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Question

Added RAM screwed up my computer. Please help!

Jan 8, 2015 7:08AM PST

I have an emachines, E525, single processor, 64-bit, Win 7.

My computer was running extremely slow, and after a couple of tests, I saw I had excessive paging, so I needed to add RAM. My CPU and physical memory usage were at the very top when looking at the task manager. I had a friend help me clear up some background items, which lowered my physical memory usage to a little above the halfway point. He said I could go ahead and add RAM if I wanted since the computer was still going slow.

I went to crucial.com and entered the information instead of doing the scan (ironically, I did the scan later and it said it couldn't update my computer). I looked at the memory it listed as able to buy and wrote down all of the specs. I then went to Newegg and bought a 2GB. I took out one of the two 1GB sticks it originally came with and replaced it with the 2GB thinking I would then have 3GB. My computer wouldn't start and my friend suggested that it just wasn't compatible with the original RAM. So I took out both 1GB sticks and put in the Newegg 2GB. It worked! Problem is, I still only have 2GB and my computer is going slow.

So I bought another 2GB from Newegg, the exact same one, and added it to the second slot, for a total of 4GB. I turned on my computer and was excited to have everything running quickly. I stayed on my computer for a little bit (not exactly sure how long) and then went to bed. When I awoke, my screen was going back and forth sideways really fast, like it was being shaken. I turned it off, and when I came back from work at the end of the day, it was still doing it. I took out the newest 2GB and my computer was okay. I adjusted the paging back to auto (my friend had previously adjusted it) in the hopes that it would help, but I still can't add the second 2GB stick without my computer going all wonky.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Many of these require exact spec'd ram.
Jan 8, 2015 7:14AM PST

I'd try the sticks from Crucial (no, I doubt folk will check all dozen or more RAM parameters) and while you're in there, do your usual canned air cleaning.
Bob

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RE: Many of these require exact spec'd ram
Jan 8, 2015 8:05AM PST

That might make sense if even one of the new ones I bought wouldn't work in my computer on its own. However, the new 2GB RAM I bought does work in my computer, it is only when I try to add another 2GB that it doesn't work.

Also, a lot of people (friends and internet) suggested I go to Crucial's website and look at the specs for the memory they would sell and just buy one with those same specs elsewhere. I wrote down every single thing and made sure that the RAM I got from Newegg said the exact same thing. I would hate to buy the Crucial stick only to have the same error occur.

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Sorry no.
Jan 8, 2015 8:57AM PST

When the pair is installed the dual channel mode kicks in and it's another ball game.

Did you complete the usual canned air work to remove that item?
Bob

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huh
Jan 8, 2015 9:36AM PST

So how to work with/around the dual channel mode. Why won't two sticks work together?

As far as the canned air, I sprayed the inside a bit, but not much, if that is what you mean.

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Sorry
Jan 8, 2015 10:10AM PST

But diving into the electronics and why won't fix it. There are tomes on the web about memory systems so you can start the search all about it. Good you know how to use the canned air.

Sometimes folk give up and just take it to the shop counter.
Bob

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Thanks
Jan 9, 2015 7:32AM PST

Thanks for trying to help. I might try and return the 2 RAMs I got from Newegg and then buy from Crucial.

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There is one thing you didn't post.
Jan 9, 2015 7:42AM PST

The exact parts from crucial and newegg. I design electronics and have dived into this time and time again to find a spec that didn't line up. However I find most folk unwilling to accept the findings. Or worse think they can fix it.

Yes there could be something else going on but the posts so far just point to incompatible.
Bob

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Ok
Jan 9, 2015 9:55AM PST

I was talking with someone from work and they think my issue is that the two SODIMMs need to be "partnered" and because I didn't buy them in a kit they aren't working together. Perhaps that is what you were getting at and I didn't understand.

From Crucial, when I was initially looking, I could choose CT6315864 or CT6316436

DDR3 PC3-12800 • CL=11 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1600 • 1.35V • 256Meg x 64 • 204-pin SODIMM

From Newegg, I had purchased the Kingston 2GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3L 1600(PC3L 12800) Laptop Memory Model KVR16LS11S6/2. Cas Latency: 11. Voltage: 1.35V. I was first concerned about the "L" after DDR3 and PC3, but I read that it just meant Low Voltage and since I was wanting 1.35V, it was okay.

When I was speaking with someone from Crucial, they said the CT6315864 or CT6316436 would work because they were just the external part numbers but both were the base part CT25664BF160A. I still have no idea what that means, but CT6317380 and CT6317952 are the kit versions, so I thought I would give one a try as you suggested just getting them straight from Crucial. Newegg does have a Crucial that is CT25664BF160B, but since I don't know what A and B are, I don't want to risk anything.

