Reading only half of RAM

SgtBobert

New Member
I bought a Buffalo Select 1024mb PC3200 DDR 400MHz stick (or whatever you call them) and next to it is another 1gb stick that i think was made by kingston and it says in the system info that i have only 1.5gb of RAM. whats the deal???
 
When adding memory the best move always seem to be going with the same brand and type to avoid problems. Apparently there's an incompatibility problem probably due to seeing different timings or the new memory simply isn't compatible with the board there. If the dimm was a 512 mislabeled as a 1gb dimm that would also explain the 1.5 seen.

One question comes to mind about the 1279mb seen in your sig. Are you running a 256mb dimm along with the pair of 1gb? Besides that if the memory installed is two different speeds like the new DDR400 mixed with DDR333 memory install the new dimm in the first or A1 dimm slot being the first slot on the first channel. That's most dommon recommendation there. It does sound like a mismatch there.
 
I just installed the buffalo stick today thats why I havnt changed my sig but yah i ran another kingston 256mb stick along side the 1gb kingston. If you look at spec for my board it only supports 2gbs and has only two RAM slots
 
The cpuid is a good tool along with another found that will even go further showing all types of info on hardwares and softwares even cpu temps called SIW. You can grab that free as well at http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html It doesn't create any new registry values and you may want to create a desktop shortcut for it.

If your build seems to running good other then the lack seen wiith 512mb missing it strongly points at getting a 512 not 1gb when bought. That's unfortunate and should be returned for exchange or refund.

I would simply advice substitution on return for a matching Kingston if you know the first 1gb's product number whether basic, Value Ram, or Hyper X performance. That way you don't have to replace two dimms just to see 2gb there.
 
This is what i Got

pic1.bmp

pic2.bmp

pic3.bmp

pic4.bmp


EDIT: I checked tigerdirect, don't take returns :(
 
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It looks fine, maybe windows is reading it wrong. When you go to the task manager how much does it say you have?

Its under "performance" then toward the bottom left it says "physical memory", then under it theres "total"

Does you motherboard have onboard video?
 
Your onboard video is taking RAM. 520MB seems like a bit much though. You should have the option to disable the onboard video in the BIOS
 
Probably. I'm downloading the manual right now at the normal painfully slow speed. With any luck I might hit 1KB/sec, I doubt it though. I'll leave it going, maybe it will finish by the time I wake up at tonight.
 
Goto the advanced menu, then chipset then northbridge. It doesn't look like you can turn it off, only adjust how much RAM it takes.
 
That goes over like a lead balloon! On most boards you can simply disable it totally but apparently not there. This sounds alot what is seen when 4gb is installed and Windows applies some like 256mb for a 256mb video card. On Asus boards that would be found in the Advanced section once you press the DEL key at post time to enter the bios setup. That will be the first after the time and date initial screen.

The english version of the user manual is a quick download at http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socket775/P5RD1-VM/e2440_p5rd1-vm.pdf You do have to wait for more stuff to download as you go from page to page when at the Asus support site however. You'll see the model number and the page will freeze up if you try to go through. Typical there! :rolleyes:




Note the onboard devices configuration option seen in the menu there. This is where to look for the onboard video setting.
 
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But I still dont see what im supposed to change...

This is what my Computer shows

Memory Reference Code (MRC) Version 5.3
Boot Graphics Adapter Priorty [PEG/IGD]
Current memory clock :200MHz
Surround View Function [Disabled]
UMA Frame Buffer Size [64mb]


>Advance MB


Video Display Devices [Auto]
TV Standard [MTSC]
 
UMA Buffer Size is the setting but knowing that it's at 64MB tells me something else is going on. In the BIOS main menu under system information how much system memory does it say you have?
 
It says I have 1528 or somewere around that. I just talked to a friend who looked up the board and said that it requires dual channel RAM to get the full 2gb support.
 
That would be dual sided dimms most likely. I haven't seen one Asus board where you can't disable the onboard video. The 64mb aperature setting is very much a default seen on most boards.

As Cromewell pointed out something else has to be looked at like a possible clash between the two brands or a possible defect in the new dimm. I would suggest exchanging that with at least another brand if not the same as you already have.
 
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