Standard DRAM Memory

[diligentinquire]

Hi Folks:

Upgraded ram from 512mb (one stick) to 2gb (two sticks). When some program is running, e.g. search assistant or Spybot scan, CPU usage goes to and stays at 100%, slowing my puter to a crawl or sometimes freezing it.

<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->

A HP chat person said to upgrade with a Pentium4 3.06 GHz (Northwood) cause my PC has Intel® Pentium® 4 processor, has a 2.8 GHz speed and with this upgrade I would then have 3.6 GHz speed. But from googling it, looks more complicated than just increasing speed (maybe).

The Ram I bought and installed was described by Newegg as follows:

Crucial 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 333 (PC 2700) Desktop Memory Model CT12864Z335 - OEM

My crucial scan url is: 

http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/viewscanbyid.aspx?id=19E4C7EA31D926C3

Sure could use some good help on this prob. Thanks in advance, Diligent.

[lordgllynn]

Did you try the system with just the Crucial memory installed?! Did you make sure that the Crucial memory was installed in the slots closest to the CPU? What kind of memory is your old memory?!

[diligentinquire]

lordgllynn: thanks for taking your own time to help.

Will answer in the order of your questions:

(1). Q. Did you try the system with just the Crucial memory installed?!

       Ans. Yes, took out the one 512mb ram stick,  installed the two crucial sticks (2x 1gb)

(2). Q.  Did you make sure that the Crucial memory was installed in the slots closest to the CPU?

        Ans. Yes, cause only two slots avilable. Installed 1st Cucial in one slot. And 2d crucial in 2d slot..

(3). What kind of memory is your old memory?!

       Ans. have to get back to ya on that. its an HP a1010n, but bought it used, so will figure out and advise.

edit: see this url, cant see how to give the ibfo otherwise. See

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/HP_Owner/My%20Documents/HP_Chat_Session_9_Nov_2009_20_14.html

[lordgllynn]

Next set of questions... Did you purchase the two sticks as a kit (pair) or did you purchase two individual sticks?! Second, were you able to get the system to POST with either stick installed individually? Lastly, have you checked your system's BIOS to see if you have the latest BIOS version?!

[diligentinquire]

Here is the puter's original  specs:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00303941&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_US...

Q1. Did you purchase the two sticks as a kit (pair) or did you purchase two individual sticks?!

Ans1. Bought two of these is all I know (Do not think it was called a "kit"):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145086

Q2. Second, were you able to get the system to POST with either stick installed individually?

Ans2.Took the orig single 512mb stick out. Put both 1g crucial sticks in. Had to refit cause I nid not press down firmily enough. Do not know what ya mean by "POST". Did not try either stick individually.

Q3. Lastly, have you checked your system's BIOS to see if you have the latest BIOS version?!

Ans.3. Been working on finding the right BIOS update, if any. HP's standard check says no update available. But one (good) chat person says one HP bios update does exist for this motherboard and its chips. Problem (for me) is that this update is for a printing problem, so not sure if its ok to use that Bios update or not.

Edit: Also should add, that after adding this new 2G ram, on shutdown (restart and turn off) Newly began to get "the memory could not be read." messages, as to certain running program >>I think that are listed in taskmanager.

Again, thanks for your time and help. Diligent.

[diligentinquire]

Did I answer your questions correctly? need more info? Thanks, Diligent.

[diligentinquire]

guess I lost ya. Can anybody else help pls? Thanks

[lordgllynn]

Sry, I missed your reply. I cannot tell if the memory you received is compatible with your system. Here is a link to Crucial's compatible memory upgrades:

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Pavilion%20a1010n

The memory you purchased is a single stick and not a kit (matched pair). You could possibly have some issues with that if dual channel is being used. Try each stick individually in each slot one at a time. As for what POST means:

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/p/power_on_self_test.html

When your system starts up, it does a basic function check on the hardware and then continues to boot if everything checks out.

You may want to contact Crucial Customer Service and find out if the memory you purchased is compatible with your system: HP Pavillion a1010n Desktop.

[diligentinquire]

Great, thoght I had lost ya!

Thanks also for the good inquiry info.

On statement one, please tell me what ya think. just what ya think is ok. No blame or commitments, etc. Smiles

Statement one: Sry, I missed your reply. I cannot tell if the memory you received is compatible with your system.

Response one>see:

http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/577599.aspx

Sound right to you, as a 2d doctors opinion?

I'll look thru your other good help, though the above might tell some of the rest of the story. Let me know what ya think after reading thru the above link.

Edit: Read the "post" def info. Don't know if using a "dual channel". Ya know of a "post" test? Freeware best, or trial too.

From my research, bios order may be one suspect. The other, right now, ram too much for current cpu (or heat prob).

Thanks much, again, Diligent

[lordgllynn]

You should really contact Crucial. They have the means to look up the memory by vendor part number. They can then compare to your system. It will only take a couple of minutes with them and you will have your answers. Once it's determined that your memory is correct, we can then start troubleshooting your problems. Crucial's testing goes a lot further than some other manufacturers tests. They actually test the memory on the system boards that they are recommending. And when they find the board is unable to perform to a high standard, they either stop recommending that particular memory module or they fix the memory to work with that board. This is why they guarantee the memory. Let's start with verifying your memory through Crucial Customer Support and then we'll work from there.