Member Avatar for mah300274

I bought a lot of RAM, 20 sticks, for some desktops that I'm rebuilding. Rebuilding as on upgrading, as most or all work. I put in 2 1Gb sticks (Samsung k4h510438b-TCB3) into some d51s desktops. The max should be 2 1gb's at or around 333mhz but the computer would not boot. It turns on and the lights all flash like normal but will not even show the boot screen. So I put in the old RAM after fildleing around with the 1gb sticks like changes out which dimm sockets and it booted up. These were just 2 256mb sticks (hyb25d256800bt-6). They both should be the same speed too, that's what I don't understand. If I messed upped somewhere please tell me where. Thanks!

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Dani AI

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Brief summary and what to watch for: the symptoms you describe (older, smaller DIMMs work; newer higher‑capacity sticks prevent POST) point less to a simple timing tweak and more to one of three things — module type/density incompatibility, a motherboard limitation, or hardware damage from the earlier powered‑on mishap. and offered the usual first checks; below are more diagnostic details and next actions that add to those ideas.

Practical next steps (do these in order):

  1. Inspect the motherboard closely for scorch marks, cracked/bulging caps, or blown components. A smoked chip often leaves damage that prevents RAM detection.
  2. Verify module type: confirm the new sticks are unbuffered/non‑ECC if the OEM board expects that, and check the vendor’s per‑slot maximum (some older desktops only accept certain densities or max 512MB per slot).
  3. Test each new stick in a known‑good machine, and test a known‑good stick in every slot of the problem machine to isolate bad DIMMs versus bad slots.
  4. If any stick works, run a bootable memory tester (memtest86+) to validate it. If none of the new sticks work in any machine, presume the modules or their SPD are incompatible or faulty.
  5. If the board will POST intermittently, examine BIOS settings: manual voltage/timing adjustments can sometimes help, but only after confirming compatibility.

BIOS updates and safety: only flash the BIOS if the vendor’s support notes explicitly list “memory compatibility” or fixes for your model. Flashing a BIOS on a board with physical damage or unstable power can brick it. Because you reported a component smoking, prioritize visual/electrical inspection or replacement over repeated flashing attempts.

If compatibility remains unclear, consider sourcing OEM‑listed modules or lower‑density sticks known to work with that model. Replace the damaged board if inspection shows burn damage — continuing to power a burned board risks further hardware loss or fire.

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Member Avatar for crunchie

Pull the battery from the motherboard, install the new ram, refit the battery then go into the bios and set the bios to optimum settings. Save and exit then see if it will boot.

Make certain you have the power off first :).

Edited by crunchie because: n/a
Member Avatar for mah300274

I'll try when I get home, I tried to quickly do the reset but it may work too. Funny you said to remember to have power off as I know precautions but I was really getting anxious yesterday trying this and I fried a bored (sweet smell of smoke. With that, a chip smoked like I said when messing with RAM while it was on (stupid of me and I know it) but then I tried to restart it and it beeped as if no RAM? Why did something like this happen / what causes it?

Member Avatar for caperjack

Why did something like this happen / what causes it?

if you have to ask that question ,maybe you shouldn't be playing with electricity

Member Avatar for mah300274

No, I know somewhat why, but didn't know if a certian chip overloaded due to sending a charge to a thought to be closed circuit but then being open.

Member Avatar for mah300274

Well I got home and tried but no luck with the desktops. Still the same problem

Member Avatar for mah300274

Pull the battery from the motherboard, install the new ram, refit the battery then go into the bios and set the bios to optimum settings. Save and exit then see if it will boot.

Make certain you have the power off first :).

This did not work for me, any other suggestions?

Member Avatar for crunchie

Try a single stick of RAM and see if it will run.

Member Avatar for mah300274

Already have.

Member Avatar for caperjack

Compaq's' like Dells are very fussy when it comes to ram type

Member Avatar for mah300274

So... what should I do? Any certain reason why this is having issues? Everything I could find was compatible...

Member Avatar for crunchie

More than likely the BIOS version that is preventing it from working.
As CJ said, Compaq and Dell (amongst others) prefer you use proprietary hardware.

Member Avatar for mah300274

Is there any new BIOS updates that fix these issues?

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