Please HELP LOOSING MY MIND

daniel91906 · 05 Aug 2011

Would a memory stick like Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL be good? says its compatible with intel p55 which is what i have. For the PSU i think im going to try best buy pick one up try it out and return it if that wasn't the problem. What exactly am i looking for in a PSU? are there compatibility issues with it? or is it just pick the right amount of watts? im the sure the best buy people wont know anymore then me

TVeblen · 06 Aug 2011

I can't tell you if that memory matches your motherboard - I do not have enough information - but as a WAG I'd say it would work.

P55 is the intel chipset, not the model number of the motherboard. If the motherboard is Intel branded it would have a number like DP55WG, DP55WB, DP55KG, or similar. You can use software (like CPU-Z or Belerac Advisor) to get this info, but you need a working computer to do that. Your best bet is to carefully inspect the motherboard to find the BRAND and model number printed on it. There is no reason to assume it is an Intel branded motherboard.

Intel DP55KG Motherboard | Hardware Secrets
The discussion in this article regarding memory types certainly raises my eyebrows. Is it designed for DDR2 or DDR3? Come on people! That is why I think it is important to research this further to choose memory that has been tested and approved for this motherboard. That's why you need the model number.

When you find the model number go to the MANUFACTURER'S webpage for that motherboard and look for the QVL list. Then choose a RAM module from that list or match the specs exactly.

DDR3 memory running at 1333 comes in 3 flavors: PC10600, PC10660, and PC10666 - and can come in two general voltages 1.5v and 1.65v. You must get sticks in the correct voltage for the motherboard.
You should be able to read this information on the RAM modules you have. That doesn't mean they are correct however (stranger things have happened with those kit packages) so do not skip the research part.

As for the power supply: There is no compatibility issue with power supplies other than size (ATX is the norm) and available connectors (for your installed devices), and the total power needs of your computer. But if you get (or borrow) a similar sized supply with all the right connections in the ATX size format it will work in yours and most everyone else computers.

I always recommend a supply with a single 12v rail unless you know exactly what you are doing. And with power supplies you are looking for maximum AMPS on each of the voltages (3.3, 5, and 12v). The amps are much more important than total wattage. That video card could pull 18 to 22 amps all by itself on the 12v rail. You are looking for, in terms of amps, the most bang for the buck.

To decide on a BRAND of power supply I suggest you make a new post in the Hardware forum and ask what brands are best. Lots of opinions but the same few brands always come up: Seasonic, Corsair, PC Power & Cooling, Thermaltake, etc.
Better yet just search the hardware forum - this question has been done to death!

daniel91906 · 06 Aug 2011

It appears i have a msi h55m-p33. and bsed on http://www.msi.com/product/mb/H55M-P33.html#?div=Detail would it b safe to assume that any 1.5v memory would b ok? • Supports four unbuffered DIMM of 1.5 Volt DDR3 1066/1333/1600*/2000*/2133* (OC) DRAM, 16GB Max. Also i did some testing with moving the sticks again, and the 2 blue slots on my mobo would give me 3 beeps when i would put either memory stick in them. Does that mean that those 2 same colored slots are no good? I ran the memtest again overnight having the 2 sticks in the 2 black slots and after 22 passes i only got 13 errors this time.

TVeblen · 06 Aug 2011

You want to be sure that the RAM you select is 1.5v, not higher.

Those * next to RAM speeds mean that the board will support these if you overclock the BIOS settings. You can run up to 1333 at native settings.

Normally, the two black slots are designated as A1 and A2 and the Blue Slots are designated B1 and B2. The A1 & A2 slots must be populated first before the B1 & B2 slots will work. That is why your are getting the 3 beep RAM error beep code. It is normal (in that if you put the RAM in the wrong slots first you will get that error!). The slots are probably good.

For Memtest you should get zero errors. But getting greatly reduced errors just running 2 sticks is interesting in that it points toward a power issue.

If the errors increase because all 4 sticks are installed and diminish with two then you could be looking at:

A failing power supply (not enough juice to run all the RAM)
Or a motherboard issue (not enough juice to run all the RAM - this is separate from the power supply)

What happens if you run Memtest with just one stick in RAM slot A1?

