Memory Issue

I purchased some memory for an Emachine T3256. The computer came with 512 ram of memory upgradable to 2 gigs. I went to crucial and kingston as well as the website to verify the memory. Which is advertised at PC2700. I received the 1 gig kingston memory and tried to install. When I rebooted I got a loud audio error sound. I tried the other slot rebooted and got same sound. I then removed the 512 stick and here is where I am confused. Instead of the advertised pc2700, there was a 512 stick from Samsung for a pc3200? I am the only person to every crack open the case. First question, is how could Emachine use a PC3200 memory when they advertise to use PC2700? Secondly, I tried to remove the 512 stick (PC3200) and use the 1 gig stick (PC2700) with no luck. I had the stick for over a month before the install, so I cannot return. Do I have to buy PC3200, even though all specs indicate the T3256 uses PC2700

 

Hi Silent,

Memory and other chips of same specs except for speed and all created equal. The speed is assigned during factory testing. PC3200 should work ok in your machine. The System will assign the proper speed and will usually pick the speed of the slowest mem stick. There is more to it than this but maybe this will help clear up any confusion.

Good Luck, Jim

 

Correct.
The faster RAM will clock itself down to the speed of the slowest.
If it is the only stick and is faster than the motherboard supports,It will clock down to that level.

 

Thanks for the replies, however, I still cannot use the Kingston PC2700 184 Pin memory (that is advertised for use with this computer). I only get and audio error. The computer does not boot up. I guess I need to order PC 3200 memory which seems like a waist because if it does slow down the memory to meet the speed of the bios, then why purchased PC3200 memory that runs at PC2700 speed?

 

Yeah the audio is a 3 second intermediate beeping. I can't get to the bios when I install the memory. I try to reboot and just get the audio beeping

 

If mixing the 2 types, the non-ECC should be installed in the first slot(S). ( ) is if dual channel. This is OK.
If ECC is first ahead of the non-ECC, Memory Error message.

 

Lots of reasons... if they had no PC2700 available when they put the thing together, or if the PC3200 was cheaper to get hold of, they'd put that in instead. The T3256 is supposed to have a memory bus of 333MHz, which means that if you put in DDR memory of a higher speed that memory clocks itself down to 333MHz and runs as if it was a PC2700. It's a useful feature.

Look at the 1GB stick and tell me if it has eight black ICs (component chips, they look like small black fridge magnets) on either side, or only 8 on one side. Also look at the 512MB stick and count the components on that one. If they both have 8 on one side only, you need to get a 16-chip 1GB stick to match the component density of the 512MB. That's the short and simple answer, if you want more details, let me know.

If the new 1GB stick has eight ICs on each side, the most likely explanation is that it's just a dud, a DOA. Here's the thing: Kingston will replace the dead stick under warranty. All they'll want you to do is to spend a few bucks to ship it to them, and they'll ship you a free replacement stick back. You can get an RMA from them here.

If the new 1GB stick has 9 or 18 ICs on it it's an ECC module, and that makes it incompatible with your computer.