ABIT BE6 sees half of installed system memory

[skuver43]

just upgraded my ABIT BE6 mainboard from 64 to 768 MB of system memory. but, it only recognizes half of it! what BIOS adjustments do i need to make to get the other half?

 

[garebo]

how many ram slots do you have, 2,3,4? Lots of systems are notorious for the second slot not working and not showing up. I am guessing that you have 3 slots x 256MB in each slot.
Just how much ram is your bios saying that you have?

Which bios are you running, ami or award? I'm pretty sure its not phoenix.
What version is the bios?

What os are you running?

 

[gargouille]

3 ram slots support 168-pin DIMMs...recommended Mushkin PC100 SDRAM...so you put 3 256 Mg ram sticks in it...is it single-sided?
Take it back and get double-sided DIMM!

 

[skuver43]

I've added 3x256 (768) and the BIOS shows 384. I' running Award v4.51 and Win98. (I know, they both need to be updated).

 

[tommarsh]

i think your bios will only see up to 128mbs for each slot.
it must be an older board and especially if you're still using 98
there is nothing wrong with 98 and 384 is cool too.
you may need to get your money back for the dimms and get 128's
but i could be wrong.

 

[gargouille]

I looked up his motherboard and it does support 3 sticks of 256 as bought when new! Will take PC100 or PC133
Is this quality ram or cheap stuff?
Follow

http://makeashorterlink.com/?U29F63442

and then a link to crucial and recommended ram:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?F2CF13442

 

[gargouille]

1st a link:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q253912&

And as usual, opinions vary...that's healthy.
Mark Twain said, "A difference of opinion makes a horse race."

This link suggests the limit may be worked around with vcache limits added to system.ini...but it's not conclusive.
Note that it does include WinMe as not receptive to above 512 Mb.
There's also a link to the Advanced settings and what they do.
Following these links then introduces you to this page...which seems to INFER that Win98 CAN run up to 1 Gb WITH a setting in Win.ini.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q181862

So, skuver, you're confident you have the right kind of ram
(PC100 or PC133)?
What happens if you put in 512 Mb?

 

[ANFPS26]

With Win98 you don't need more than 256MB of RAM. Some get away with more, but most don't. 384MB is the max Win98 uses, anyway. Read this FAQ:

faq615-1638 "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing....."

 

[gargouille]

Enjoyed following (and will follow) this thread...and see that cdogg's post is rooted in logic...and quotes M$.

To throw in one more clinker...I did a search for "maximum memory Win98" and got hits from threads from people I've come to associate knowledgeable answers (MSMVP's) that say Win98's upper limit is 1 Gb. That they disagree with MS official view is not news, as they regularly "seemingly contradict" "conventional wisdom".
(I also must note that thru my posting here I've come to regard cdogg as informed and insightful and seldom if ever embarrasses himself with stoopid answers...something I fall prey to once in awhile...so much for the bouquets!)
Threads:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?J51026642

and

http://makeashorterlink.com/?A23021642

So, I'll watch and see how this sorts out...and again I enjoyed the discussion of a now-dead (from MS standpoint) OS.

 

[ShadowFox333]

Just a thought. I use aopen MOBO's and you have to use sticks of memory that contains a certain number of chips on them or you don't get the correct result. Make sure your memory upgrade is a match for your MOBO.
Enjoy Bob