ThinkPad R61e (7650 type) - 4GB RAM problem

[maniek21]

Hi. There is a problem with my Lenovo R61e 7650. Now I'm running it with 3GB RAM and Windows 10. Recently I've tried to put another 2GB module (Hynix PC-6400) to gain from it a 4GB amount of RAM. Unfortunately Windows hangs on boot screen, and there is no way to even run the installation from DVD or Pendrive - it also hangs on loading.
In BIOS there is a confirm that we have 4096MB of RAM.
Is the PC-6400 module a problem? I have three different modules of PC-6400 2GB Hynix, so it's not a bad memory.
Maybe I should buy PC-5300 one? It's strange, because even with PC-6400 and PC-5300 mixed it should run ok, so I don't want to waste money for PC-5300 if it won't work.

[RealBlackStuff]

If you have a 32-bit OS, then between 3-4GB is the max. usable.
Only with a 64-bit OS could you probably(?) use up to 8GB PC2-5300 or PC2-6400, even mixed.
Any RAM in your machine will always run at PC2-5300 speed.

Also, if your machine has a Celeron CPU, it might balk at so much memory.

[maniek21]

Thanks for Your answer. The problem is I'm using the 64bit OS, and everything hangs on loading screen. It seems like the R61e won't work with 4GB. When I tried to run Memory Test from BIOS it hangs on ThinkPad Screen. Lenovo Website claims that 4GB is max. of it's capacity. I don't know where is the problem. BIOS shows 4096MB of memory installed, but I can't even run the installation of Windows.

[Neil]

...it's not a bad memory.

How do you know? Have you tested the RAM modules? If not, try to boot the machine with only one RAM stick at a time. Try with each individually, that way, if there is a bad memory module, you will be able to isolate which one is giving you trouble.

If both are OK, and the R61e works fine with a single RAM stick, but not with both, we will have to look elsewhere for the problem.

[maniek21]

Yes, I've checked it. Notebook starts without problems with one of the modules, it doesn't matter if I put there PC-6400 or PC-5300 - when it's 2GB everything works ok. I've checked 3 of modules PC-6400 and each one of them starts allright and system boots up.

Now there is PC-5300 2GB and PC-4200 1GB inside and everything works. I've put both PC-6400 2GB together and it's the same - hangs on loadscreen. I've written to Lenovo Support and they confirm that R61e is capable of using 4GB of RAM.

[thinkpadcollection]

PC2-5300 is 667 fsb, R61e runs at 800fsb for memory get another memory rated for 800 or PC2-6400 to match your other 6400.

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

[maniek21]

I have 2 modules PC-6400 and it doesn't work.

[thinkpadcollection]

Ok try matched PC2-5300, 4GB total, 2x 2GB?

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

[MrMaguire]

Does it have the latest BIOS?

[maniek21]

Yes it does. It has the latest modified BIOS from Lenovo forum, to run SATA2. On the original BIOS it was the same.
Ok, so I will try to buy PC-5300 and match it with another one. Thanks

[MrMaguire]

Have you seen this

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=62379

and this

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=60688

[maniek21]

Yes, I've seen this, but Lenovo Support via E-mail told me that this model should work with 4GB without problems. Something is clearly wrong here.

[ajkula66]

Which CPU do you have in there?