If you have more insight, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you again for your help.

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What about the page configuration?
Jan 10, 2015 2:48AM PST

I see Crucial noted the 256Meg x 64 memory page configuration but you didn't show that on the Newegg product.

Remember what I said about the dozen parameters? You listed about half that.

As to kit and base parts, it's the base part that matters as those are what's in the kit. Base part = 1 DIMM, Kit = more than 1 DIMM.
Bob

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Try a working DIMM in one slot ...test it thoroughly and
Jan 9, 2015 4:32AM PST

then try it in the other DIMM or SODIMM slot. Do the same with SECOND DIMM/SODIMM. That should confirm that both DIMMs/SODIMMs work and both slots work too.

Is the E525 a deskstop or laptop/notebook ? Looking at RAM on Crucial.com, I took it to be a laptop.

Always best to buy RAM in matching kits....same mfg, same capacity, same speed, same latency, etc., and even then you can have problem ...just less chance of conflict.

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Yes
Jan 9, 2015 7:36AM PST

I have already made sure that both slots work and that both SODIMMs work Grin

Yep, I have a laptop.

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OK...if it were mine I still wanted 4GB....go to Crucial.com
Jan 9, 2015 9:38AM PST

and buy the 4GB kit for your mfg., make and model. If it works ...you're golden....if not they'll help you or refund you $$. Your call.

Let us know how it goes.

VAPCMD

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Answer
Sow's Ear
Jan 9, 2015 9:36PM PST

It is unlikely that your slowdown is caused by a shortage of RAM. More likely you have a lot of cruft running on it, may have some spyware and malware, and your disk drive is heavily fragmented. Put the old RAM back in it, check what's running at startup and get rid of what you don't need, run CCleaner, Spybot and a good anti-malware like Malwarebytes, defragment your drive, and then see if there's any improvement. Then, from a command prompt window running as administrator, run the command sfc /scannow. If this doesn't help, back up all your data, do a fresh reinstall of your O/S from whatever media you've got (which on laptops often is a separate partition on your hard drive), and reload your apps afterwards. I am quite certain that THAT'LL spruce it up a bit.

But an EMachines 525 running Windows 7 is going to run slow even if it's clean as a whistle and you put all the RAM in the world in it. I suspect you may be trying to put DDR3 RAM onto a motherboard that can only take DDR2. That architecture also maxes out at 4 GB.

My suggestion to you is to get a new laptop with something a little more capable than a Celeron processor in it. You can't turn a sow's ear into a silk purse, lad.

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Hi
Jan 10, 2015 3:19AM PST

I have done most of what you said, except the defrag. and reinstall of O/S. I know my system is going to be slow as I also have a single processor, but I can't just get a new laptop. I also run almost everything off of USB, however, there is still a lot that got dumped onto my desktop that I need to transfer onto a disk or something.

I also went to crucial, as stated above, to find out what RAM was needed to upgrade my system and it said DDR3, so I would expect that to be correct.

I will defrag to see if it helps. I did it once before a long while back, and I didn't see any improvements, but I will do so again. Thanks for the response.

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Fragmentation
Jan 11, 2015 4:03AM PST

Try UltraDefrag at sourceforge.net instead of the Windows built-in; it is quite comprehensive, and also does Optimization. Before using it, read the manual - it is very helpful.

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Defrag.
Jan 11, 2015 4:11AM PST

No noticeable improvement that a human can percieve and any "optimiser" will likely do more damage. Stay away from this.
Dafydd.

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Funny - I must be superhuman!
Jan 12, 2015 2:07AM PST

Having just gone through the annual maintenance exercise, I do notice the boot time has been cut following defragmentation. I know, I know, causation, correlation, and all that.

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Answer
Confused
Jan 9, 2015 10:03PM PST
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You/We need the SERIES NAME AND WHOLE MODEL NUMBER
Jan 9, 2015 11:55PM PST

as you've linked us to two different versions of the E525 notebook series. You must be precise with that information else you may get the wrong RAM for your specific system. Please see links below that show RAM for "E525" eMachines, all notebooks, but two are for DDR3 and the other for DDR2.

For what it's worth....I've seen some DESKTOP MBs that accept DDR2 and DDR3 RAM but they do not work if installed together. It's either DDR2 OR DDR3.

So.....since you're asking for HELP.....give us the full Series name and Model number....otherwise we have no way to know which of the many variations your notebook is. You can also go to the Crucial.com and run their test and it should tell you exactly what RAM product will work in your notebook.

