DELL OptiPlex GX110 not detecting installed memory (RAM)

O

onetitfemme

Hi,
..
I recently installed 512M RAM on a DELL OptiPlex GX110 which does not
appear to detect it
..
I know these boxes with proprietary designs have "peculiarities"
..
How do you think I can make this box proper;y read and report its RAM?
..
THank you
onetitfemme
 
P

Paul

Hi,
.
I recently installed 512M RAM on a DELL OptiPlex GX110 which does not
appear to detect it
.
I know these boxes with proprietary designs have "peculiarities"
.
How do you think I can make this box proper;y read and report its RAM?
.
THank you
onetitfemme

Are you sure the RAM's not faulty? Was it tested?
 
D

daytripper

Hi,
.
I recently installed 512M RAM on a DELL OptiPlex GX110 which does not
appear to detect it
.
I know these boxes with proprietary designs have "peculiarities"
.
How do you think I can make this box proper;y read and report its RAM?
.
THank you
onetitfemme

What "peculiarities"? I'll concede its two-dimm slot limit was clearly a
shortcoming among its peers, but otherwise your steam-powered Dell (built in
1997?) sports an Intel 810e chipset, which can only handle up to 256MB
PC100/PC133 dimms - and you better get the right ones at that - like pretty
much every system of its era...

/daytripper
 
P

Paul

What "peculiarities"? I'll concede its two-dimm slot limit was clearly a
shortcoming among its peers, but otherwise your steam-powered Dell (built in
1997?) sports an Intel 810e chipset, which can only handle up to 256MB
PC100/PC133 dimms - and you better get the right ones at that - like pretty
much every system of its era...

/daytripper

The info can be seen here, under the 810E column.
http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/mature/index.htm

The Asus P3W-E uses the 810E chipset, and it is limited to 256MB
DIMM in size. Total system memory can only be 512MB max. (I used
the Asus product to look this up, because the Dell Optiplex GX110
is no longer listed on the Crucial site. This motherboard has
equivalent limitations to the GX110.)

http://www.crucial.com/store/listpa...oards&mfr=ASUS&tabid=AM&model=P3W-E&submit=Go

The 256MB modules are not just any module - they should have a
total of 16 chips, 8 per side. These are referred to informally
as 256MB "low density" modules, as they use 16 chips. If you
use 256MB "high density" modules, which only have 8 chips total
on them, they will not work correctly either. Buying the
ones on the Crucial web site will be safe. Buy two modules
if you wish a total of 512MB.

If you want to be adventurous, make sure if you buy another brand
of 256MB module, that it has 16 chips on it.

You will need to return the 512MB stick of memory you bought.
Or sell it on Ebay.

Paul
 
P

pen

Paul said:
The info can be seen here, under the 810E column.
http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/mature/index.htm

The Asus P3W-E uses the 810E chipset, and it is limited to 256MB
DIMM in size. Total system memory can only be 512MB max. (I used
the Asus product to look this up, because the Dell Optiplex GX110
is no longer listed on the Crucial site. This motherboard has
equivalent limitations to the GX110.)

http://www.crucial.com/store/listpa...oards&mfr=ASUS&tabid=AM&model=P3W-E&submit=Go

The 256MB modules are not just any module - they should have a
total of 16 chips, 8 per side. These are referred to informally
as 256MB "low density" modules, as they use 16 chips. If you
use 256MB "high density" modules, which only have 8 chips total
on them, they will not work correctly either. Buying the
ones on the Crucial web site will be safe. Buy two modules
if you wish a total of 512MB.

If you want to be adventurous, make sure if you buy another brand
of 256MB module, that it has 16 chips on it.

You will need to return the 512MB stick of memory you bought.
Or sell it on Ebay.

Paul
In case you want to read it from Dell look here;
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx110/en/ug/specs.htm#memory
All you've been told is correct.
 
B

Bob Knowlden

Dell (support.dell.com) lists the machine as supporting a maximum of 512 MB
of RAM.

It probably requires low-density DIMMs. Most 256 MB DIMMs on the market are
not low density, and won't be compatible with your system. This has nothing
to do with the failings of Dell machines - it's a limitation of the old
Intel 810e chipset.

I visited Crucial (www.crucial.com), and they seem to no longer offer
low-density DIMMs. I don't know where to suggest going to find them. (eBay?)

Good luck.


Address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.
 

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