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    Need help: New RAM not being recognized

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by Pyrok, Dec 6, 2011.

  1. Pyrok

    Pyrok Notebook Enthusiast

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    Today I got in the new 8gb of RAM I ordered from newegg. I just put it in and booted up, and for some reason only 1 of the sticks is showing up and my computer is registering as only having 4gb of RAM. When I load up CPU-Z, it shows 4gb in memory slot one, and when I select memory slot 2 there's nothing there, it's just empty. Suggestions/advice?

    Thanks!
     
    Pyrok, Dec 6, 2011
    #1
  2. FahrenheitGTI

    FahrenheitGTI Notebook Consultant

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    Try switching them, it may also not be seated properly.

    So:
    1. Take them out
    2. Switch which slots they were in
    3. Make sure they are secured fully
     
    FahrenheitGTI, Dec 6, 2011
    #2
  3. Pyrok

    Pyrok Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks a ton, that did it. I'm registering a full 8gb now. This is the first time that I've ever upgraded RAM, is there anything that I should run or test or anything like that to make sure it's working properly?
     
    Pyrok, Dec 6, 2011
    #3
  4. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    You can test your sticks with memtest, download it, create a bootable USB stick,DVD etc. and run all tests.
    If there are no errors, you should be fine.

    http://www.memtest.org/
     
    katalin_2003, Dec 7, 2011
    #4
  5. cct1

    cct1 Notebook Enthusiast

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    The Dell diagnostics partition also has a pretty thorough memory test on it. Hit F12 at boot and select diagnostics. If thee new memory registers though, it is unlikely to have any problems.
     
    cct1, Dec 7, 2011
    #5