Memory for a v3000z/dv2000z

I've had several bad experiences with getting more memory for my Compaq v3000z, has anyone bought any and had luck. Every stick I've tried causes constant crashes! If you have had luck, please tell me the make and model of the memory you got to work. Thanks!

Dan

 

What memory have you tried and have you been mixing and matching different brands?

 

Worst case, spend the $$$ for Crucial DDR2-667 SODIMMs. Those should almost certainly work. I've been hoping someone will find something cheaper though.

 

So no one's found anything that works on here? Bah, I guess I'll stoop to going to Fry's and trying some stuff out. If you've installed memory successfuly on a v3000z or dv2000z (AMD) please let us know!

Dan

 

I asked similar question in another post. I guess it depends on whether BIOS allow you to configure the timing. Most cheaper 677 RAM have the restriction of 5-5-5-12 timing, and they clearly state in their spec.

If V3000Z/DV2000Z owners can show us what timing can we configure in HP BIOS, then we probably can get 90% sure if we can buy certain brand or not.

 

5-5-5 timing is very lenient, so that shouldn't be a compatibility problem. AMD CPUs and their integrated memory controllers are simply more demanding than the old-fashioned external controllers that Intel chips use. Unfortunately, way too many SODIMM makers don't bother testing against AMD chips, to the extent that they test at all. Crucial is the safest bet in that regard but geeze you pay for it.

Always test whatever you buy with MemTest86+ or some other such program.

 

HP's bios doesn't let you configure ANYTHING, much less ram. Honestly theres like 3 options in my bios.

I just tried Patriot ram from Frys and it locks like a biatch as well. Sigh. Three brands down, no success. That's galling if I have to shell out 2x as much for the crucial. Boo hiss.

Dan

 

Actually, HP site is selling Simpletech DDR2 677. It is $53+ for 512M, and $108+ for 1G stick. Wander if that is possible option, and actually HP is the cheapest site.

The other possible brand is Aeneon using Infinion chip.

Seems straight CL5 won't work, CL4 may possible.

 

I purchased the 3 year warrenty from HP and I was told to go to BestBuy (GeekSquad) and have their certified HP folks put in new memory (I could have done it myself in 5 minutes), but I did not want to ruin the warrenty.

They put in both Kensington and Corsair 1gig sticks and both crashed, locked up, or re-booted my PC.

I decided to spend the money (way too much) and buy the memory directly from HP and have the GeekSquad people install it. I could do that myself, but why give HP a reason NOT to honor my warrenty.

 

i've ordered a v3000z and a dv2000z and will be keeping one. i ordered low on RAM because i thought i could get it cheaper but this thread is making me nervous. someone asked this earlier but no answers. are you guys mixing RAM with existing sticks? or are these RAM sticks being added by itself. i've heard many problems described above if you try adding it to non-matching sticks especially for AMD motherboards.

 

Chi, what configuration are you going for? One 1GB stick of your own and one 256MB stick from HP?

 

the v3000z i ordered a couple weeks ago and hasn't arrived with 256MB RAM intending to upgrade with a Kingston 1GB DDR2. the dv2000z went on sale last week and i'm so fickle i wanted that so i got 1GB (2x512mb) which i'll likely keep unless i find it insufficient. i do a lot of digital imaging in Photoshop so we'll see. One person advised me that DDR2's on AMDs don't match well and I'll get lots of blue screens if i try to add different RAM on top of the 256MB. hopefully the 1GB kingston will work well by itself and i'll just sell the 256MB.

 

ok, here's the skinny. if you add RAM over and on top of the RAM that came with the machine you may be in good shape. i ordered my v3000z with 256MB RAM. i got a 1GB Kingston DDR2 Value Ram at Circuit City a few weeks back before the arrival of the machine. i kept the 256MB in there and just put the 1GB DDR2 on top. it works. i checked with others that ordered the v3000z that reported RAM install problems initially and they tried putting their new RAM on top of the original and it seems to work.