Issues with RAM

[itsinyourhead]

I really don't know where this should go, but it involves RAM.

 

Basically, I had 512mb RAM and although my PC ran OK, I upgraded to 1gb. Now, whenever I do anything like open a flash video in full screen or play a game, the fan goes mental and makes a loud spinning noise continuously. Before I changed the RAM, the fan was silent. So, if I leave the application open long enough then eventually my computer cuts out.

 

Help, please. I can't play games anymore. :(

[maynardvdm]

Hi

 

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help.

 

What happens when you remove the new RAM?

[itsinyourhead]

When I take out the new RAM it doesn't cut out on me, but it's really slow being only 512mb.

[maynardvdm]

Have you made sure the RAM is compatible with your motherboard.

 

You can look here to see what RAM your computer takes:

 

Crucial

[itsinyourhead]

Apparently my PC supports the stick I installed. DDR2 PC2-4200.

[maynardvdm]

Try changing them around. Put the new RAM where the old one was and the old one in the next slot.

 

How many RAM slots do you have?

[itsinyourhead]

I have 4 slots. I just have the new one in slot one. I took the old one out because I'm selling that to my mate.

[Dalo Harkin]

When you are saying the fan goes mental??

did you knock the CPU fan wire next to the RAM slots - make sure it is still in place, if the fan is very loud then the CPU is getting hot and it will be that that is cutting out - check the heatsink on the CPU is still firmly in place.

[itsinyourhead]

Ahh that could be it. I'm useless when it comes to computers so I wouldn't really know what to look at/if it's loose or not though.

[Dalo Harkin]

http://www.windowsdevcenter.com/windows/2004/10/12/graphics/connectingcpufan.jpg

 

There will be a slot on the Motherboard that says CPU like in the picture above - did you edit the BIOS in anyway - as there are many options in there for controlling the fan speeds

Edited July 18, 2008 by Dalo Harkin

[itsinyourhead]

I got an update for my BIOS off Compaq but I don't know if I can control fan speeds.

[Dalo Harkin]

When you do a BIOS update you lose all the previous information that was on the BIOS as everything defaults to it's original settings - in the BIOS mostly under overclocking options there are is an option called fan controller and there will be a number of options to turn them to quiet - so they don't rev up as much.