Kingston Kingston HyperX DDR2-800 CL4 SODIMM compatibility issues (BIOS Mod needed probably)

Hi!

I bought Kingston HyperX DDR2-800 SODIMM KHX6400S2ULK2/4G (2*2GB 4-4-4-12) to upgrade my Dell Latitude E6400 laptop. It was quite risky purchase because most of users can’t boot with this memory and unfortunately I have this issue as well now. I tried to find any compatibility info over the web before buying with no luck but decided to try anyway this RAM due to great timings.

My symptoms are: system just can’t boot to BIOS with this HyperX no matter what I do. I tried installing both HyperX modules together, HyperX mixed with stock CL6 RAM, 1 HyperX module in different DIMMS and system just turns off automatically with Caps Lock flashing and BIOS has memory error in its log every time I try.

As I understand BIOS doesn’t have correct SPD setting for this RAM so just blocks it. I tried extracting ROM file from Dell BIOS for editing with latest Phoenix Bios Editor Pro but it just gives No PCB’s found error because Dell uses modded Phoenix BIOS. I also tried some other software and nothing worked. Maybe Phoenix OEM Toolkit could help however by I’m afraid result will be the same.

Tools like MemSet, SPDTool, Thaiphoon Burner etc allow changing modules SPD settings but in my case BIOS modding needed I suppose. Maybe there is simpler way however. I found that some users even had to cut KHX6400S2ULK2/4G with a knife to fit DIMM correctly because it has some sharp corners that cause problems sometimes. Mine sits just fine visually and I’m not sure whether cutting is necessary.

According to user reviews KHX6400S2ULK2/4G runs with ok on ASUS Eee PC 1201N based on Nvidia ION chipset, Lenovo x100e based on AMD M780G chipset, Sager NP9262 based on Intel P965 chipset and some other systems. Many people complain about this memory however. I think it would be great to resolve this issue because HyperX is really fast and reliable but requires some modding in most cases. I don’t want to return it and give up so fast, there must be a way. Please share your thoughts and any advice; any experience would be much appreciated.

 

I would put the ram in a system that lets you change ram timings in the BIOS, then boot with higher timings and flash the SPD with thaiphoon burner.

But that plan requires a system that can change timings in the BIOS, not sure if you have friends or someone who can lend you their notebook.

I know my GT627 has those options in the BIOS, but a lot of notebooks don't.
I guess most gaming notebooks would have those BIOS options.

Another idea would be to hot-flash the ram.

Meaning you would boot with good ram, then hotplug the new ram while the system is on and flash it with thaiphoon burner. This is risky. Some people tape all of the pins except the ones you need to write to the SPD, but the tape will make your ram thicker and could damage your ram slot.

One more thing to try is mixing it with 667mhz ram.

 

moral hazard
Thanks for suggestion but even if I’d had such possibility after changing memory SPD and installing to E6400 successfully how will I run it with CL4 then if Dell BIOS doesn’t allow this?

 

Thaiphoon burner flashes the EEPROM on the ram, so after you flash the new spd, any notebook you put the ram in will see the new SPD.

All you have to do is find a way to flash the SPD with thaiphoon burner.

Using thaiphoon burner you should change it to CL5 or CL6, thaiphoon burner also has a search function that will let you find SPD dumps from other ram that people have uploaded.
You can sometimes use other peoples SPDs.
If you found maybe a kingston ram dump for very similar ram, just with higher timings.

 

moral hazard
Thanks I understand but in this case notebook will see HyperX new SPD with CL5 or CL6 however I’ll not be able to change it back to CL4 with E6400 because its BIOS won’t recognize CL4 again, right?

 

Yes that's right.

I can see the problem now, you paid for CL4 ram and you want it to run at those fast timings.

BIOS mods are hard (I'm sure you know), is it really worth the time and effort just for that tiny performance increase you will get?

It would probably be easier to pin mod the PLL and overclock your FSB (which will increase your ram frequency):
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...pll-pinmod-overclocking-methods-examples.html

 

moral hazard
Yet that is correct and thank you for link I’ll definitely try these mods but first of all I’d like to get thing fixed with HyperX. Maybe there is easier way to make CL4 work on E6400. I’m sure there are many users interested in this as well with SSD installed especially because memory does more job in this case since page file should be turned off for better results and other tweaks applied as well.

 

The sticks may also just be bad. I seem to remember hearing that there were some bad batches of HyperX. I think it was Mandrake maybe that had to RMA 2 or 3 times before he got a good set.

 

For what it is worth, I just got a 4GB of those too, and my notebook refused to boot.

However, after rebooting with a working 512MB stick in 1. slot and a 2GB of the Kingston in 2. slot, I downloaded spdtool and modified the spd to cl5. Did the same to the other stick, then mounted both and voila, its booting and working just fine.

Instead of going through a long explanation process, I hereby attach my modded spd file. Use spdtool v0.63 like me (use google), and you should be gtg.

 

MZWiZard
Thanks for your reply that is exactly what I did as well

 

Hello!
I by mistake bought HyperX KHX6400S2ULK2/4G instead of LLK2/GB for my Dell XPS M1330, Intel PM965 motherboard, I have not been able to boot with this RAM as was being discussed by Visuall. I guess same CL4 problem,
Please guide me through this as I have never done any Over-clocking.
MZWIZARD / Visuall - Please guide me the process in detail, I'll be great-full.
Visuall can you also upload your modded SPD file for this Ram.
Thanks in Advance
Dhan