Maximum RAM issue with Gateway MX3228.

I'll make this short. My sister has a Gateway MX3228 Notebook. It currently has 512 MB of RAM (only one RAM slot in the notebook). Doing some quick research online I found out that the notebook can have a maximum of 1 GB of RAM.

I tried upgrading the RAM to 1GB and it just won't work. I put the RAM in, and the computer won't turn on. So can this notebook take up to 1GB of RAM or what am I doing wrong?

 

Installed 1GB DDR2-533 ? (New/Used ?)

Also, after installing the RAM, remove all sources of power - AC, battery, USB devices etc, and then hold down the power button for about 15 seconds and then boot.

Also try updating to the latest BIOS version, and see if that solves anything....

 

I've installed RAM in computers a few times before so I know the basics. The RAM I'm using works fine, it's the one I had in my notebook (Corsair 1GB DDR2-667 PC2-5300 Value Select SO-DIMM Memory).
I unplug the computer, take out the battery, hold the power button a few seconds before, take out the RAM and put in the new one.
I put the battery back in, plug it in, press the power button and it just starts for a second (I hear the harddrive starting up and the wireless light comes on) and then nothing. Screen stays black and nothing happens.

I'll try updating the BIOS and see what happens.

 

Andy I don't think it's bios related. So resetting the bios wont help.

Besides the best way to reset the bios is by removing the CMOS battery.
The MX3228 is similar to the MX3050b which I had and sold about 1-2 month ago. From the specs (specs here) I'm pretty much sure that your laptop can be upgraded to a full 2gb

Mine had the intel i855 motherboard with built in 256mb and only one free slot and was upgradable to a full 1.25gb.

I think you have a memory incmpatibility issue. To test this theory, remove the old ram and try to start your laptop with the new ram ony. if the laptop refuse to turn ON or to boot to windows, test this ram in the other slot.
If the laptop is still not working with this new ram then there is a posibility that this new module is faulty.

In the other hand if ur laptop boots with the new module, add the old one and test. If it doesn't work swap them around and test again. If you're still having problems then chances are you old and new memory module don't like each other.

Did you know that you could upgrade to a pentium M which run cooler in those machines. you don't have to open the laptop completely as you can access the cpu by removing the button cover. If you need help for a CPU upgrade just let me know

 

Do you have a sitting inside the bios to control the speed/frequency of the ram. you may need to set it to the speed of the slowest ram.

Accessing the CMOS battery will require taking the laptop apart if I'm not wrong. If I remember well it's located somewhere underneath the keyboar... but I can remember if it is headen by some of the chassi metal plates.

 

Well RAM modules are not faulty, they were in my computer (I just upgraded mine) and running a memtest on them says they are fine. So it's not the RAM itself the problem, though there could be a compatibility issue with the computer I guess.

I'll check the BIOS settings now. Thanks for the help so far, keep it coming.

 

Don't see any options for this in the BIOS.

I have no idea why this isn't working... The RAM is fine and I've upgraded RAM in computers a nice few times. I guess this computer just can't take more RAM or isn't compatible with this RAM but I have no idea why.
Could it be that it can only support DDR2-533 (which it had before) and not DDR2-667?

And how do I know if I have the latest BIOS (and where do I find the latest?). The computer has Windows XP Home Edition.

 

I still think that your laptop can support 2gb. I think the via chipset might be a bit picky regarding the quality of the ram, or it could be that it can't handle DDR2-667.

The incompatibility with the DDR2 PC5300 is a possibility as the via 800 can switch only between an FSB of 100mhz, 133mhz and 200mhz while your ram is 166mhz.

this is the spec sheet for the via vn800 (linke here) . So it seems that the DDR2-400 and 533 are your safest options.

btw, I tried the pin mod on a via based laptop but I didn't successed, and I couldn't find any thread on the net about pin modding a via vn800 based laptop. So did anyone tried it before?

 

Thanks again for the help, Naton.

I also emailed Gateway's technical support and here's the reply I got:

&

Pretty generic answers, and they never even answered my my question if the computer could handle 2GB of RAM.

Oh well, I guess my sister's will keep it's 512MB for now.

 

naton.
this thead may be dead but if you get this, can you email me how you got the pentium m to work in the mx3228? i bought a chip a few months back and it did not work. does not even boot. can't get to bios. the power button light comes on for a second or two after pressing then machine goes off.
i bought a 2.0 ghz, 400mz fsb, 512 mb SL6FK. i had read where someone else got this to work.not that i'm out too much $$ but if i could boost this thing a bit, it'd keep me from buying a new lappy for a while.
i did have success upgrading RAM to 1 gb though.

thanks

 

I don't think a bios reset is what was implied.
UPDATING the BIOS was likely what Andy meant.
Usually, if the laptop won't boot with a certain amount of RAM and the machine on it's own should support it, then most likely it's the BIOS that needs to be updated so it can support that amount of RAM.