TVeblen · 06 Aug 2011

To choose RAM, go here:
http://www.msi.com/file/test_report/TR10_2005.pdf
and scroll down to the DDR III 1333 block to see the list of tested RAM.

But please keep in mind that your current RAM may be OK. You need to complete the testing of the other components to be sure. I hate to see folks just buying and replacing parts willy-nilly as a repair strategy.

One thing I would like you to try, to rule out an OS corruption, is to attempt to boot into windows by:

Pressing the F8 key repeatedly between the time the BIOS completes booting and when Window usually starts. This brings up the Windows Boot Menu. Try "Use Last Know Good Configuration"
If available on the above menu, try "Repair Your Computer"
Booting with a W7 installation or Repair Disk in the drive. Bring up "System Recovery Options". Choose Startup Repair. Run that a few times in a row. System Recovery Options
Try the System Restore option also.

Let's see if you can get anywhere with that.

daniel91906 · 08 Aug 2011

I tried the start up repair and it wouldn't fix anything it'd tell me something about checking any usb connections for cameras and such when i didnt have anything USB plugged in. I didnt have even have my mouse plugged in. So i went to best buy got a PSU and got a new memory stick. Installed both and still had the black screen. I tried running the windows start up repair again and this time it actually worked. And it also recognized a system restore i had done earlier in the week when before it didnt. Really strange. So in the end i restored to that point and then did the repair start up option and BAM im now on my pc =) I scanned for viruses and malware and it didnt pick anything up. I should take out the PSU and test the stick or vise versa but to be honest im just going to keep the PSU since its the Corsair one, so i rather have the better quality one and keep my other one as a spare. And the memory i bought at best buy was terrible so ill return it once i get my g.skill ripsaw ones which were on that list u posted as compatible RAM. I want to thank you so much for your help man! Thanks to you i avoided having to pay geek squad a ton of money to do what u helped me do myself. I added the rep thing and im not sure what else i can do to repay u but if theres something else let me know! Best of luck to you!

TVeblen · 08 Aug 2011

Good job sticking with it! Congrats!

daniel91906 · 09 Aug 2011

hey not sure if you'll still check this but i hope you do. Since putting in the new RAM my computer has been "choppy" for example while playing certain games i used to always be the first to load in to maps and such and my games would start up instantly. Now im the last to load maps and my games take a couple of minutes to start up... So i installed the new RAM i got from new egg the g.skill one 8gb and i thought that would fix it . And it didn't everything is still choppy and slow. Do i have to do anything special once i install the RAM? Or what do u think could be causing this? Because the whole point of this PC is to play games and what not so speed is a necessity.

TVeblen · 10 Aug 2011

I'm not a big gamer, so my knowledge is limited. I suggest posting a new thread in the GAMING forum. You should describe your issue as clearly as possible, fill in your "System Specs" in your SevenForums profile in detail, say what you had for RAM and what you have now as well as any other hardware changes you made, and don't forget to mention any solutions you've already tried. Be desciptive - "Choppy" to me means the video stalls or jitters on the screen.

From what I do know I can say the total speed of your gaming is dependent on:

The speed of raw data transfer - from CD/DVD to CPU, from HDD to CPU, from Web to CPU.
The speed of processing - CPU speed and RAM
The speed of video processing - the speed of your graphics engine and card

Any "slowness" you get in your experience could be due to any one of those three hardware component combinations. The key will be in observing and doing diagnostics to narrow down all the possible causes to just a few or just one. It does not need to be just the RAM.

daniel91906 · 10 Aug 2011

Well it's just not games that was just an example. Since I got my computer to work again, my computer has been slow at starting up for example. It takes about 45 seconds to a minute for my web browser to start up. When before this whole incident with my computer happened. My computer would start up in seconds and my web browser would launch almost instantly. My computer is just taking a longer time now loading pretty much anything, a word document the web browser or like i had said before launching and running games as well. The only thing ive changed has been my RAM and the PSU. I read about setting my RAM's speed in bios did i have to do any of that after installing my new RAM? The computer does recognize the RAM being 8gb now.