Just installed ram on ASUS mobo - now video isn't showing in the screen.

[Terminator2000]

I have a mobo thats an ASUS X Series Motherboard P4VP-MX-UAYZ

I just installed two sticks of 1GB DDR 3200/2700 PC400/333
184 Pin DIMM. One 1GB in each of the slots.

Yes, they are both the same make and model.

BUT...

when i restarted the computer. there's now no picture on the monitor. No video shows up.

Is there a compatibility problem with the sticks of ram and my mobo? I tried checking but my mobo doesn't show up on the asus website.

Maybe they're not compatible or the mobo can't handle the power of the ram sticks or maybe the ram sticks weren't installed properly. Or maybe I got the wrong sticks of RAM. I'd like to know so i can return it and get the right ones.

Help.

Maybe if i take out the sticks of ram. the video will come back on the screen. Maybe the sticks are interfering with the mobo's functioning.

The mobo is running and the fans are whirring and the lights go on and the computer sounds are normal. So what is it????

The video card is securely fastened (I double checked) and the video isn't the problem since it was working 20 minutes before. Maybe I fried the video card, with static from my fingers? But how, I was wearing anti-static wristbands. One anti-static wrist band on BOTH wrists and i made sure I was grounded to the metal case first before touching.

Fuck. I hate computers.

 

[JohnHenry]

Does it boot, and you have no video, or does it just sit there and laugh at you.
IF nothing happens, install a speaker, and count the beeps, then check ASUS's web site (or the MB manual) for the cause.

 

[Brownie69]

Are you sure you have the right type of Ram for the mobo? Maybe its incompatible.

If you have the right type, do you have too much? All mobo have a max when it comes to how much RAM can be installed on it....

 

[Brownie69]

ur motherboard only supports PC2100/PC1600 ram. PC 2700 should work but it's not always guaranteed.

There you go...... I suspect thats the problem....

 

[Cinema Face]

Is it a dual channel motherboard? Maybe both are in the same channel.

Or, maybe one of them is toast.

 

[jwmorrice]

Another thought: Be sure that your slowest RAM is in the initial position on the motherboard. I'd take out the RAM you already have, put the new RAM in, and then put your old RAM back in.

jwm

 

[thirdtime]

Adding the new memory may have made all the BIOS settings switch to 'Default' which would mean your video is output from the onboard chip and not the video card.
Check your BIOS settings and make sure the "Chipset" settings are "Integrated AGP - Disabled" and "Primary Graphics Adapter - is set to AGP. (PCI is the internal)

 

[Terminator2000]

Adding the new memory may have made all the BIOS settings switch to 'Default' which would mean your video is output from the onboard chip and not the video card.
Check your BIOS settings and make sure the "Chipset" settings are "Integrated AGP - Disabled" and "Primary Graphics Adapter - is set to AGP. (PCI is the internal)

how can i go into the bios when the video isn't showing up on the screen..

 

[thirdtime]

Plug your monitor into the motherboard's video output instead of the video card.

 

[Terminator2000]

Plug your monitor into the motherboard's video output instead of the video card.

Thirdtime, I did that. Still no video.

 

[Terminator2000]

The good news is....I called Best Buy and told them that the ram isn't compatible with my motherboard and that it was an honest mistake and they said I can bring it back for an exchange.

 

[jwmorrice]

Damn!

The good news is....I called Best Buy and told them that the ram isn't compatible with my motherboard and that it was an honest mistake and they said I can bring it back for an exchange.

Hey, that's cheating!!

jwm

 

[Terminator2000]

UPDATE

I tried to install the 2GB RAM sticks and the video stopped working.

So I take it to the shop and the guy calls me back and says he did a diagnostic and apparently the RAM is incompatible.

It was a 3200 1GB RAM stick. 2 Ram sticks, one for each slot.

but per the manual that I found on this very thread. It said that the motherboard was only compatible with 2 x 184-pin DDR DIMM sockets for up to 2GB memory. Supports PC 2100/1600 unbufferred non-ECC DDR DIMMs.

