Ram

[John86]

Hey everyone,
I was looking to buy this: http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/produ...&cm_keycode=92
But when I run Cpu-z, it tells me that my "channel" for memory is Single. Does this mean I need a SIMM or DIMM card, or does that not apply at all?
Thanks,
Hiji

[Xiahou]

What's your motherboard brand/model number?

[Phatose]

Specs on your machine would help a great deal.

Single channel has nothing to do with SIMMs or DIMMS. Unless your machine is absolutely a fossil, you're going to be using some kind of DIMM. Dual channel is a way of increasing bandwidth. It's requirement is mobo support, and in the case of AMD systems, CPU support. Basically, it requires you to use only matched pairs, and gets you some extra bandwidth.

You're sure your system takes DDR1 and not DDR2, right? They are not compatible.

[John86]

Well I found out what I had was fine, but after I installed the 512mb ram, my computer wont read it, any suggestions?
Heres my motherboard:
ASUSTek Computer INC.
Model: A7N266VX
Chipset: Nivida

[Xiahou]

I think it takes PC2100 or better DDR RAM- so yeah, I wouldve thought the RAM you linked was fine.

You said 'A7N266VX', but the only thing I could find was 'A7N266VM'. Was that a typo possibly?

[Geezer57]

Try moving your new memory to a different memory slot - if that fails, try removing your old memory to see if the motherboard will recognize the new RAM by itself.

[orangat]

Your motherboard is an old socket A model when 512Mb sticks were still rare. The mobo/bios is probably not compatible with that particular stick.
I suggest getting 256Mb sticks instead and updating the mobo bios.

[Beirut]

Try moving your new memory to a different memory slot - if that fails, try removing your old memory to see if the motherboard will recognize the new RAM by itself.

I had this problem. There were three slots on one of my old MB but the the RAM would only read if the strips were on the outside slots with the middle empty. Next to each other they failed to work.