Problem installing RAM on Viao PCG-K15

I've had my laptop for while and now it's just to slow. I bought 2 512mb PC2700 to upgrade the memory to 1gb. After installing it, it still show that I have the original 448mb. It won't show the 1gb. After searching on Sony, it was suggested I try 2 512mb PC2100 instead. The store agreed and I changed to that. It still gives me the same problem. I've tried everything I can think of it.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I would appreciate the help. Thanks.

 

You may need to update your BIOS to the latest version. The max the laptop can support is 1GB, which means that each slot can only accept 512MB sticks.

Try putting just one stick in one slot, then move the same stick to the other slot. Does the laptop still work? If not, then it is possible that one slot is dead on the mainboard.

 

Hah! I just did this same thing this past week also. It doesn't work! It only detects the RAM sticks as 256 MB no matter what. Why is that?

I upgraded to the latest BIOS from the Sony site. It's the executable file for Phoenix, right? There's another one on there but that's older and I haven't used that one.

Also, this problems is common. I did a search for it and there are others who have had this same issue. In fact, no one has figured out a solution other than updating the BIOS, which hasn't worked for me.

Is there anyone out there that actually has their K15 as 1 GB? This is garbage. I wasted money on RAM. I emailed Sony about this issue and they only gave me a guide on how to install RAM, totally ignoring my problem.

 

I have the same issue, Installed two Gskill 510MB and reports 480MB... 32 is going to VRAM i think. What did you find in your search of the issue on your side?

The full SPEC is:
F1-2700PHU1-512SA
512 x 1
PC-2700
DDR 333
CL 2.5
2.5V

 

I found nothing other than to update the BIOS. I tried that and it didn't work. Not sure what else to do. I just returned the RAM. I'm not sure how to solve it and I don't think anyone else has.

I contacted Sony but their support seems to think I can't install RAM so I just gave up on pursuing it further. Maybe you should email them again and see what you can find? Definitely a widespread problem. I wonder if there's anyone with a K15 that has 1 GB of RAM.

 

What is the BIOS version you have?
here are the two bios installs i found on there site.
PH-A04X10802CL04US 0.936KB
PH-A07X10802DF04US 3.38MB
Which one did you run?

 

Hi everyone, just wanted to offer some closure with this problem PCG-K15 RAM problem.

I recently suggested a RAM upgrade for a friend who was using a PCG-K15 for video editing. Upon installing the RAM it was discovered that it only recognized half of it. Chatted with Sony tech support on 2 occasions totaling over 1 hour and just wanted to let every one know the following:

The PCG-K15 (At least many of them including the one I was using) does not support 1GB of RAM as Sony says on their website and memory cofigurators like Crucial report.

Do not listen to Sony tech support if they tell you that your speed is wrong. I was told that the RAM speed (PC2700) that I had installed was not the recommended RAM and that I needed to install PC2100 DDR CL2 for it to recognize 1GB of RAM.

First of all the laptop came with PC2700 CL2.5 and that was working fine (RAM automatically clocks down to the speed the system will support). I just could not upgrade to 1GB. Finally discovered that when I took one chip out the BIOS reported that it only had 192MBs installed (or 256 MBs). With both of the 512MB chips it would read 448MBs.

Also the Cas Latency time of the RAM is not a factor in the system being able to detect the size of the stick, please don't waste time purchasing more RAM to upgrade your PCG-K15, it won't work as another here has already reported.

In the end Sony Tech support told me the laptop would have to be sent to them in order for it to be fixed. Obviously, I did not choose to do this.

I've attached a txt that includes the conversation with two different techs over at Sony earlier today.

Hope this offers you all some closure on the matter. Thanks for putting me on the right path and letting me know about Sony Tech support saying that the RAM type was not support (when clearly it must be if they shipped the laptop with that kind of RAM in it).

Cheers,

Chris

Couple of quick edits: The PCG-K15 used had the latest BIOS available from Sony's website.

