Memory Question

[jlynch1]

I have 3 memory slots which are filled with 64mb, 64mb and 256mb SDRAM modules. This should give me 384mb of ram but only 320mb of it is picked up. Anyone have any ideas why.


Output from the Cpu-Z utility which gives more detail as to the type of ram and the



Memory SPD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Module #1

General
Memory type SDRAM
Manufacturer (ID) Transcend Information (7F4F000000000000)
Size 256 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC100 (100 MHz)
Part number TS32MLS64V8D2

Attributes
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 100 100
CAS# 2.0 3.0
RAS# to CAS# delay 2 2
RAS# Precharge 2 2
TRAS# 5 5


Module #2

General
Memory type SDRAM
Manufacturer (ID) Winbond Electronic (DA44414E452D454C)
Size 64 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC100 (100 MHz)
Part number PDP100-064082AU

Attributes
Number of banks 1
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 100 100
CAS# 2.0 3.0
RAS# to CAS# delay 2 2
RAS# Precharge 2 2
TRAS# 5 5


Module #3

General
Memory type SDRAM
Manufacturer (ID) Micron Technology (2CFFFFFFFFFFFFFF)
Size 64 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC125 (125 MHz)
Part number 8LSDT864AG-10EC7

Attributes
Number of banks 1
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 100 125
CAS# 2.0 3.0
RAS# to CAS# delay 2 3
RAS# Precharge 2 3
TRAS# 5 7

 

[cdogg]

Does your motherboard use integrated video? If so, it may be reserving 64MB for video memory.

Check the BIOS.


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[jlynch1]

no... Motherboard is EliteGroup P6BX-A
With Award Bios version 4.51 PG dated 01/19/1999

I am also trying to update the bios as well. Im not sure whether the first one on the following page is the right one.

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Downlo...IOS&DetailDesc=P6BX-A (1.1)&MenuID=45&LanID=8

-------------------------------------------------------
SiSoftware Sandra

Mainboard
MP Support : No
Model : P6BX-A
System BIOS : 01/19/1999-i440BX-W977TF-P6BX-AP

--------------------------------------------------------



DMI output from CPU-Z
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DMI BIOS
--------
BIOS #1
vendor Award Software International, Inc.
version 4.51 PG
date 01/19/99


DMI System Information
----------------------
System #1
manufacturer System Integrator
product Intel 440BX
version 01
serial 886288661088
UUID 53797374-656D2049-6E746567-7261746F


DMI Baseboard
-------------
Baseboard #1
vendor EliteGroup Computer Systems Co. Ltd.
model i440BX-W977TF
revision 1.0
serial 886288661088

 

[Shadow97]

i've heard of mobo's that won't register the full banks unless they're all full ie..if you have 4 banks ..fill em all up. You could test this theory by changing the order of the ram ie put the 2 x 64's in bank 0,1 and put the 256 in bank 2...should perhaps come out at 128? just a guess

 

[cdogg]

What video card are you using then?

Sisoft should tell you in a diagnostic, but you can also go to Start -> Run, type dxdiag and hit OK. It will say on the Display tab.


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[Smar969905]

Here is where you would get the update for your bios:

[URL unfurl="true"]http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/bios.html[/url]

Instructions for how to do it all is on the page there. Bios is pretty easy to update, so if you know how to turn a computer on and type a little, you'll be great.

For the ram, I don't know what the deal is with that.



Smar969905
Young, foolish, and occasionally knowledgeable...

 

[jlynch1]

I have only 3 slots for memory. The maximum it can take is 3x256mb = 768mb.

I will experiment with the ordering tonite and see if it makes any difference.

The graphics card is a 32mb Creative Savage 4.

 

[cdogg]

Definitely make sure you try a different order for the DIMMs. It could be that the PC125 DIMM is causing trouble. Although backwards compatible, newer SDRAM modules are more dense than their older PC66 or PC100 counterparts. Your motherboard might be having a hard time picking it up.

It wouldn't hurt to try booting your system without the PC125 DIMM. If it still registers as 320MB, then you've found your problem. By the way, where are you seeing the 320MB amount? In the BIOS, Windows, or Sisoft Sandra?


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[jlynch1]

Changed the order of the ram modules and now all of the ram is detected by the Bios....384mb

 

[jlynch1]

Flashed the bios successfully.
Thanks to everyone for their help.

Another question
The motherboard only supports ATA-33.
The hard drive with the OS has a spindle speen of 5,400 rpm
Would using a hard drive with a spingle speed of 7,200 rpm improve performance on this pc ?

 

[cdogg]

Not much if you go through the ATA/33 controller. Instead, you could purchase a cheap Promise or Highpoint PCI IDE controller for like $25-30 to add ATA/100 or ATA/133. Then upgrading to a faster drive would be worth it.

Keep in mind though that a faster hard drive may not make much difference to an older system that has other major bottlenecks - like the CPU and RAM.


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884