So I told the computer shop guy about the RAM sticks I inserted and how it might not be compatible. And he gives them back and tells me to take them back to BEST BUY and I took them back. The BEST BUY so-called GEEK SQUAD guy comes up and I tell him that the RAM sticks he suggested for my motherboard were wrong and that the comp shop guy told me that the 2 3200 RAM sticks fried my mother board. And the GEEK SQUAD guy acted all know-it-all like and said, the RAM sticks wouldn't fry my motherboard.

I was going to tell him I'm never going to come back and trust the GEEK SQUAD ever again, hopefully to get a reaction from him. But I didn't. He did agree to allow me a refund on both sticks. So it wasn't a total lost. I was going for them paying for the fried motherboard also. I was going to say the motherboard was worth at least 200 bucks. But no luck on that.

The comp shop guy said the RAM sticks fried my motherboard. I don't know whether to believe him or the GEEK SQUAD guy. They're both telling me two different things.

Who is scamming me?

Maybe the comp shop guy is just trying to make a nice buck off me. He does seem like the honest type though. So I'm not sure who the scam artist is.

Who do I believe?

Here's the report the comp shop guy made out for the GEEK SQUAD GUY:


_______

No video. Tried inserting 2 sticks of 1 GB RAM modules. Video stopped working.

Technician's Report: Given RAM Modules of brand K-Bye ran out of mainboard's specification in FSB and DRAM voltage. Incompatibility of DRAM voltage destroyed the northbridge and effectively killed the mainboard. A repair of such damage is not possible.

Dec 28/ 2007.

_______

P.S. Does more than 2 GB of Ram make a difference on a computer? One guy online told me it does. The comp shop guy is offering to give me a brand new motherboard, entirely different one that has the option of upgrading more than 2 GB of Ram. Should I go for it? I like RAM and speed.

P.S.S. When installing a new motherboard. Do the harddrives, master and slave drives need to be reformatted and wiped out to recognize the new motherboard installation?

I don't want to reformat or wipe out the information/date files on my harddrives because I didn't back them up. Yet, this comp shop guy might try to tell me they have to be reformatted to install a new motherboard on them. What can I do save/prevent him from doing that?

Thanks

 

[Keebler Elf]

When installing a new motherboard. Do the harddrives, master and slave drives need to be reformatted and wiped out to recognize the new motherboard installation?

No. Except and unless your Windows won't detect the new motherboard. Then you may need to reinstall Windows and that will probably require wiping that particular drive (btw, I recommend partitioning new drives with one partition of 10-20 GB to use for your Windows OS. Then if you ever need to reinstall Windows, you can just wipe that partition and not everything in the other partition(s) on the drive).

I'm having a brain cramp at the moment and can't remember if new mobo requires new Windows installation. Maybe yes, maybe no.

I'd take the computer shop guy's report to Best Buy, show it to them, tell them the RAM was recommended by their very own techs (it's even better if you have this documented and/or if you can show that the RAM clearly isn't compatible on paper), and then say either they cough up some cash/credit or you're going to sue. Whether it's actually worth suing in small claims court for a couple hundred bucks or not is debatable. Even better, take it up the Best Buy chain of command until someone listens. From what I've read, it sounds like they owe you something.

 

[thirdtime]

The guy is giving you a snow job. "Incompatibility of DRAM voltage" is bullshit. All DDR is made to run at 2.5 volts regardless of the memory's speed or timings. (DDR2 at 1.8 volts)

P.S. Over 2 GB of memory is only accessible if you're using a 64 bit version of XP or Vista. If you're not, don't bother getting more.

P.S.S. If Windows will boot and looks for the correct (missing) motherboard drivers, you can install them from the accompanying CD. That's still not an optimum scenario as the registry will be a mess. Only the drive (or partition) with the operating system on it should be reformated.
Applications on other drives\partitions will most likely have to be reinstalled to get the appropriate registry enties.

I'd go to a different computer shop guy, as the one you currently have either doesn't know his stuff or is deliberately bullshitting you.

 

[Terminator2000]

The guy is giving you a snow job. "Incompatibility of DRAM voltage" is bullshit. All DDR is made to run at 2.5 volts regardless of the memory's speed or timings. (DDR2 at 1.8 volts)

P.S. Over 2 GB of memory is only accessible if you're using a 64 bit version of XP or Vista. If you're not, don't bother getting more.

I'd go to a different computer shop guy, as the one you currently have either doesn't know his stuff or is deliberately bullshitting you.

