what happens if you put DDR2 in a mobo that doesn't take it?

[CB1]

as above, i have some 2GB DDR2 sticks, but my mobo only takes upto 1GB sticks.

will the pc still run or will it beep out and not load up?

just need to know otherwise i'm gonna sell them on our sister site ;)

[Van Nugent]

Now assume that we want to put a 2GB DDR2 stick in a mobo that's designed for DDR2 but can only take up to 1GB/memory slot; and let's assume that we're not talking about putting DDR2 memory into DDR1 slot here. :D

If you use a 2GB stick in a memory slot that can support only 1GB max, the whole stick will be either

- unrecognizable (the system will not boot or if it can boot with the presence of another stick, the memory size in that slot would read 0MB); or

- recognized as half the size - 1GB - or even less than 1GB.

Very rarely but this is also a case, the mobo manufacturer might in a later time release a newer BIOS that allows the mobo to take a larger sized RAM stick. Consider yourself to be extremely lucky if this happens.

Edit: Just try it. If you're using the right type of RAM, it will not hurt the mobo. The worst case is it will not run.

[CB1]

cool just didn't want it to blow up ;)

have tried it and just double beeps out and reboots and does the same thing.

[Van Nugent]

The beeps told you there was a RAM problem (obviously) so you can't use these RAM sticks with the mobo.

[CB1]

yeah cheers VN for the help again ;)