A Question For Computer Experts

[Steve K (IA)]

I wanted to upgrade my memory.   My motherboard is MSI MS-6380E (KT3 Ultra2).  Using Crucial Scan, it says my board will support 3GB of memory.  Here is what Crucial Scan shows.

# Maximum Memory Capacity:  3072MB
# Currently Installed Memory:  512MB
# Available Memory Slots:  1
# Total Memory Slots:  3
# Dual Channel Support:   No
# CPU Manufacturer:  AuthenticAMD
# CPU Family:  AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2000+ Model 6, Stepping 2
# CPU Speed:  1666 MHz

The memory that is in the machine is 256 MB PC-2100 266MHz non-ECC (2 cards)

 I bought what Crucial said was compatible...1 GB PC-2700 333MHz ECC Registered (2 cards) that would be 4 x what I have had.

Installed the new cards and the machine wouldn't boot up.  Just sat there giving a "beep" code that translated to something wrong with the memory.  Ended up putting things back the way they were.   

Do I need to return the memory and exchange for PC-2100 266MHz non-ECC but 1 GB capacity? 

Also, can you explain the difference between PC-2100 266MHz and PC-2700 333MHz?

Oh, our Valkyries are covered up and sleeping in the garage because it is currently 16 degrees outside.

[mikeb]

did you pull the old memory ? some times  they dont mix well i see you listed two speeds  if tou just added the new it may be upset over that

[Sharkey]

The pc 2700 is just a faster menmry, and it will operate at a higher front side bus speed, but can clock its self down to work at 2100. I would try taking out the 2100 and just booting it with the 2700 in it. You can run the higher speed memory, but try not to mix and matc speeds. You may also have to adjust the FSB or Memory speed in your BIOS.

[Jess Tolbirt]

since memory is so cheap right now i say toss out the 256 chips and install 3 -1gig chips of the same speed....
as said above when you mix the FSB speeds they get confused and dont know what to do....

[BigAlOfMD]

http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=downloadfile&dno=3556&type=manual

According to the manual, what you have should work.

[Steve K (IA)]

Yes, I took out the old memory.  Guess I will give it another go.

[Robert]

Not a good idea to mix and match if after you put the new memory in and it still gives you a beep make sure you boot one more time sometimes on the first boot it doesn't fully adjust the bios and with the second boot it works. Heck there have been times Ive done it 3 times and had it work and there was nothing wrong. On my new computer you have to go into the bios and reset to system defaults to really shake out the whole thing on a regular computer that sometimes takes more than one try. The higher the number on the memory the faster the speed it process. Hence faster computing, and your computer wont recognize anything over say 3.5 gigs of memory. I would also see what the mfg recommends here is a link to some options just to look at.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010170147%201052407860&name=DDR%20333%20%28PC%202700%29

[ArmyValker]

boot into the bios and adjust the memory section to "auto" or some such thing. Alot of times the manufacturer's bios is not set for that stuff (don't know why) if that doesn't work, take out the memory and make sure you've got it installed in the first two slots on the board (not 2 and 3) and that it's fully seated (doesn't always seat well) if that doesn't work, you'll have to get new memory.