Yeah. This bugs me. So, what did happen when I tried to install the new RAM sticks and I smelled a burning smell coming from the case. I used all the necessary precautions. I used two anti-static wristbands, one for each wrist and I made sure not to wear any sweaters or not to be standing on a carpet or rug. It was on a wooden table. So, maybe I installed them in wrong? Would that fry them? It did seem to fit in nicely and I didn't force it in at all.

Maybe, they were indeed incompatible?

I know I know. It looks easy but if you want it done right. Let a professional do it. I know I know. But then again, they can snowjob you whenever they please. So I thought about trying it myself. After all the necessary research. It didn't look too risky.

So, if he's snowjobbing me with "Incompatibility of DRAM voltage." Then the GEEK SQUAD guy is right. So, what DID happen then?

P.S. Is it possible to get a 64 bit version of XP or Vista to access over 2 GB of memory? If so, how do I know its a 64 bit version?

 

[thirdtime]

What were your anti-static wriststraps grounded to?
If grounded to the case, was the power cable attached and plugged in, and if you have a switch on the back of the computer on the power supply, was it turned off?

Memory sticks are 'keyed' with a notch so you can't install it backwards.
Were the locking tabs on each end of the memory clicked in? (Verifying it's seated properly)
You may have pushed too hard and damaged the motherboard, but it's hard to say what happened.

The 64 bit versions of XP Professional and Vista both support 128 GB of RAM. (Vista more). How much you can actually install is determined by your motherboard limitations.
64 bit versions can be a nightmare trying to find 64 bit drivers for hardware (printers, scanners, sound cards, etc)

How to determine whether your computer is running a 32-bit version or a 64-bit version of the Windows operating system:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218

 

[Terminator2000]

Guys,

I'm going to pay for this "comp shop" guy's diganostic (20$) and tell them "thank you" and get my computer back. A number of people all share the opinion that tech support from Bestbuy, Futureshop, Staples are just a bunch of idiots (eg. GeekSquad) (From Anth0ny, Bryan and various other sources.)

"As for the GeekSquad they are usually a bunch of idiots that dont know jack, I would not use any tech support from big companies like Bestbuy/FutureShop/Staples etc."
And this also goes for a many number of other places. Not only BestBuy and Futureshop, etc...but also many smaller places, as well.

Apparently, if you go to a car mechanic place to get your car fixed, for a faulty radiator. The mechanics usually get back to you saying, your muffler has a few holes in it and they "strongly suggest" you have it replaced. When in fact, you just replaced your muffler and installed a brand new one, the prior week before and you know for a fact, that these mechanic guys are scamming you for more money and are a bunch of liars and scum. Not only that, but they will probably go the extra mile and punch in holes into your brand new muffler just to prove their case.

This has been caught on tape, once or twice, in mechanic shops. They are scam artists and they try to run up a big bill, to get more money out of you.

The fact is, many "professional outlets" are dishonest and lie to your face about your equipment and machines.

Apparently, this is not the case with just one "professional place/source/shop" but many mechanic shops are dishonest. About 99.9% of shops are running this scam and are dishonest with their customers.

So, this is also the case with computer shops. They will try to "milk" as much money as they can from you.

Sadly, this is also the case, when it comes to vetrinarian shops as well. As they will try to "build" up your bill with extra fees. Every time you bring in your cat/dog,guinea pig for a simple rabies shot or whatever. They will each and every time give you a beautifully prepared and practiced speech about how your pet needs to be given 5 needles just for his own safety and has to be spayed against the horror of having stray baby pets running wildly in the streets. etc because of the epidemic of strays. etc etc and they will be very forceful in their statements...

So my questino is, if ALL professional places/shops/outlets are scamming their customers.

Who can I go to, in toronto...that will be honest and won't try to burn a hole in my pocket? Any honest comp shops in toronto?

 

[thirdtime]

I tried to install the new RAM sticks and I smelled a burning smell coming from the case.

Between your admission and the computer shop guy giving a report to the Geek Squad saying your 'northbridge chip' is fried, odds are that you need a new motherboard and memory.

If you've tried everything suggested in the thread and still have no video, the only thing you haven't tried is a different video card. Do you have any tech savvy friends that could swap video cards? It's a long shot, but worth trying before buying a new motherboard and memory.