2GB RAM kit only seen as 250MB

munkyeetr · 06-28-2007, 06:08 AM

Today I bought a 2GB kit of Kingston Value RAM (KVR400X64C3AK2/2G) and when I plugged the modules into my system and rebooted it was only seen as 250MB. My mainboard is the one in my signature, and according to the manual it supports 2GB of DDR 400Mhz RAM.

Mainboard specs

Steps I have taken:
1) With both modules plugged in I ran 1 pass of memtest32+ with no errors.
2) Reseated both modules and tried again. 250MB
3) Swapped which module was in which slot and tried again. 250MB
4) With only 1 module installed. 250MB
5) With only the other module installed. 250MB
6) Reinstalled my old RAM (a mix: (1x Azenram DDR PC3200 512MB) & (1x Kingston KVR400X64C3A/512 DDR PC3200 512MB)) and it is recognized as 1GB.

My current BIOS settings are as follows:
CAS Latency = 2.5 (I also tried it at 3)
DRAM Clock Mode = By SPD (Other value is Manual)
DRAM Clock = DDR400 (Other values are 200, 266, 300, 333)
DRAM Voltage = 2.6v

Anything look like it should be changed? Any other settings you can think of that you want to see?

I am wondering if I may need to upgrade my BIOS? I would rather not if I can avoid it, so I ask if anyone else has any ideas, or if they would recommend a BIOS upgrade.

It should also be known, in case anyone want me to run diagnostics or something, that I can only currently boot into Ubuntu 7.04 or Fedora Core 7 Linux

holdenssx · 06-28-2007, 06:23 AM

I read another specifications page for your MOBO that for DDR400 you might have to manually set the timings in BIOS, maybe that'll help?

munkyeetr · 06-28-2007, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holdenssx

I read another specifications page for your MOBO that for DDR400 you might have to manually set the timings in BIOS, maybe that'll help?

Do you have a link to that? I haven't manually set timings before, can anyone help me with that if that is the case?

munkyeetr · 06-28-2007, 06:30 AM

I did try changing DRAM Clock Mode to Manual, and then set DRAM Clock to DDR400, but when it booted up it still showed (and shows now) the clock speed at DDR333. When I changed the CAS Latency the change was reflected next time I booted.

**The_Other_One** · 06-28-2007, 06:36 AM

So it shows 250MB RAM in the BIOS? Or just windows?

munkyeetr · 06-28-2007, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Other_One

So it shows 250MB RAM in the BIOS? Or just windows?

I see nothing in the BIOS itself that specifies how much RAM in installed. When I boot and it check my memory it displays 262144KB.

And I must reiterate, I am not running Windows, I am running Fedora Core 7 , and when I open KInfo Center and look at the memory tab it shows 250MB. Also in a couple other utilities it shows 250MB.

My BIOS version as displayed during boot up is A7032VMS v3.5 112304

EDIT: I am going to bed as I have to get up for work early in the morning. Please post any ideas and I will be back to read through them before the sun comes up.

holdenssx · 06-28-2007, 06:51 AM

Heres the link: http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p...odel=K8T_Neo-V

Quote:

Due to the High Performance Memory design, motherboards or system configurations may or may not operate smoothly at the JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) standard settings (BIOS Default on the motherboard) such as DDR voltage, memory speeds and memory timing. Please confirm and adjust your memory setting in the BIOS accordingly for better system stability.

I misread it, I guess it doesn't only apply to DDR400

**The_Other_One** · 06-28-2007, 07:13 AM

OK ok, sorry, I mean any OS

But I got what I wanted. It's definetly some hardware issue and not software. I'd look for a RAM compatibility list for your mobo and see if such RAM is listed. Or perhaps exchange your RAM and get some other that is on the list. Though I think that's the exact same RAM I have and it works just fine here...heh, but of course I do have another mobo ^^;

Kornowski · 06-28-2007, 01:08 PM

Do you not have a Windows CD at hand, that you could install and see how much Windows recognizes?

http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/

Try that and see how much that says you have installed

munkyeetr · 06-28-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kornowski

Do you not have a Windows CD at hand, that you could install and see how much Windows recognizes?

I do have a Windows CD, but considering that the BIOS only reads 262144KB during boot up, several utilities in both Ubuntu and Fedora only see 250MB, and the Knoppix Live CD utilities only read 250MB, it's not really worth the time and effort (as well as messing up my current dual-boot setup) to have Windows tell me the same thing.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the suggestion, but I'm 99.9% sure this isn't going to be an OS issue, it's a hardware issue.

I'll probably just run this past the technicians at work today and see what they say. I may very well need to flash my BIOS, or buy different RAM.

