OCZ Ram w/V2000Z, won't boot, Help!

I ordered two 512 sticks of OCZ (ddr400) ram from newegg, same ones that has been recommended by others on this board. Here are my problems:

When I have both sticks of the OCZ installed, or just one of the 512 OCZ sticks installed alone the laptop won't boot or even goto bios.

However, when either of the 512 OCZ sticks are installed with the original 256 ram, laptop will boot as normal. System reports 786 minus what is used for the IGP. I've tried using different slots as well. So I think the ram is probably ok.

Anyone else have this problem? The only thing I can think of is the BIOS version may be different from what other people may be using. I'm using version f.21

If anyone has any insights or things I can try, please post.

Thanks!

 

Boot MemTest86+ and let it run for at least half an hour. See if you get any errors. Also do that with only one OCZ stick installed. Test both OCZ sticks individually. Sometimes memory will only fail when both sticks are installed, so don't get too confused if both sticks work when run individually.

I suspect your OCZ memory (one or both sticks) can't handle its rated PC3200 speed on your laptop. Mixing it with an existing HP-supplied SODIMM forces PC2700 speed, which is significantly less demanding.

As a rule I recommend spending the extra money to buy Crucial memory for AMD-based systems, especially for PC3200. I'd hoped the recent success reports from OCZ buyers indicated that OCZ was properly testing their SODIMMs against AMD's high-performance integrated memory controller. I guess not.

 

I purchased the same ram for a v5005US. One of the sticks was bad. I had put both of them in and it wouldn't boot. I took out 1 of the 512 sticks and put in a 256 OEM stick and it booted. I swapped the 512 sticks and found that the 2nd stick, even with the 256 in place, wouldn't boot.

I have sent the defective 512 stick back and am waiting for the exchange to a new stick. I did run memtest for 2 hours with the 256mb and 512mb sticks in place and there were no errors. After Brian's post, perhaps I'll take out the 256 stick and see if it runs ok with the 512mb stick.

 

ummm i have a 1gb from ocz newegg on my l2000 and it works fine i had no problems

 

If you mix with OEM 256MB DDR333 memory it may work as it is running at DDR333 speed and may not error out at DDR333 speeds.

So test it without OEM 256 DDR333 to findout if it is a defective memory.

 

Ya without the OEM 256 the OCZ ram will not even goto BIOS. I've tried each ram alone in different slots and they both do the same things. So they must be defective? or could it be something else like BIOS version which is limiting which type of ram is being used? Anyone else using f.21 with OCZ ram and working ok?

 

Looks like you have latest bios. I have seen few people reporting problems with this version, especially with memory.

I suggest talk to HP second line of support( 1st line is of no use) tell them that F.13 is working fine where as F.21 has problems.
(As we know sometimes manufacturers screw up thing when they try to fix something else)

 

When I get home in a few hours, I pull the 256 OEM stick and see if it boots with the 512 stick alone that passed memtest.

 

Which BIOS version are you using? And are you using 2x512 or 1x1gb?

Thanks

 

Well, I have a new v2000z coming in a few days and I ordered the 1x1Gb OCZ stick from newegg so I guess I'll see what happens and will post back w/ results. Rather frustrating that these published memory specs from the various manufacturers seems to have all these hidden caveats.

 

Well at least for the 512 OCZ sticks, you do get the advertised timings according to cpu-z (see attached).

Just on my system it will not boot into windows or go into the BIOS with just the OCZ ram installed.

I'm going to call HP support to see what they say about this and post back later.

 

you may get better luck with Corsair ValueSelect. Though it's only CL3, it got the SPD settings for 133, 166, & 200Mhz.

 

Ok, my 2000z arrived and the OCZ 1024 seems to boot ok. I just have the single 1024 stick in slot2. It doesn't run at cas 2.5 though. Why does the 512 stick run at 2.5...because of the the Micron chips used here?

 

I think the laptop takes whatever is in the SPD table. Your 1GB stick has CL3 in 200Mhz mode.

Until recently, in desktop world, the 1GB module have slower timings than the 512MB... so I guess the same is true for Laptop SO-DIMMs.

 

Isn't this a bit misleading to advertise it is PC3200 DDR400 CAS2.5 when it is only CAS2.5 at DDR333? Am I missing something? I'm not really completely up on the latest hardware. I mostly just tend to do a flurry of research right before I buy something.

 

Yes, I think it's false advertising.

You may want to return it. Based on the screen shots you provided, the OCZ 1GB is slower than the Corsair ValueSelect 1GB. Get the Corsair.

Meanwhile, the OCZ 512MB doesn't seem to have the SPD tables for 133 and 166Mhz.... which can be problem sometimes if a BIOS insist on running in 166Mhz/PC2700. (check Sabbasaun's screen shot).

BTW, I noticed that you have F.22 BIOS. I wonder why HP won't even post F.21, and now they have F.22 already.

