Are DDR3 SODIMMs processor specific?

[S6PNJ]

In trying to upgrade a friends computer, I'm taking the opportunity to upgrade mine at the same time and pass on some bits. One of which is my 'old' 4Gb DDR3 SODIMM as I'm replacing it with an 8Gb DDR SODIMM. Colleagues laptop will go from 3Gb to 6Gb and I'll go from 6Gb to 10Gb, so a good all round upgrade for both.
Having bought a DDR3 SODIMM (at 1600 speed which my laptop is compatible with - Crucial mem checker tool etc) my laptop is refusing to see the SODIMM. Doesn't boot and wont let me access the BIOS when it is fitted on its own (in either slot). When fitted with one of my SODIMMs, it allows the laptop to boot but isn't seen at all - ie doesn't prevent the laptop from working and doesn't show in BIOS of Win 10 system info etc.

I've Googled for info on AMD/Intel DDR3 and most responses are that it doesn't matter but DDR2 did. As there are plenty of IT bods on here, any experience of this and is there such thing as AMD specific memory? My proc is an I3-3110M for reference.

I don't have a second machine to try the 8Gb in (yet - not quite got hands on to my friends machine) and the SODIMM was sold as brand new (and looks like it) from China!! No way of telling if it's the memory not being compatible or if it is U/S on fit.

[mmm-five]

If it's not booting with the new SODIMM in then it's either faulty or incompatible (could be a BIOS update needed for the motherboard to enable higher RAM amounts).

Other than the capacity, are the specs identical to the stick you already had in?

If it's from Crucial, and you used their tool on your computer, then they'll happily replace it.

However, if you just used the Crucial tool to get the part number and then bought it from the cheapest Chinese vendor you may be on your own.

[S6PNJ]

My BIOS is as up to date as it can be. The question comes from being incompatible (but what aspect? Does the processor type (AMD vs Intel) come into it?) or faulty - hence my question about compatibility above.

Specs of the new RAM are 8GB DDR3 1600Mhz PC3-12800-DIMM-20 made by VIRIVI. Even on its own (ie just the 8GB SODIMM fitted), my laptop won't boot or enter BIOS.

RAM's not from Crucial, I just used their system checker tool to get compatibility results.

As above in my OP, the RAM is from China - already stated.

[eltawater]

What's the laptop make and model? Are you sure it will take an 8GB SODIMM?

[S6PNJ]

Samsung NP350V5C
https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/model/NP350V5C-...

Kingston (and Crucial) say 8GB per slot is ok
https://www.kingstonmemoryshop.co.uk/laptop/samsun...

Edited by S6PNJ on Monday 6th September 13:19

[mmm-five]

S6PNJ said:

Specs of the new RAM are 8GB DDR3 1600Mhz PC3-12800-DIMM-20 made by VIRIVI. Even on its own (ie just the 8GB SODIMM fitted), my laptop won't boot or enter BIOS.

It's this bit which makes me think it's knackered, rather than incompatible.

If it was just incompatible with the other stick then it would boot - and maybe just run at a slower speed if the existing stick is slower.

As your friend uses the same RAM, can you try it in their laptop to see if it has the same issue?

CPU won't (shouldn't) matter as long as it and the motherboard supports the memory specs you're using (which you've verified via the Crucial tool).

[eltawater]

Potentially dodgy ram from China then.
Probably better to get it from ebay, cex or another second hand seller where you can return more easily if faulty.

[S6PNJ]

mmm-five said:

S6PNJ said:

Specs of the new RAM are 8GB DDR3 1600Mhz PC3-12800-DIMM-20 made by VIRIVI. Even on its own (ie just the 8GB SODIMM fitted), my laptop won't boot or enter BIOS.

It's this bit which makes me think it's knackered, rather than incompatible.

If it was just incompatible with the other stick then it would boot - and maybe just run at a slower speed if the existing stick is slower.

As your friend uses the same RAM, can you try it in their laptop to see if it has the same issue?

CPU won't (shouldn't) matter as long as it and the motherboard supports the memory specs you're using (which you've verified via the Crucial tool).

