Mixing PC100 and PC133 RAM?
BUT, the machine wouldn't even boot up. Not even a screen to tell me that I'm not allowed to do that. Nothing.
So naturally I'm worried that there may be some other factor at play. Maybe different types of RAM? Any factors I should be aware of before I shell out?
Answers:
PC100 & PC133 should be compatible, just know that the memory will clock down to the slower speed.
The only things I can think of that may be causing you problems would be:
1. If the number of pins on the memory modules is different from one another. Probably shouldn't be with that type of memory.
2. The PC100 modules may be bad. Take out your PC133 and try booting with just the PC100 in. If it won't boot, the memory is likely your problem. If it boots fine with the PC133 that will confirm it.
3. The combination of the two memories is more than your systems capacity?
I tried looking on crucial.com but couldn't find the systems in question. I would check the manufacturer website for more details.
putting different speed of ram shouldn't cause your pc to not boot up. what it should do is downgrade the pc133 to pc100 to match it and run it at a slower speed. it sounds like the memory is not seated properly or the memory is bad.
Mixing RAM is like drinking milk with a coke chaser.
Appears that since the RAM was broken, your motherboard may also be damaged. If you can't even get into BIOS than your motherboard is shot.
Mixing PC100 and PC133 is fine. The memory will run at a lower speed, that's all. Your problem is maybe because of the type of memory you use. Older motherboards have a limit of how much RAM can go in a slot and some will only take either single side or double side memory. Check your original memory to see if it's a single side or double side stick. You also didn't say how much memory you want to upgrade ? Your Compaq probably has 2 memory slots for a total of 1 GB or 512 MB? Your laptop won't boot until you sort out this memory requirement unless you put in the original 256 MB of RAM.
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