Physical Memory Value Incorrect?

[eponymous]

Gigabyte GA-8id533
2 x Micron sdram 512mb pc133 (16L SDT6464 AG-133B2)
1 x Kingston sdram 512mb pc133 (KTM 3071/512)

Recently added 1 x 512MB Kingston to 2 x 512Mb Micron above making a total physical memory of 1536.

Physical memory shown: 1024 (System information)
Memory count shows correct value
Bios also shows correct value

1)How can I verify the computer is operating on 1536mb please?
2)Can the system information be corrected or is it immaterial?

Any help most welcome.
Many thanks,
Eponymous

 

[wahnula]

Try booting with just the Kingston stick...does it work? If so try each of the others, one at a time, to see if they all work.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[BadBigBen]

1)How can I verify the computer is operating on 1536mb please?

run a memtest, such as Memtest86+, since it operates outside of windows it will tell you if it can access the RAM correctly...

2)Can the system information be corrected or is it immaterial?

depends on the operating system, e.g. check the boot.ini file on XP to see if there is a restrictive switch...

or if you are using Windows 98se or ME, then read this:

Use of Memory Configurations Greater than 512MB in Windows 95, 98 and Windows Millennium Edition

http://www.dewassoc.com/support/win98/win9x_512memory.htm

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[edfair]

And check the motherboard manual. It may be limited to the 1024.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[eponymous]

wahnula, BadBigBen and Ed Fair - Thanks for this!

Here are the results of adding RAM as suggested

1) Slot A0 : Kingston 512mb

- system info : 512mb


2) Slot A1 : Micro 1 512mb

- system info : 1024mb


3) Slot A2 : Micro 2 512mb

- system info : 1024mb (instead of 1536mb)
- numbercount (correct)
- CMOS Setup (correct)
- Belarc:

-- total (1536mb)
-- A0 (512mb)
-- A1 (512mb)
-- A2 (missing)

Seems problem is A2 is not being detected?


If BIOS shows correct value and XP wrong value, at what value is RAM actually functioning?

Or can this only be resolved by an external programme such as memtest86+?

Thanks again for all your help,
Eponymous

 

[BadBigBen]

what happens when you switch the Kingston and the Micro (A0 with A2) RAMs?

XP works with a total of 4gigs of mem (actually shown are either 2.75 or 3.5 gig, depending on the hardware and settings)...

and what you may be seeing is that XP is reserving that 512mb for system use... one other check you could do is to see what the TASKMANAGER is saying about the amount of ram...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[eponymous]

BadBigBen – Thanks for this

Here is what happens when you switch the Kingston and the Micro (A0 with A2) RAMs:

- system info : 1024mb (instead of 1536mb)
- numbercount (correct)
- CMOS Setup (correct)
- Belarc:

-- total (1536mb)
-- A0 (512mb)
-- A1 (512mb)
-- A2 (missing)

Thanks for the tip about TASKMANAGER, which shows the correct total physical memory.

Presumably can now take it that computer is operating at the correct total physical memory?

Am still a bit curious as to source of error in system information and why A2 is not being properly detected?

Thanks again for all your help,
Eponymous

 

[BadBigBen]

I would still run a Memtest on that RAM just in case...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[BionicJohn]

or try CPUID

http://www.cpuid.com/

as that interrogates the RAM spec more thoroughly

Liverpool: Capital of Culture 2008
Anfield: Capital of Football since 1892
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[eponymous]

BigBadBen - Thanks for this!

Am having a bit of difficulty tracking the right version of Memtest86. I believe this is available installable from Windows and DOS. However, on opening Read Me it would appear the programme was in fact designed for Linux. Any direction to the correct download would be much appreciated.
Thanks again,
Eponymous

 

[eponymous]

SlimJohnD,
Thanks for this - shall check it out.
Regards,
Eponymous

 

[BadBigBen]

Here ya go:

MemTest86+

http://www.memtest.org/

or better yet:
a CD with lots of nice diag tools...

Ultimate BootCD 4.1.1

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[eponymous]

BadBigBen - Thanks for this!
Ran memtest with clean bill of health!
Thanks again and everyone else for their help.
Regards,
Eponymous