as it could have been).

I had a Kingston 2GB RAM 800mhz DRR2. Due to Windows 7 needing more RAM I ordered from eBay another **(2GB DDR2 KINGSTON DESKTOP RAM 800MHZ 2 GB WARR : 5 YRS** (exact description of seller)

Now, both of them won't work together. To begin with the old and new one both work separately and I can see the 2GB RAM in MY COMPUTER properties. But both won't work together. The difference is physical. The newer one is double the width of the old one. The list that came with the old RAM says SODIMM | DIMM on it in big words while the new one only says DIMM on it.

Please help me.

MoBo is A785GE BioStar
CPU is AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+


Thanks

 

[Deleted member 217926]

You bought Laptop memory. SO-DIMMs are for laptops and some small form factor PCs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SO-DIMM

 

[ldc]

You bought Laptop memory. SO-DIMMs are for laptops and some small form factor PCs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SO-DIMM

I am sure I didn't get laptop memory.

http://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/280465891/DDR2_ram_1GB_slim_normal_size_667.jpg

This image should be the perfect example. The slim one is my old RAM, the thick one is the new one. Both are exact length and fit properly and show the 2GB RAM when used separately.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

OK then I have no idea. lol Sorry. Both are DDR2-800??

Edit: I didn't read your post well enough. You did say they both worked.

 

[ldc]

OK then I have no idea. lol Sorry. Both are DDR2-800??

Edit: I didn't read your post well enough. You did say they both worked.

Both the covers say "KVR800D2N6/2G-SP" and in small words below "2GB PC2-6400 CL6 240-PIN DIMM"

There HAS to be a way around this, right?

 

[hell_storm2004]

What are the timings of the two RAM's?

 

[ldc]

What are the timings of the two RAM's?

How do I do that? I use 'Speccy' for finding hardware info. Would that help to find the info?

 

[hell_storm2004]

Download CPU-Z.
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

Open it up and go to the memory tab and look up these terms... CL, tRCD, tRP, and tRAS. They are your timings. Normally DDR2 RAM's would have timings like 5-5-5-15.
So,
CL = 5
tRCD = 5
tRP = 5
tRAS = 15.

Both the timings and the frequency should match in order for the RAM's to work.

While you are at it, read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_timings

 

[ldc]

Download CPU-Z.
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

Open it up and go to the memory tab and look up these terms... CL, tRCD, tRP, and tRAS. They are your timings. Normally DDR2 RAM's would have timings like 5-5-5-15.
So,
CL = 5
tRCD = 5
tRP = 5
tRAS = 15.

Both the timings and the frequency should match in order for the RAM's to work.

While you are at it, read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_timings

I will need sometime to shut down my system to know the timing of the new one. The old one is 6 6 6 18

 

[hell_storm2004]

Manually downclocking one of the RAM's to match the other is one option. But its difficult. You may have to end up changing the RAM's.

 

[ldc]

Manually downclocking one of the RAM's to match the other is one option. But its difficult. You may have to end up changing the RAM's.

Down clocking is going to save me money right? How else would i convince the ebay seller to take back the new one?

 

[hell_storm2004]

Well it should. Best would be to sell of the old and get a new one matching it with the other new one just bought. But check first.

 

[ldc]

Well it should. Best would be to sell of the old and get a new one matching it with the other new one just bought. But check first.

Thank you so much for the help. Changing the clocks to 5-5-5-15 in BIOS worked. I still haven't checked the new RAM's default clocks separately. But I hope the current clocks are fine? No chances of the RAM being BELOW 5-5-5-15 right?

 

[ldc]

Best answer selected by ldc.

 

[hell_storm2004]

Well there are RAM's which are 4-4-4-15/12 available. I am not sure if Kingston has it. That is the lowest timings i have seen on a DDR2 RAM. You can check Kingston's website for it.

 

[hell_storm2004]

and in small words below "2GB PC2-6400 CL6 240-PIN DIMM"

If that is your new RAM, then it is a CL6 RAM. The CAS Latency timings are the most important so are mentioned on the cover of most RAM's.

 

[ldc]

If that is your new RAM, then it is a CL6 RAM. The CAS Latency timings are the most important so are mentioned on the cover of most RAM's.

Well, after your last message, I changed from 5 5 5 15 to 6 6 6 18. PC is working fine. Just not sure why in the AUTO mode for the clocks the RAMs won't start. And yes, the Kingston website confirms it's a CL6 RAM. I guess then the only difference in both sticks I have is size or something mundane.

Thanks a ton for your help!!

 

[hell_storm2004]

Welcome! Glad to help! Thanks for the vote.

 

[ldc]

Just a followup. Before I changed my settings, DRAM timings in BIOS was set to AUTO. Changing it to 6 6 6 18 or 5 5 5 15 worked. Now, after two days or using both the RAMs properly, I decided to press F9 and load optimal default which set the timings back to AUTO. The system boots fine so far... Weird

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey