upgrading RAM errors!

[ojemuyiwa]

Hi guys, It's newbie time! I'm trying to upgrade a dell dimension 3000

ProcessorClock speed 2.4 GHz
Processor type Celeron
Installed processor qty 1
Max supported processor qty 1
Processor manufacturer Intel
RAMRAM installed 256 MB
Max supported RAM 1 GB
Memory specification compliance PC3200
Memory speed 333 MHz
RAM features Two DDR channels
RAM form factor DIMM 184-pin
RAM technology DDR SDRAM

The long and short of my fruastrations is that I have actually purchased 2 x 1GB DDR pc3200 memory from two different manufacturers and when I put off my system, unplug power supplies, push button to ge rid of static, plug the bad boys in and... nothing but beeping! I've tried this proccess over twenty times with two different sets of memory and frankly, i'm hoping someone out there has this type/model system and has successfully upgraded the ram? Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Solaris17]

it only supports 1 gig max if you have/use 2x 1 gig sticks it wont run you can only use 1 gig stick

 

[Dippyskoodlez]

it only supports 1 gig max if you have/use 2x 1 gig sticks it wont run you can only use 1 gig stick

most likely. give 1 stick at a time a shot, or one stick may be bad.

 

[ojemuyiwa]

yeh! i tried that as well, even in the seperate slots bt it was all in vain! I actually returned the sticks and i'm now searching for sticks that would definitely work. any ideas?

 

[Jimmy 2004]

If you want to be SURE that it works you could get it from the Dell website, but then you probably won't end up with the best performance or price.

 

[Dippyskoodlez]

yeh! i tried that as well, even in the seperate slots bt it was all in vain! I actually returned the sticks and i'm now searching for sticks that would definitely work. any ideas?

www.crucial.com

pick the vendor (dell) then model...

those sticks WILL work... or they will make them work...

 

[trog100]

your specs quite clearly say it only suports 1 gig of ram.. so why are u tryng to make it work with 2 gigs..???

also if its dual channel it probably wont work with just one stick in.. it needs two..

u need 2 x 512 sticks then it will probably work..

trog

 

[Frogger]

"Memory speed 333 MHz " is memory locked in bios at 333 if so try changing to 400 and try 1 stick if that works try 2

 

[Polaris573]

Dells are finicky when it comes to RAM. RAM that worked in the 4600 I had wouldn't work in a friend's 4200. Go to the dell website and see if there are any BIOS updates for your motherboard. The 4600 has a few the 3000 might as well.

 

[srinatarajan]

Exact same problem upgrading Dell Dimension 3000

I have almost the exact configuration on my PC (mine has a Pentium 4 CPU) and I tired to upgrade to 2 GB - with 2 1GB sticks.
At startup, I get the 1-3-2 beep code. Dell documentation states that this means that there is a problem with the memory and reseating the memory sticks may fix the problem.
I tried all combinations of these two sticks and nothing works.

I am going to check if there are any BIOS upgrades available.

Update 4/2/2006
Found a BIOS upgrade, from version A01 to A03. No change to the memory upgrade behavior, still get the 1-3-2 beep code at startup.

 

[Jimmy 2004]

It does seem that your PCs simply can't handle 2GB RAM. Just use 1.

 

[srinatarajan]

I was going by the specifications that came from Dell, when I bought my computer. This indicates that Dimension 3000 desktops can be expanded upto 2GB of RAM.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3000/en/SM/specs.htm

 

[Jimmy 2004]

Have you tired clearing the CMOS - you normally do this using a jumper on the motherboard?