Not your typical RAM problem

RobDalton · October 24th, 2002, 12:58 PM

Hi guys and gals
We have a POS HP Pavilion 6830 at work that I've been trying to make faster. 64 megs of ram and trying to run WinME just isn't cutting it. Ive tried to add a Kingston 256 meg stick of pc133 but the OS wont recognize it. Still shows as 64 megs (actually 63 megs with shared video memory). Anyway, here's what I've tried so far:

1. I tried switching the order of the ram in the slots, but didn't help.
2. I tried another (different) stick of Kingston 256 pc133, but didn't help.
3. I tried a generic stick of 128 meg pc100, but didn't help.
4. I removed the original 64 meg stick and replaced it with a 256 meg stick it wouldn't boot.
Strange thing is, when I ran SiSoft Sandra it actaully sees the 256 meg stick in one of the memory slots on the motherboard, but Windows does not. I'm stumped.

It's a Celeron 700 running WinME. I belive an Intel 810 chipset.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

bill1971 · October 24th, 2002, 01:28 PM

Rob:
Do you have access to the HP manual? Or check the HP site for that model? You may gain some insight there on memory arrangement, etc.

I've added 64MB sticks to a couple of these Pavillions with no
problem being recognized. Just a thought.

- Bill

RobDalton · October 24th, 2002, 02:12 PM

Thanks Bill. I don't have the actual HP manual but I've scoured the HP support site. I also sent a note to HP tech support and got an impressively long winded reply that basically said that Kingston ram is not supported by HP. Regardless of wether or not Kingston is supported, I'm gonna have to call B.S. on that one. I realize that I'm using PC133 ram in a PC100 machine, but I haven't run into a case yet where that wouldn't be backwards compatible.
Biggest mystery to me is why would SiSoft Sandra see it but WinME doesn't? Crazy.

kendo · October 24th, 2002, 02:35 PM

It is not uncommon for OEM machines to be picky about the memory they support

When a computer will recognize only part of a module it is almost always due to using the wrong kind of memory

For example, if your computer accepts only single-banked memory and you have installed dual-banked, the computer will read only half the memory on the module

Sometimes the computer will accept only modules containing memory chips with specific organizations

For example, the VX chipset doesn't work well with 64 Mbit chips

It would also be possible for it to be a BIOS issue look for bios updates on the hp website

RobDalton · October 24th, 2002, 02:49 PM

Thanks Kendo! Great suggestion. I'm gonna flash the bios and see what happens.

RobDalton · October 25th, 2002, 02:18 PM

Well, got back to work this morning with BIOS in hand, flashed it, and it didn't work.

I really thought the BIOS update was gonna do the trick. God I hate HP. Anyone else have any ideas?

Richard Cranium · October 25th, 2002, 02:49 PM

Some of the "high density" RAM is problematic in HP/Compaq/E-Machines etc.

I forget the numbers that work and the ones that don't... anyone ?

Kimbo · October 25th, 2002, 03:29 PM

Don't know how much help this will be, but I always buy memory from http://www.crucial.com because I can look up the system and be guaranteed compatible memory. There are 3 models of HP 6830 listed there and I checked them all -- maximum memory on all 3 was 512 MB, so that shouldn't be your problem. Every HP I've ever upgraded has taken standard non-parity DIMMs without any problem, but I've never tried with Kingston ram. Crucial offers competitive prices and free 2nd day shipping in the U.S., as well as the money-back compatibility guarantee.

bill1971 · October 25th, 2002, 03:43 PM

Kimbo, I agree.
I've leaned heavily toward Crucial for the reasons that you mention. It's fairly price competitive.

I'll pick up a stick of Kingston or PNY retail sticks, when there's a good rebate to go along, and just recently ordered one of those
Viking 512MB PC133 sticks from Buy.com for $43 shipped, even
though I have no experience with Viking. We'll see.

- Bill