The new RAM was Corsair PC2700 DDR333 CL2.5

 

On a whim I purchased Two DDR PC2700 1GB Sticks, both were recognized as 512, and worked for a total of 1GB. This might mean that dual channel memory is not supported?

I since returned the two 1GB sticks (b/c I didn't want to spend the money if it wasn't supported), got two 512 sticks and have the same problem with them maxing out in the bios detection at half their spec'd amount.

Has anyone gotten past this?

There is only one BIOS update on Sony's site which I've done. After reading the txt and talking to sony myself I'd rather not try that route again.

Ideally I'd love to have 2GB of RAM in this, but will settle for 1 but can't manage with only 512.

I got this laptop cheap b/c it had a busted keyboard which I replaced and now it's as if someone always has the function key pressed down, so I've had to learn to use the function key if I want the right half of the keyboard to type correctly.

Has anyone else had this issue?

Thanks for any insight/help anyone can give.


-Nucci

 

Yeah I got some tips from the people that work at sony store...
The ram that my pcg-k15 support is a brand named called "Infineon" thats the only thing that it takes.. before i tryed kingtons and that didn't work! oh yeah and the max ram it can handle is only 1 gigs! lol

 

I got this PCG-K15 for my kids years ago but can not figure out how to upgrade the 512 RAM to 1G so after searching, seems everyone have the same problem with this particular Sony. I went out yesterday bought 2 x 512 RAM module = 1G but it can only see total as 480MB RAM . If I leave only one 256MB "Infineon" in the RAM slot banks, it now see as 128MB RAM, that's out of my brain.

After I read Nucci's post, I decide to buy one 1G module which is Kingston PC2700 or any brand I assume will be OK, this morning I plug this Kingston in one bank and the second bank is an old Infineon 256MB, this PCK-K15 BIOS F2 boot up key, reading is 704M RAM, in the System Information reads as 768MB Physical Mem and 365MB available, which is much better than the original of 2 x 256 Infineon = 480MB Physical Mem with 80MB available.

So finally it reads 2 slot banks, 1G read as 512 and second slot bank 256 (Infineon) reads as 256, total = 768MB

Mine now is 768 which much better, faster when boot up this computer with XP-SP3 + IE8, BIOS PH-A07X10802DF04US 3.38MB. Otherwise with old 80MB RAM available and sometimes comes to low to 10MB that makes this machine stop breathing.

I chatted to Sony support but got the same answer such as "After BIOS flashed, computer can not read 1G", or "You have to by exact same RAM", ...etc but SONY did not sell those for 1G upgrade ?. Pain isn't it ?

Pick the cheapest RAM modules and may someone can try in 1st slot bank with 1G module and 2nd bank with 512 module, that can be full 1G RAM configuration for this headache PCG-K15

Costco today 08/17/09 discount onsale the lightweight Acer Inspire One 10.1" with 1G RAM + 160M HD + 6Cell battery + Extra Ext DVD, Wireless mouse plus carying case for 379 bucks, I try to save this Sony by spending $34 1G module that can be not a good idea but can save $ for me ?

Thanks to Nucci and you all

 

Let me add another configuration and repeat what I did, in 2 slot banks:

*One is 512 Corsair and other is 256 Infineon, PCG-K15 reads as 448 or 480MB RAM total.

*One is 512 Corsair and other is 512 Corsair, PCG-K15 still reads as 448 or 480MB RAM total.

*One is Empty and other is 256 Infineon, PCG-K15 reads as 128MB total

So the one I QUOTE above which I choose, one is 1G Kingston or Corsair or of any brands will be fine (?) and other is 256 Infineon (Sony original), PCG-K15 reads as 768MB total.

NOTE: Before you remove the RAM modules out of their slots, make sure to unplug the DC cable and take out the Battery plus release your body electrostatic by touching some metal water pipe or wet ground, that can help to prevent or avoid destroying computer components. My thought !