Home PC smart guys - Help me out please., Issue w/ RAM. Options

[GlennCMC70]

Had a video card die on me overnight couple nights ago (fan fell off and cooked the chip). I got a new video card (Radeon HD 5450 2G DDR3) and while I was there I thought I would up the RAM.
Video card works great so far.

Now for the problem involving the RAM. PC is a eMachines T5212. Originally came w/ 512M RAM x2. Mitch was nice enough to give me a pair of G.Skill 2G cards (they say DDRII2GB PC2-6400). I installed them and discovered one of the 2 was bad (he told me this could be the case when he gave them to me). I was OK w/ it since I was moving from 2 512M cards (1G) to 1 2G card. I was 2 times better off w/ just the one card. So forward to today where I pick up a pair of PNY 2GB cards to populate both slots (to get 4GB total). They are DDR2 PC2-6400's. Neither will work in my PC. I tried both one at a time in slot 0 and the PC would not boot.
So I find a site that says it can scan my PC and tell me what RAM would work. This is what I get:

DDR2 PC2-5300
Memory Type: DDR2 PC2-5300, DDR2 (non-ECC)
Maximum Memory: 2GB
Currently Installed Memory: 2GB
Total Memory Slots: 2
Available Memory Slots: 1

2GB

DDR PC2-6400 EMPTY

Each memory slot can hold DDR2 PC2-5300 with a maximum of 1GB per slot.*

It is the last line that has me confused. It says my PC will only take a 1GB card per slot for a max of 2GB total. But I have a 2GB card in slot 0.
Is this just an issue of the G.SKILL card working where it shouldn't? I checked the bios and it see's the G.Skill card as 2048MB in slot 0. Should I seek out a G.Skill card (2 of them)?

[wrencher]

As I understand it, it's designed into the motherboard & the BIOS as to what your PC can accept RAM wise.
So if it says 2GB 1 per slot, that's what you should run.

[mitchntx]

Are you 100% sure the stick used that I gave you (2G) was recognized and running as 2G?
I've seen machines only use what it could use, regardless of size installed.
I bet if you scanned, it would onl return 1G of usable memory. The Bios may recognize the brand and size, but still only use 1G

You can type "Start", "All Programs", "Accessories", "System Tools" and then "System Information" to find out what the system is actually using.


As for using both slots ... It sounds like you've run against the wall on bus speed.

http://www.crucial.com/kb/answer.aspx?qid=4073

Because its a) an eMachine and (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) only came with 512K from the factory, I bet it's a 333mHz bus and not a 400 (less expensive).
Using the first slot and the only slot used, the machine used what it could.

The second mem slot is a slave to the first.
When trying to make both work, it becomes a LOT more fickle.

[GlennCMC70]

Total Physical Memory 2,048.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 1.05 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB

I looked at what you said Mitch and you seem to be correct. I was told basically the same thing by someone else - I may have 2G in there and the computor recognizes it (w/ some sticks and not others), but it cannot use more than 1G per slot. So this whole time I've had the 2G card in there, it has only been using half of it (1G).

The processor is a 805. Looked up the specs.
Specifications
Essentials
Status EOIS
Launch Date Q1'05
Processor Number 805
# of Cores 2
# of Threads 2
Clock Speed 2.66 GHz
L2 Cache 2 MB
Bus/Core Ratio 20
FSB Speed 533 MHz
FSB Parity No
Instruction Set 64-bit
Embedded Options Available No
Supplemental SKU No
Lithography 90 nm
Max TDP 95 W
VID Voltage Range 1.200V-1.400V

Memory Specifications
Physical Address Extensions 32-bit
ECC Memory Supported No

Graphics Specifications
Integrated Graphics No

Package Specifications
TCASE 64.1°C
Package Size 37.5mm x 37.5mm
Processing Die Size 206 mm2
# of Processing Die Transistors 230 million
Sockets Supported PLGA775
Low Halogen Options Available No

Advanced Technologies
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology No
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology No
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) No
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) No
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology No
AES New Instructions No
Intel® 64 Yes
Idle States Yes
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology No
Intel® Demand Based Switching No
Thermal Monitoring Technologies No
Execute Disable Bit Yes

[GlennCMC70]

Now I'm just getting pissed.
Got 2 1GB cards. Installed them. PC booted fine then locked up. Re-booted and no go, would not boot.
Pulled RAM in slot 1 out and PC booted fine on ram in slot 0. Swapped cards and PC booted fine.
Installed 2nd card and no boot.

WTF?

[mitchntx]

Got 2 1GB cards.

Brand?
Speed?
Do they have a batch number?

Some brands don't play well with certain Bios.
Memory from different batches can cause problems.

And some brands are just crap, with too loose tolerences.

[trackbird]

Or you have an issue with the second memory slot (or the supporting bus, etc) on the board.

[JimMueller]

I have an old eMachine T3256 and I couldn't find any memory that was completely compatible due to their restricted BIOS and crippled mainboard. I thought perhaps it was due to some special CAS/RAS timing they used but I gave up on it. When I called eMachines they offered to sell me more of their supported RAM though; I didn't buy it and just decided to never buy their product again. I installed a hacked BIOS to open up the BIOS and it didn't overclock very well.

This site indicates you should be using PC2-4200 RAM:
http://www.memorystock.com/eMachineseMachinesT5212.html
This site indicates you should be using PC2-5300 RAM:
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=T5212

I tend to believe Crucial over MemoryStock. I've read other threads about your model only recognizing the RAM in bank 0 and not in bank 1. Both modules worked individually but weren't recognized together. Going out on a limb, perhaps put the pair of 512MB modules back in and see if your diagnostic tool will tell you the RAM timings on the chips. They may also be listed on the modules themselves, something like 7-7-7-21, 9-9-9-24, etc. Then remove the 512MB modules and put in each 1GB module one at a time in bank 0 and see if the RAM diagnostic reports the same timings? Hope you have better luck than I did.