About five years ago, I bought a prebuilt PC with only 8GB RAM. Recently, I decided to upgrade by purchasing two 16GB sticks, but it turned into a frustrating experience. After inserting the new sticks, my monitor went black and I couldn't access the BIOS. I tried using only one new stick and even reverted back to my old RAM, but nothing worked until I reset the CMOS. After some trial and error, I finally managed to get my monitor working again by putting my old 8GB stick into the second slot.
Now, I'm feeling pretty anxious about future upgrades. My goal is to eventually run both the 8GB and 16GB sticks together, if that's possible. I'm also unsure about updating the BIOS if that's necessary. I want to know what I can do differently next time to make sure the upgrade goes smoothly. Any tips to help me feel more confident about this?
3 Answers
When it comes to prebuilt PCs, compatibility can really be tricky. Some manufacturers limit the RAM that works with their systems, so first check if you have a standard or proprietary motherboard. If it’s a common model, look for a QVL (Qualified Vendor List) from the motherboard's maker; it’ll tell you which RAM kits are compatible. If it’s not standard, you might need to be more cautious with your choices. Always check the specifications like CPU and motherboard limits to avoid similar issues in the future.
I’ve seen similar issues where speed mismatches can cause display problems. Someone I know had an issue like yours that got fixed by entering the BIOS and disabling XMP, then adjusting the speed to match the lower speed of an older RAM stick. Once everything was stable, he enabled XMP again. It might be worth looking into this if you decide to upgrade again.
One common mistake is to try using three sticks of RAM at once. It’s usually best to only install the two new sticks to start rather than mixing with the old one. That way, you can rule out other issues before adding any existing RAM back in.
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