06-28-2007, 06:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
munkyeetr Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Age: 86 Posts: 629	2GB RAM kit only seen as 250MB Today I bought a 2GB kit of Kingston Value RAM (KVR400X64C3AK2/2G) and when I plugged the modules into my system and rebooted it was only seen as 250MB. My mainboard is the one in my signature, and according to the manual it supports 2GB of DDR 400Mhz RAM. Mainboard specs Steps I have taken: 1) With both modules plugged in I ran 1 pass of memtest32+ with no errors. 2) Reseated both modules and tried again. 250MB 3) Swapped which module was in which slot and tried again. 250MB 4) With only 1 module installed. 250MB 5) With only the other module installed. 250MB 6) Reinstalled my old RAM (a mix: (1x Azenram DDR PC3200 512MB) & (1x Kingston KVR400X64C3A/512 DDR PC3200 512MB)) and it is recognized as 1GB. My current BIOS settings are as follows: CAS Latency = 2.5 (I also tried it at 3) DRAM Clock Mode = By SPD (Other value is Manual) DRAM Clock = DDR400 (Other values are 200, 266, 300, 333) DRAM Voltage = 2.6v Anything look like it should be changed? Any other settings you can think of that you want to see? I am wondering if I may need to upgrade my BIOS? I would rather not if I can avoid it, so I ask if anyone else has any ideas, or if they would recommend a BIOS upgrade. It should also be known, in case anyone want me to run diagnostics or something, that I can only currently boot into Ubuntu 7.04 or Fedora Core 7 Linux __________________ If the advice you receive helps, please post a reply saying so as courtesy to others who will come here with the same problem. MSI MS-7032 MB - Sempron 3000+ 1.8Ghz - 2GB PC3200 500GB Western Digital - 80GB Samsung - 80GB Maxtor (Dualbooting Ubuntu 7.10/Debian Lenny) nVidia GF 5700LE 256MB (AGP) - SoundBlaster 24bit PCI LiteOn DVDRW - Acer AL1916W 19" (2x) Registered Linux User: 448689 Last edited by munkyeetr; 06-28-2007 at 05:14 PM. Reason: Better Mainboard specs page

06-28-2007, 06:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
munkyeetr Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Age: 86 Posts: 629	I did try changing DRAM Clock Mode to Manual, and then set DRAM Clock to DDR400, but when it booted up it still showed (and shows now) the clock speed at DDR333. When I changed the CAS Latency the change was reflected next time I booted. __________________ If the advice you receive helps, please post a reply saying so as courtesy to others who will come here with the same problem. MSI MS-7032 MB - Sempron 3000+ 1.8Ghz - 2GB PC3200 500GB Western Digital - 80GB Samsung - 80GB Maxtor (Dualbooting Ubuntu 7.10/Debian Lenny) nVidia GF 5700LE 256MB (AGP) - SoundBlaster 24bit PCI LiteOn DVDRW - Acer AL1916W 19" (2x) Registered Linux User: 448689

06-28-2007, 06:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 25 Posts: 13,434	So it shows 250MB RAM in the BIOS? Or just windows? __________________ Primary- i7 920 \| 6GB RAM \| 9800GT \| 160+160+500GB Secondary- Athlon X2 4200 \| 2GB RAM \| 7600GT \| 80+250GB Netbook - Atom N280 \| 2GB RAM \| GMA945\| 160GB

06-28-2007, 07:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 25 Posts: 13,434	OK ok, sorry, I mean any OS But I got what I wanted. It's definetly some hardware issue and not software. I'd look for a RAM compatibility list for your mobo and see if such RAM is listed. Or perhaps exchange your RAM and get some other that is on the list. Though I think that's the exact same RAM I have and it works just fine here...heh, but of course I do have another mobo ^^; __________________ Primary- i7 920 \| 6GB RAM \| 9800GT \| 160+160+500GB Secondary- Athlon X2 4200 \| 2GB RAM \| 7600GT \| 80+250GB Netbook - Atom N280 \| 2GB RAM \| GMA945\| 160GB

06-28-2007, 01:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
Kornowski VIP - Graphics Guru Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool, UK Age: 19 Posts: 16,158	Do you not have a Windows CD at hand, that you could install and see how much Windows recognizes? http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/ Try that and see how much that says you have installed __________________ Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3.4Ghz EVGA 750i SLI FTW 4GB Crucial Ballistix 2 X 8800GTS G92 in SLI @ 734/1890/972 Corsair HX520W Windows 7 Profesional 64bit Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200.11 & WD 120GB Tuniq Tower LED Antec 900 (Modded) Acer 24" and Samsung 19" Monitors DH Biking - Because Golf and Football only require one ball. www.kornowski.tk

06-28-2007, 06:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
holdenssx Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wheaton, IL Posts: 593	I read another specifications page for your MOBO that for DDR400 you might have to manually set the timings in BIOS, maybe that'll help?

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