Sabbasaun have the F.21 and it won't run his OCZ 512MB. HP is definitely doing something with the BIOS.

 

There was a $10 rebate on the OCZ making it more or less the same price as the Corsair ValueSelect. I don't think it is worth the hassle of returning it just yet.

 

I see what you are saying about the CAS3 timings there though.
3-3-8 vs 4-4-13 right? What do you think that would equate to in say something like a superpi score or other benchmark?

 

1gb stick and bios F21 i think

 

My old v2000z won't work with 2x512MB even with latest bios, but i switched to the OCZ 1GB module, and it works fine even in CL2.5.

 

i just installed OCZ PC3200 DDR400 2x512 in L2000 without any problems. Bios is F.13.

 

I believe there isn't much difference unless you use a memory intensive application.

Sorry, don't exact numbers on their difference though.

 

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I'm having a very similar problem. I ordered 2x512MB OCZ sticks from newegg. Tried installing both sticks and removing the old DDR333 256MB stick from my v2000z running a Turion ML37 and bios F.21. The system would not boot into bios with both OCZ sticks installed. I've tried testing each stick in the v2000z separtely but can't get the bios to boot. I've tested each OCZ stick w/ the DDR333 256MB stick (w/o 2nd OCZ stick) and it will run at DDR333. Has anyone found a solution besides buying the 1GB DDR OCZ/Corsair DDR400@CL3 sticks? Would flashing to the older bios F.13 possibly solve the problem? Also is it possible that the memory controller on the Turion & Sempron is what is limiting CL3/2.5 at certain speeds on some sticks? Thanks

 

It seems v2000z definately has problems with 512mb sticks OCZ. Hm, I would try some older bios version (my l2000 is with F.11) and if it doesnot work, a new one (I think F.23 is the latest).
Before this, however, do run Memtest for 6 hours on each of the sticks. It might be that OCZ has quality problems and the sticks are bad.

 

Hey thanks for your reply. I will try running memtest on each OCZ stick with the DDR333 256MB stick that I already have as thats the only way to get the bios to boot. I've ran SuperPI for about 8 hours before w/ an OCZ and DDR 333 256MB stick. Also, I'm running RMClock to undervolt my Turion as well. The lowest voltage is .95 and the highest is 1.3, just to keep you informed. I may try flashing the bios to an older one (f.13) or a newer one if anyone can help with a link(f.2x).

 

Just to update:

I've tried flashing to an older BIOS F.13 and still no luck. The laptop still won't boot or even goto bios. At this point I think I'm just gonna get a single stick of the 1GB ram and return the OCZ. I'm trying to figure out how to reflash back to the newew bios. Anyone have any suggestions? Stupid thing is, the laptops are now coming out with f.2* versions but they are not listed on the HP support site, ohwell.

Thanks,
SS

 

do you notice any difference between F2* and your current Bios? I am still at F.11 eventhough I can update to F.13
Otherwise, you should have a back-up copy at you hard drive in the temp directory

 

I haven't noticed any differences yet. Although for some reason when I rebooted, a new "unknown PCI hardware" device was found. I can't figure out what it is because everything is working, its kind of annoying.

I do have a backup of the newer f.21 bios but I can't figure out out to reapply it. The winflash utility that you get from HP does not give an option to load a different bios. Anyone have any ideas?

THanks

 

Just ordered a v2000z today and should have it in two days.

Is there any 512MB memory that will give me CAS 2.5 on the Sempron 3000+?
It seems that anybody with the Sempron 3000+ reports CAS 3 when they had actually bought CAS 2.5!

Any recommendations on a 512MB stick that will actually give me CAS 2.5 @ 400Mhz?

 

It is nothing specific to Sempron, but rather to many DDR400 memories, which are listed wrongly as CAS 2.5 at DDR400. Like for example I have Corsair DDR400, listed as CAS 2.5, but actual SPD timing table has CAS 3 at DDR400 speed.

OCZ DDR400 512MB sticks are proven to be working at CAS 2.5 at DDR400( though other values are little looser than Corsair, but still better with CAS 2.5).

Newegg has these stick for less than $50 per 512MB stick.

 

OK, I just recieved my new v2000z yesterday. I also bought 2x 512MB OCZ PC3200 sticks, but I'm having a different problem. The machine will POST just fine with one of the sticks, but with both or just the other, it won't. I assume this indicates defective RAM rather than a BIOS issue? I have BIOS F.22.

 

That would be my assumption. I'd send them both back in favor of a single 1GB stick. mwave.com has a great price on Crucial 1GB PC3200 SODIMMs, I just put a pair of those in my dv8125.

 

OCZ 512MB DDR400 sticks are proven to be working fine on V2000z and only memory I know for sure runs at listed CAS 2.5. I would suggest getting replacement for the bad stick.