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/eMachines/e525-2632 DDR3

CT6317380 DDR3 PC3-12800 • CL=11 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1600 • 1.35V • 256Meg x 64 •
upgrade for eMachines E525-2632 system.

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/eMachines/e525-%28ddr3%29 DDR3

CT6317952 DDR3 PC3-12800 • CL=11 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1600 • 1.35V • 256Meg x 64 •
upgrade for eMachines E525 (DDR3) system.

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/eMachines/e525-%28ddr2%29

CT3509927 DDR2 PC2-6400 • CL=6 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR2-800 • 1.8V • 256Meg x 64 •
upgrade for eMachines E525 (DDR2) system.

Let us know the exact model number and how it works out.

VAPCMD

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Hello
Jan 10, 2015 3:35AM PST

My system properties have the model as E525; however, the bottom of my laptop has E525-2632. I originally checked on crucial's website and went through the advanced tool search instead of the scan to find my RAM. As I could choose either the E525 or E525-2632, I spoke with someone at Crucial and they said both would work with my system because they were just the external part numbers but both were the base part CT25664BF160A.

I am guessing/hoping my issue is that I didn't purchase a kit but 2 singles. I am going to buy the kit from Crucial and check it out.

Thanks!

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I don't want to jinx it.
Jan 10, 2015 3:38AM PST

But that's a great idea.

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Answer
Added RAM screwed up my computer. Please help!
Jan 10, 2015 3:31AM PST

I suggest you get a new PC.

Don't waste time and money on the E machines you have.

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Some people are computer "snobs"
Jan 10, 2015 4:23AM PST

A computer is a computer, is a computer & to that end, an E-machines is just as good as any Dell, HP or any other brand. The difference is in what the manufacturer puts inside, IE: processor type & RAM type & speed. Hence, the pricing will be higher for a higher speed & more powerful CPU.

Regarding the need to "pair" RAM sticks... That's just a lot of bull. Once again RAM is RAM, is RAM and as long as the specs match, you should NOT have any problems adding additional RAM sticks to your system whenever you can afford to purchase them. And to that end, it is possible to use different RAM sticks with the same overall specs even though they may be rated at different speeds in which case, the computer will operate at the lower of the two.

It's also important to note that the addition of RAM is limited to the capacity of the motherboard which is why it's best to run the automated "system scan" on the Crucial website which runs some diagnostics and will give you a real-life "snapshot" of your EXACT system specs and report back to you how much RAM you have currently installed and how much more (if any) your system will accept. The other important RAM limitation to consider is: an older and/or lower end computer (of typically 32bit architecture) has a RAM limitation of 4gb, of which the computer will only "see" and use, approx 3.5gb as compared to a (newer) 64bit system which can typically support from 8gb all the way up to 126gb (depending on which version of Windows you have installed)

I hope this information has been helpful...

Best of luck!

-Steve

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correction to previous post:
Jan 10, 2015 4:27AM PST

I meant to say 128gb

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Not according to "sjulty" in the response just below yours
Jan 10, 2015 7:39AM PST

He states: "A computer is a computer, is a computer & to that end, an E-machines is just as good as any Dell, HP or any other brand. The difference is in what the manufacturer puts inside, IE: processor type & RAM type & speed. Hence, the pricing will be higher for a higher speed & more powerful CPU"

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Frankly I like that post.
Jan 10, 2015 7:48AM PST

My friends in the service, repair industry love those concepts. It keeps their counters full of folk that need help.
Bob

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I'll bet they do ! Functionally speaking ...a computer is a
Jan 10, 2015 8:48AM PST

computer is a computer. But in real life the mfg. and QC comes into play along with components like CAPs, chipsets, chipset fans, etc., and the good stuff has fewer DOAs, is more stable in operation and lasts longer and costs a little more too.

Happy New Year Bob

VAPCMD

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The good stuff.
Jan 10, 2015 8:55AM PST

I love it when we can use off the shelf sticks from local sources but when it must work and I don't feel like checking the dozen parameters (we only found 6 listed above and one wasn't checked/listed) I just get the Crucial.com kit.

There's other GREAT STUFF we can do to keep out of trouble like canned air and replacing heatsink compound when the machine ages...

Thanks and have a great 2015.
Bob

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Answer
density
Jan 10, 2015 5:29AM PST
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Reiterating one of the points I made in my first post...
Jan 10, 2015 7:21AM PST

The simplest path to determining the proper RAM for one's computer is to use the Crucial "system scanner"