Should be able to get my hands on the friends system in a few days, but my 'discussion' is with the seller via the chat facility and I believe the RAM is compatible but non-working. I'm as sure as I can be they will say it is working but my system is non compatible as the RAM was sold as AMD but all my Google-fu says it shouldn't make any difference.

[mmm-five]

S6PNJ said:

Should be able to get my hands on the friends system in a few days, but my 'discussion' is with the seller via the chat facility and I believe the RAM is compatible but non-working. I'm as sure as I can be they will say it is working but my system is non compatible as the RAM was sold as AMD but all my Google-fu says it shouldn't make any difference.

The only think I can think of in DDR3 that could be an issue is the chip density - as some Intel chipsets were limited in what they could address. They could handle an 8GB stick made of 8x1GB chips, but not 4x2GB chips. It would take some research on which specific chipsets had these limitation, what is in your laptop (could be HM70/HM76), and what is in the stick you've bought.

However, whether the stick is faulty or incompatible, the seller may have a get out if they were specifically advertised as AMD and you bought them for an Intel build.

[S6PNJ]

mmm-five said:

The only think I can think of in DDR3 that could be an issue is the chip density - as some Intel chipsets were limited in what they could address. They could handle an 8GB stick made of 8x1GB chips, but not 4x2GB chips. It would take some research on which specific chipsets had these limitation, what is in your laptop (could be HM70/HM76), and what is in the stick you've bought.

However, whether the stick is faulty or incompatible, the seller may have a get out if they were specifically advertised as AMD and you bought them for an Intel build.

Thanks - I didn't know about the chip density so I'll have to get my magnifying glass out and check the chip details etc.

Ref it being sold as AMD - I know and took the risk as everything I'd read suggested there was no AMD specific memory (on DDR3). Maybe it was a risk too much....

[xeny]

Have you checked if you've got some combination of DDR3L memory and a non DDR3L compatible CPU or vice versa?

[S6PNJ]

xeny said:

Have you checked if you've got some combination of DDR3L memory and a non DDR3L compatible CPU or vice versa?

My processor is a 3rd gen so DDR3 vs DDR3L doesn't (or shouldn't) come into it as that's 4th gen specific. As per my OP, I've tried the new chip on its own, in both slots and also with one of my chips inserted, again, in both slots, so every combination I can.

[S6PNJ]

I've had the memory under my magnifying glass and have found the following. Each chip (8 on each side) is marked with a Micron logo and they all have different part numbers, no 2 are identical. The one I wrote down was 3CE77 D9PQL. There is also '2025428-OF1 Rev.A00 and CEZ94V-02118.

Googling this lot, I've found a Reddit post from a couple of years ago with virtually similar info:

Reddit post said:

Possibly counterfeit Crucial Ram
I received two sticks of DOA ram from a newegg marketplace seller. It was supposed to be 2x new Crucial CT102464BF186D or 8GB of 204 pin 1866 DDR3L memory. Neither stick will post in my TS-453BE NAS despite reports of the same SKUs working with this chipset.

Neither stick came in retail packaging, however both are labeled as CT102464BF186DJ.M8FP.

The code on each SDRAM node is micron D9QWB ( https://www.micron.com/products/dram/ddr3-sdram/pa... ) which corresponds to DDR3-1600 nodes. This wouldn't be on 1866 ram sticks, right? But that doesn't explain why my nas won't post with the mislabeled ram.

Also printed on each PCB is 2025428.OF1. A google search of this finds a handful of kingston 1333 modules, but that doesn't make sense either given the DDR3-1600 memory nodes.

Here are pictures: https://imgur.com/a/N9afnga

What do I have on hand? Are these the real deal and just DOA/user error, or are they somehow faked?

I think I'll try to send back and see what the seller has to say.

[RVB]

I have several old desktop computers and only certain RAM modules will work.

I raised it in a topic earlier this year:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[S6PNJ]

Thanks - and I was the first to comment!! Yours were DIMMs and mine is a SODIMM (laptop vs desktop) Did you get it sorted in the end? I'm returning my memory by way of a resolution.

[RVB]

S6PNJ said:

Did you get it sorted in the end? I'm returning my memory by way of a resolution.

No, I didn't find a precise explanation. I just stuck with B0 or B1 suffix RAM.