RAM Speed Question.

[xguntherc]

Agree'd John. I think I'll throw it in and see if the system downs it to the other sticks speed. and if thats stable I might keep it, but like you said. I should return it just for the fact it's wrong!

 

[xguntherc]

Update*

OK, so it's been a while, I've been busy. But today I finally gave the RAM problem another try. I shoulda returned the RAM sinply because it said pc2-4200 and was supposed to be, but It wasn't. it was in fact PC2-5300 and 677 instead of 533. So it was crashing my computer. I should return it cuz it's wrong. but figured oh well.

So today I tried installing the NEW ram thats showing as 5300, and I added it. but I kept in the old 4200 ram that the PC originally came with.. Doing so makes the system automatically slow the faster ram down to the slowest modules speed. So now with the original 1GB of ram, plus the new 2GB. for a total of 3GB of ram. and it's working FINE.

So, the new RAM caused BSOD. the old worked fine, the new was to fast, so even though it's not recommended. I added the faster new ram in with the old and it's working perfectly fine. So I'm just going to leave it be. It's not a computer that gets stressed much, just music, bills, web browsing and some itunes.. my mom will be happy now as it's got more ram, runs a little faster. and works fine.

Hopefully I see no problems later on.

thanks for all thehelp anyways guys. I appreciate it.

 

[johngalt]

might want to run memtest86 for a couple of hours to see if you might have problems down the road - let it run overnight.

 

[xguntherc]

Well said, good idea. thanks for the thought. Will do!

 

[Fumz]

I should return it just for the fact it's wrong!

Ram is rated, not set at a certain speed. DDR2-800 is rated to go at least 800MHz; it will also run perfectly fine at all speeds lower than 800MHz, and often, do just fine at speeds above 800MHz.

Just because the kit you have ran faster than expected in an OEM board doesn't necessarily mean the RAM is "wrong", in all likelihood, it's the board that's messing things up and is running the RAM at a speed it's not rated for; thus, all the problems.

I know you had another board like this one, but OEM's tend to lock down the bios; making adjustments impossible. They also like to have their memory in the board, which is basically one of the two reasons I suggested putting an original stick back in.

If it turns out that the RAM is indeed mislabeled and you got faster RAM than expected... well... keep it for an upgrade down the road!

 

[xguntherc]

ya it's mislabeled. It's actually PC2-5300 not 4200.

But like I said. I threw it in with the old 4200 as well. so the original 1GB. and now these 2x1GB sticks. and all is fine, Memtest is running right now and all is good. Been going over an hour, no errors, I'll let it go for a while though. One thing thats weird. the Original RAM is PC2-4200, 533 MHz, the new says that, but is actually 667 MHz. with them all in, it should run at the slowest modules speed. Memtest is reading that I have 3GB installed of PC2-4200 running at a speed of 572 MHz.. lol. HP boards are weird i guess.. either way as long as it's stable thats ok with me, cuz thats faster than originally planned. and is keeping it's tight timings just fine also. Just thought I'd share that info.

I'll let ya all know if I get errors. Hopefully not though.