New RAM - Compatibility?

[polybear]

I've got some PNY Ram for my imedia 1307. I've checked thoroughly that it's the correct type etc., including email advice from PNY. However, they admit that they've not tested the RAM module in my particular model, they do say that it "should work alright with your imedia".
I've seen some websites that mention compatibility issues - even though a RAM module is the correct type etc. it does not mean it definitely will work with any given computer using the same memory type. Any advice/thoughts would be much appreciated please. Thanks.
Polybear.

[Web-Junkie]

First, you should get some written/e-mailed assurance that if you try it and it doesn't work you can return it.

If Packard Bells site can be believed your iMedia has an ASUS P5S800-VM µATX mobo and Crucial sell this RAM for it, which is standard RAM for most motherboards, so if your PNY RAM has the same spec as that sold by Crucial it 'should' work.

But as you've already noted there may be some problem, then ensure you can return it and buy RAM from somewhere else, again ensuring if it doesn't work it can be returned!

[LSainsbury]

Do yourself a favor and get the RAM from http://www.crucial.com/uk/

They have a system compatibility tester that can check your system and tell you what you need....

I've just done exactly that for a PC that I'm upgrading!

[brundles]

Crucial is a great site for buying new memory especially with the guarantee they provide. The only problem I had was that my Packard Bell (an iXtreme - can't remember which model - I had to go rummage around through spaghetti junction last time to find out) came back classed as an NEC when I tried the system scanner.

It still got the right details when putting everything in manually though.

[nffc]

OK the ram you have in there is 256 MB PC3200 (DDR400) x8 (source - Packard Bell)

I have some proper PNs but they're probably specifically made for PB. Micron do make a few of them though, and they also make for crucial so that should be a pretty decent source.

In any case this is the details for the MB in the system in terms of RAM compatibility

• Supports 2 memory slots.
• Supports a maximum memory size of 2 GB (using 2 x 1 GB memory modules)
• 400/333/266 MHz
• Support only 2.5 V DIMM DDRAM configurations
• Unbuffered type support

The northbridge has a single RAM controller so matching pairs makes no difference - in any case only 2 slots.

If you want guaranteed compatible RAM I believe it's something PB sell direct to customers- 0870 513 3332

HTH

---------- Post added at 18:28 ---------- Previous post was at 18:28 ----------

Originally Posted by brundles

Crucial is a great site for buying new memory especially with the guarantee they provide. The only problem I had was that my Packard Bell (an iXtreme - can't remember which model - I had to go rummage around through spaghetti junction last time to find out) came back classed as an NEC when I tried the system scanner.

It still got the right details when putting everything in manually though.

That's because NEC make PB machines!

---------- Post added at 18:29 ---------- Previous post was at 18:28 ----------

Originally Posted by Web-Junkie

First, you should get some written/e-mailed assurance that if you try it and it doesn't work you can return it.

If Packard Bells site can be believed your iMedia has an ASUS P5S800-VM µATX mobo and Crucial sell this RAM for it, which is standard RAM for most motherboards, so if your PNY RAM has the same spec as that sold by Crucial it 'should' work.

But as you've already noted there may be some problem, then ensure you can return it and buy RAM from somewhere else, again ensuring if it doesn't work it can be returned!

Correct.

[polybear]

Thanks for the replies - I stopped b*****ing around and tried the PNY memory. Seems fine.

Polybear

[Web-Junkie]

If you want to, you could try running a memory test!

Download MEMTEST86:
http://www.memtest86.com/memt32.zip

or MEMTEST86+
http://www.memtest.org/download/1.65....65.floppy.zip

Format a blank 1.44mb floppy, unzip either of the programs and run the install.bat file to create a bootable floppy disk. Bootup with the floppy disk and let the test run. Try leaving it running for a few hours, or however long you want but let it do 1 complete test and see if any errors appear.

*IF* you do get an error, then running your PC with dodgey memory may lead to it crashing unexpectedly (hard to gauge with windows I know!) and corrupting data. If you have 2 or more sticks of RAM, take them out and test them individually with either Memtest program and see if you can find the faulty one then send it back.

Either way, it's probably a good idea to run a meory test just to be sure!

[polybear]

Thanks - I'll give it a try.

Polybear

Originally Posted by Web-Junkie

If you want to, you could try running a memory test!

Download MEMTEST86:
http://www.memtest86.com/memt32.zip

or MEMTEST86+
http://www.memtest.org/download/1.65....65.floppy.zip

Format a blank 1.44mb floppy, unzip either of the programs and run the install.bat file to create a bootable floppy disk. Bootup with the floppy disk and let the test run. Try leaving it running for a few hours, or however long you want but let it do 1 complete test and see if any errors appear.

*IF* you do get an error, then running your PC with dodgey memory may lead to it crashing unexpectedly (hard to gauge with windows I know!) and corrupting data. If you have 2 or more sticks of RAM, take them out and test them individually with either Memtest program and see if you can find the faulty one then send it back.

Either way, it's probably a good idea to run a meory test just to be sure!

Full page for memtest here http://www.memtest86.com/
Just leaving it to run does not run the full set of tests you need to configure it to run full tests