Hey there all - I need help. My PC died on me and being more of a gamer than a tech-geek, I have no idea how to fix it. Problem: My old Dell 8400 (don't ask) isn't working after I tried to upgrade it. I uninstalled all the drivers for my GPU, removed it (An X850 XT PE) and set about moving in the new 7800 GT. At this stage, I turned the PC on and there were hash-like graphical distortions all over the screen. I started installing the new drivers and it crashed in the process. Now when I turn the PC on with either or no GPU in it I get six beeps (I think its long/short/long/short/long/short). Nothing displays on the screen. Tim reckons it may be the CPU thats cheesecaked itself. No idea where to go from here. Any help appreciated. CardJoe
Put the old one back in and see if it boots: sounds like the new card's dead. Edit: I may have misread that, are you saying it won't work with either card?
Right now, the old one is in. Unpulgging the keyboard didn't help, which apparently could have also been the problem. Still didn't start. Hm. On listening again it sounds more like six LONG beeps.
A and B yellow, C and D green. Equals: "If you have two or more memory modules installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module, and then restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module. Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error. If available, install properly working memory of the same type into your computer." If only my warranty hadn't run out. By module, I assume it means the RAM?
Yeah, boot with just one stick in place, and if that doesn't work switch to the other (assuming you have 2 or more).
Already done - found the culprit on the first go. Any idea how I could have damaged the RAM? PS: Thanks for your help
RAM's evil, I've had it die and take a motherboard out with it. Not really sure how it happened with a graphics card though
Well, the good news is I can now get my GPU up to spec to run BioShock at home. The bad news is I now don't have enough RAM. Time to start buy Bindi the RAM lord a few more drinks I think...
Wow, 18 minutes from start to finish. Fast forums You might end up losing the rest of your RAM if you have to replace it with a newer matched pair kit.
Weird thing is: I just put the old card back in without the broken RAM. Thing worked fine. New GPU, no broken RAM = graphical distortion, crashes. New GPU, old broken RAM BACK IN = severe crashes, blue screen, graphical distortion. Nvidia divers, old GPU, broken RAM all in = works fine, just like normal. Maybe Dell just hates Nvidia?
He really shouldn't. Let's face it, as a dell user and self-confessed non-tech-geek he's hardly going to be requiring the bleeding edge of FSB's, and other than overclocking (which I'm guessing Mr. Joe doesn't do) there's really not a great deal of reason why you couldn't supplment a matched pair (or even just a single stick) with the old stuff. So long as rated FSB's were sufficient of course.
Yes and no. I know tech, but not as well as most people here. I know good RAM and I know good GPU - but I need time to handle the numbers and PSUs etc mean nothing to me. As I explained to Tim during my interview; I know games like the back of my hand and I know enough about tech to get by for the most part, but the tech stuff I've only ever known or read enough about it to get by with the games I want to run at the time. If I was upgrading RAM then I'd go for the best available, a matching pair and I'd aim for 2 gig for the latest games. I bought the Dell when I was in 2nd year at Uni, when I was on a limited budget and was in a techy middle ground. Nowadays I'd build it myself and shove it in a decent case.
The mentioning of Dell was not intended as an insult, simply a reason why I figured you were unlikely to actually need to chuck the old stick. Basicly, unless you have a fussy mobo or something, there's not likely to be a reason why your old ram couldn't get along nicely with your new ram. Why have 2GB when you could have 3GB by combining a new matched pair with your old stick? For overclockers that might spell doom but for someone who doesn't need beyond standard CPU FSB's, it'll make no difference whatsoever to include the extra stick FSB wise, and it might improve your general performance quite a bit.
I didn't mean "OMG you need liek this £800 uber-clocker RAM", I meant that he may not be able to get some RAM that would match what he has left. Even if you're not a hardcore gamer, the advantage of dual-channel RAM is not one you should just throw away. It really would be worth getting a set that would be able to run as dual channel (I'd say 2*1GB).
Dual Chan ram is over-rated imo. On most platforms at least. Obviously it's desirable, but I wouldn't bother spending an extra £50 to get a specially matched pair over two random sticks. The speed the ram is going and the ammount of the stuff you have is going to make a massive ammount more difference.
