RAM/Motherboard Help (monitor, reset, work, hardware)

[pcbuilder]

I bought a new motherboard and when i got it i plugged it up and turned it on without any RAM, it made three long beeps and the monitor stayed on standby (no surprise there, it had no RAM) the motherboard says it supports 667, and 800mhz RAM. I orderes 400mhz, cause I just needed something cheap just to make sure everything worked. But when I put it in and turned it on it still made the three long beeps, and the moitor stayed on standby. Wouldn't the motherboard be able to use something lower than the recommended? I understand that you shouldn't use anything higher. But wouldn't lower work?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[harhar]

I don't know, however I always buy the RAM the motherboard has listed. And even then at the right speed some brands just don't work.

Sometimes an underclock, or slight overclock can mess things up too.

If I were you I'd try a stick of the correct speed RAM just to see if the board works or if the RAM is faulty.

And if you haven't already try to seat the RAM in all of the slots.

Edit:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/21...ith-ddr2-board

The RAM and board is DDR2 right?

[pcbuilder]

Yeah, the board and RAM are both ddr2 and i have tried it in both slots. Problem is since there is no RAM, there is no video so I can't try to change the mhz.

[harhar]

The only other things I could offer are seat the ram, remove the cmos battery, place the battery back and see if that works.

If not, then return the 400 and spring $20 for a 800. Or if you have any other sticks laying around try those.

From what I've read it looks like it should work, but I don't know of any other ways to test.

[NHDave]

As you've noticed, a board won't/can't POST without RAM, it's been this way since the beginning. If the manual says you need 667 or 800 and doesn't mention 400, then I would conclude you need 667 or 800, just as the manual states, the terms "recommended" and "supported" have 2 different meanings, recommended means you'll usually get better performance or stability, supported means it's whats required for the board to work, so no, the board may not work with 400 if it's not supported. Can you provide the motherboard make and model?

[pcbuilder]

The model number is: MSI G41M4-F. It is a socket 775, great board with all the options I need.

I will try harhar's suggestion.

[NHDave]

Originally Posted by pcbuilder

The model number is: MSI G41M4-F. It is a socket 775, great board with all the options I need.

I will try harhar's suggestion.

I believe taking his advise will solve the problem.

[pcbuilder]

Ahhh, it didn't do anything!!!! I removed the cmos bat, put it back it in, didn't do anything, tried reseting the jumper, didn't do anything.

Have supported RAM on the way in the mail.