Compaq and incompatible memory?

[the-one1]

I just picked up an off lease compaq deskpro P3 600mhz/ 10gig and a 17' flat screen monitor all for $66. It has 128 MB ram and I had some various brands and size pc100 lying around, so I decided to put those in. No matter what I put in, it would beep and show on the screen that the DIMM in Slot (X) is Incompatible. What I dont get is if the ram dont work with the system, then why does it even boot up to show me that it dont like it. So are the ram proprietary or what?
thnx

 

[Scorpionjwp]

well I see you coming across the problem I'm having with Compaq, memory for compaq deskpro's are made to only work with the deskpro.

I had a proliant 5000 and tried memory kit after memory kit, then found out that the memory kits I used were for the Proliant 5000 that used fpm memory, not the series that used Edo. The same goes with HP, they have branded memory that works with only their machines.

You can boot up with it, but it will still nagg you telling you that the memory in non-compaq memory. It might or might not let you get farther than that. example: crucial, viking makes memory for compaq or HP, you can still use the memory but it will still show up as non-compaq.

I hope this helps abit.

 

[the-one1]

Thnx. That clarifies somethings, thats why I dont have any "BIG NAME" computers and just have "NO NAME CLONES". Buts it not for me, its for my gF's mom.

 

[djnes]

I've upgrade counltess Compaq and HP machines around the same spec level as that one. The memory our systems use is regular, standard memory. If your using the right speed, it should work just fine.

Those companies that were quoted, like Crucial, don't sell "Compaq-compatible memory"....they have a look up tool that tells you the sizes and speeds your computer will handle, and how many slots. The memory they sell is standard stuff.

 

[xdviper]

True True
I have the Presario 7360
i used Dell branded memory on this system and it works
it should work. make sure the ram doesnt have any errors

 

[Scorpionjwp]

Ok please clarify my problem with my proliant 5000. I have checked everything down to the mb, I can keep putting in edo sdram sticks of memory and it will still read as 32mb, even though it has a 512mb kit and a 128mb kit.

Don't ask about the software updates or bios updates, it has already been done. The memory has no errors, so don't ask. I have been through the a-z on compaq site for utilities, and none work. But I just happen to mention this to a friend of mine which told me to contact compaq. I did just that, the representive told me the series of server I used takes fpm memory, not the edo memory I was using and the sticks of edo was for a different series of proliant 5000 server. I was also told that compaq was the only one that made memory for their servers and or other systems. I had to listen that no other brand would work in my system except Compaq.

Just like how ibm has their memory branded on some of their machines. Some of the netvista's will only take ibm memory and nothing else.

That is why I made my point to say that some compaq systems take only compaq brand memory.

 

[djnes]

You answered your own question. If you need FPM EDO memory, than you'll have to get that. You have to check if it requires ECC memory or not. Once you find the exact type of memory, any brand will work.

 

[Scorpionjwp]

I gave up trying to figure out the problem and every time I tried to find memory I only found edo not fpm memory.Well I was looking into the options on the Proliant 5000 and came across something that might make the pieces of my proliant work. Since I do have the wrong memory, compaq made a edo to fpm memory riser converter board. If this is all I need, I can take the edo memory and use the converter board, then it will see it as fpm memory.

But on the flip side: I turned the old proliant 5000 into a mod box which currently resides a dual p3 mb with dual 866mhz processors.