Memory confused: which one to buy

hi guys I have a dell inspiron e1705 with stock memory, wanting to max it out; I bought memory having a spec I thought matched all the info I had, but it won't work in pairs. I bought 2 1GB modules Ramaxel pc2-5300S-55 ... it will work on one module fine, but install the pair and it bombs. I tested each individually and both seem fine. I'll send it back or sell it.

so I gotta get 2x1gb=2gb to replace. the hynix ram that is in the system as I 'speak' is shown by SIW to be clocking 266.7. I'm ASSUMING the system clock will only support that speed or 200mhz - pls correct me if I'm wrong. so I should be able to run some form of DDR2-667 or -800, right?
What would be the BEST spec I can get for it?

Crucial is showing for this model: DDR2 PC2-5300 • CL=5 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR2-667 • 1.8V • 128Meg x 64 • • Part #: CT541054

Kingston's detail page shows this:
Expansions:
2 Socket(s)
CPU / Chipsets:
Intel Core Duo / Intel 945PM
Intel Core Solo / Intel 945PM

Comments:
This system is configurable and can ship with either DDR2-533 (KTD-INSP6000A/xx) or DDR2-667 (KTD-INSP6000B/xx). When mixing DDR2-533 and DDR2-667 modules, the system will default DDR2-533 speed.

Suggestions?

thanks!

 

how much mem do you have at the minute? might be worth uploading a speccy log so we can see exactly what you have. the crucial mem diagnostic is usually pretty good.

 

it has a matched pair of Hynix 512mb sodimms, the label showing 2Rx16 PC2-4200S-444-12

the patient is at another locale so I cannot run a scan just now. SIW showed the clock info that I mentioned

 

According to the Dell site here (please correct me if this isnt your laptop. Your system supports memory running at 667MHz

ours is currently running at 533MHz. I find it odd that it ships with RAM that is less than it should ship with.

According to the spec you need PC5300 memory... Something like this, which is what I think you have bought. It could just be a bad batch of RAM

 

You are running DDR2-533. DDR stands for Double Data Rate, which essentially means that since the memory is smart enough to be effective about how it moves data, even though the actual frequency is 266.7MHz, data that moves through the memory actually moves at twice that speed. So 266.7 x 2 = 533.4, which rounds down to 533MHz data rate. DDR2-533 is sometimes also referred to as PC2-4200, as SIW told you.

When you tested the two 1GB individually, did you test both slots? One of them might be busted (which would suck). If both slots are okay you might just need a BIOS update before you can max out the memory. Needing to update the BIOS for that is actually depressingly common...

BIOS here

Note: The BIOS is the brain/firmware/magic-that-makes-it-work of the motherboard. Update at your own risk, and more importantly, read the manual before you try.

 

brilliant Mim - why did I not think to check for a bios update?

yes to answer the other questions: obviously the current pair of 512's works fine, and with the 1GB's I checked carefully each of them, one at a time, in each slot. all that works fine with just one installed, but no boot with both installed. I will check the bios against the updates.

so I can learn: what other specs [timing? density?] might account for the problem? I guess the old rule of thumb is, when in doubt, buy LOW density RAM, and I do not know if the 2GB I bought it considered such - Its embarrassing to admit that whereas I do understand density pertaining to chip count/capacity, I don't know what in the expanded specs clues such.

 

couple of spec items from Intel. If someone can read this better than I ... I am not seeing anything in the tested/validated specs here that varies from the two modules I'm having trouble with.
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/platform-memory/ddr2-667-sodimm-validation-results.html

The E1705 model is allegedly the same as the business-targeted Inspiron 9400, both use the Intel "Calistoga" i945GM/PM as SIW indicates.
Chipset spec here: http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/datasheet/309219.pdf

 

That rule is, as you say, old. It has started to come into play again with some of the first generation DDR3 systems out there, but it doesn't really apply to DDR2. With DDR2 chipsets/motherboards, the only time chip density is factor is if you have a really old Toshiba laptop (don't ask), or if you have an ATI chipset that can't mix densities. Since you're replacing both your old parts with two new ones, that second one isn't an issue for you either.

If you have two good slots and two good sticks of memory, the most likely reason the two 1GB are not working together is in the motherboard, either the memory controller can't quite handle things anymore when you max it out, or the power supply can't give the slots enough boost to start 2GB total. Either way, the solution is either a BIOS update or to replace the motherboard... which in a laptop tends to be too expensive to be worth it.