Also check if the RAM type is the same one that suits the specs for the ram slot itself.

 

I am having the same problem.

First I bought a module at Fry's. It was a PC2-5300 So-dimm and it did not work. I assumed that it was faster than it could handle (though in the many upgrades I have done before it wasn't a problem as modules usually have multiple SPD settings) so I purchased a PC2-4300 so-dimm module. Still doesn't work.


I installed cpu-z. My motherboard uses the VIA VN800 Pro/P4M800 CE chipset. It has the current BIOS (checking gateway's site there appears to only have been one BIOS ever issued, the one that shipped with my notebook).

Memory timings with the stock ram (according to cpuz):

266MHz
FSB RAM 3:8
cas# 4
ras to cas delay 5
ras precharge 5
cycle time 11

Command Rate 2T

SPD timings:

PC2-4300 Samsung M4 70T6554CZ3-CD5

multiple settings for 200MHz, 266MHz

mine is somewhat different from the SPD timings of 4-4-4-11. This is how it came new and it works properly


There are no memory settings in the BIOS.

 

I purchase my memory module from upgrade-solutions.com and it was advertised as Samsung memory. The one I received had "Goldenmars" chips on the module


Can't think of anything else to do so I will try to RMA the part saying I received a probably functional memory that is incompatible with my "picky" Gateway laptop



Anyone else have any ideas on this?

 

revive i'm having the same problem as the op but the ram is 4200 and it's 533mhz and it's not working please help

 

anybody.........

 

specs? what ram was in it before? how much does the notebook take? and so on...

 

Here is the specs on mine. I bought ram today and my pc wont turn on with it in.

What is up with this? I would really like to get it up the 1 gig max.

Processor Intel® Celeron® M Processor 370
1 MB L2 Cache | 1.5 GHz | 400 MHz FSB
Display Screen 14-inch Widescreen Ultrabright WXGA TFT
Chipset Via VN800
Memory 512 MB DDR2 (1 × 512 MB) SODIMM Expandable to 1 GB
Video S3 UniChrome™ Pro integrated graphics processor Up to 64 MB shared video memory
Audio AC '97 2.3 Compliant audio
Hard Drive 60-GB 4200 RPM hard drive
Optical Drive DVD +/- RW Multi-Format Double Layer
Write maximum: 8X DVD+/-R, 6X DVD-RW, 8X DVD+RW, 2X DVD-R DL, 2.4X DVD+R DL, 24X CD-R and 16X CD-RW discs
Read maximum: 24X CD-R/RW/ROM, 8X DVD-R/RW/ROM, 4X DVD+/-R DL, RAM discs
Media Reader 4-in-1 Digital Media Manager
Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Memory Stick-Pro, and MMC
Modem 56K ITU V.92 ready Fax/Modem (RJ-11 port)
Network 10/100 Mbps built-in Ethernet
802.11g integrated Wireless (up to 54 Mbps) SecureEasySetup™
Interfaces

* 2 - USB 2.0 Ports
* 1 - VGA External Connector
* 1 - RJ11 (Modem)
* 1 - RJ45 (Ethernet LAN)
* Microphone In
* Headphone / Audio Out

Pointing Device Touchpad with Vertical Scroll Zone
PCMCIA 1 - Type I or Type II; Card Bus
Battery 6-cell Lithium-ion
Dimensions 1.1 to 1.24-inches (H) × 13-inches (W) × 9.7-inches (D)
28 to 32 mm (H) × 330 mm (W) × 246 mm (D)
Weight 5.01 pounds
2.27 kilograms

 

dont think pc2 5300 is compatible its more than likley pc 2700 go to crucial.comrun the memory scanner on it

 

try to restart the notebook with the 512 MB ram and than restart if it works

otherwise buy the new RAM for ddr2 and try to put in the note book correctly .

check the requirements of the notebook and try to upgrade it according to the requirement of the notebook

 

DDR2-533 PC2-4200, 200p SODIMM is what your laptop uses it has one slot and a max of 1, 1 gb stick the DDR2-667 PC2-5300 stick you have in may not be compatible i have ran into this problem a few times while in theory it should work sometimes it just dosent