Older computer memory trouble

[Marc P.]

Memory frequency wouldn't cause a burnout like that. Worst that would happen if the clock speed was off is the computer wouldn't post.

The most common cause of a burnout is an improper installation. If the stick isn't inserted all the way into it's slot, or if it's put in backwards (which I've seen a few times... the 2 alignment pins were mashed straight down), it can easily burn up. Less common, but also possible, is voltage- most modern SDRAM is rated at 3.3 volts, but some older EDO/FP/PC66 modules were rated for 5 volts. If you put a 3.3v in a 5v socket, or vice-versa, that may burn too. Some older motherboards did have jumpers to configure voltages for the memory and CPU, so that may be worth a look. Unfortunately, not all memory is clearly labeled, and sometimes it's difficult to tell what is what, so it's a risk to start mixing and matching.