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FZWG · 01-18-2002, 11:04 AM

Only Half of RAM Amount Displayed?

Appreciate some assistance.

PC has 256MB RAM (2 memory chips: 128MB on DiMM 1, 128MB on DiMM 2), and can hold up to 1GB RAM over its 3 DiMM slots, according to mainboard specs.

Installed a third memory chip with 256MB RAM on DiMM 3, and for some reason, it was not recognized. Proceeded to remove it, and now the 256MB RAM that were already in DiMMs 1 & 2 are showing up as a total of 128MB RAM.

The mainboard appears to only recognize half of the RAM installed!

Switched the chips around to different DiMM slots, but nothing happened.

(PC has an AZZA 5VMX VIA MVP3 ATX mainboard, an AWARD BIOS, AMD K6-2/550 CPU, and OS = W98SE. Mainboard manual allows for single or double sided memory, EDO or SDRAM.)

Any ideas on how to correct this issue?

Cricket · 01-18-2002, 01:40 PM

Hi FZWG,

Are they all the same speed and type (non-EEC, non-buffered)?

I'd put the 256MB stick in the first DIMM slot (dimm 0 or dimm 1), and then follow with the other two 128MB sticks in slot 2 and 3.

You may want to clear the CMOS too. Either set the jumper to clear or remove the battery for a few minutes (with the PC off and unplugged).

If that doesn't work, then it might be the RAM don't like each other or the motherboard is picky about the RAM quality.

Cricket

TwoRails · 01-18-2002, 04:50 PM

It helpful to know WHERE you are getting the amount of ram in your system, as for some unexplained reason, different programs will / can show different amounts of ram in the system.

To see what Windows "thinks" you have, press your Start key, then tap the Pause key to bring up System Properties. The amount of ram listed there is what Windows "sees." As they say in commercials, "other programs can vary."

Also, go to simmtester.com and download their Free DocMemory tester. For the price, you can't beat it. It's bailed me out of a jam or two...

HTH,

TwoRails

mantapc · 01-19-2002, 12:13 AM

are they either all gold pins or all tins pins? No combinations....

Hpro · 01-19-2002, 07:49 AM

Your AZZA board - may doens't take more than 256 - but for sure no @56 Memory chip..

FZWG · 01-19-2002, 10:17 PM

Thank you for your replies.

The mainboard accepts up to 1GB RAM.

Windows "thinks" it has 128MB RAM vs 256MB RAM.

RAM chip is pushed in, tight!!

All the chips are PC-100, all have gold pins.

The 256MB chip by itself shows up as 128MB.

RAM size is not locked in on msconfig.

Three days ago, the two 128MB chips were showing as 256MB. Now they show up as half of that!!!

Cleared the CMOS, same thing happened all over again.

Any other words of wisdom??

Hpro · 01-19-2002, 10:59 PM

Yes - Buy a new MOBO..

D'angelo · 01-20-2002, 01:45 AM

hi, I'm not sure if you are using the same kind of RAM as some times that affects adding different brands, but it should not affect your current one move the ram around and see what banks report the ram install and go from there. start w/one and see if it is recognized and so on. Run antivirus I don't believe that is the problem but it won't hurt. Good luck.

D'angelo · 01-20-2002, 01:57 AM

hi, I'm not sure if you are using the same kind of RAM as some times that affects adding different brands, but it should not affect your current one move the ram around and see what banks report the ram install and go from there. start w/one and see if it is recognized and so on. Run antivirus I don't believe that is the problem but it won't hurt. Good luck.

RayH · 01-20-2002, 08:07 AM

Try testing each RAM module separately in each slot. Maybe one of the slots went bad. Maybe one of the slots went bad and you have a bad module.

shadow_man · 01-20-2002, 08:41 AM

Your ram is propably HIGH density ram and your MO uses only LOW density ram. IE: you must have a 440BX chip, it only recognizes half the amount of ram. You need low density memory.

shaadow_man

FZWG · 01-20-2002, 01:32 PM

Thank you for the replies.

Tried every possible combination, shifting around the memory chips, and it is no go. Still reads only half of what it is.

How do you tell the memory chip is high density or low density?

Hpro · 01-20-2002, 03:18 PM

High density are RAMS with more than 16 chips when counted on both sides..there are not many computers which will read those and there are not many manufacturers which make them..

may you clean the contacts forst and then start that you get ONE of the Sticks seen in full amount starting at bank 0 if you get it then go on with the next one and so on.. I still DO NOT BELIEVE that a Socket 7 board can take more than 128 Mb per bank and more than 512Mb for full size - despite what the manual reads - never forget = paper takes everything...

FZWG · 01-20-2002, 07:28 PM

Tried every suggestion so far, except buying a new mainboard (no way, don't give up that easy).

Currently removed battery from CMOS and will keep it out overnight.

Also trying DiMMs on another pc to see what happens.

01-18-2002, 11:04 AM	#1
FZWG Member (10 bit) Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 566	Only Half of RAM Ammount Displayed? Only Half of RAM Amount Displayed? Appreciate some assistance. PC has 256MB RAM (2 memory chips: 128MB on DiMM 1, 128MB on DiMM 2), and can hold up to 1GB RAM over its 3 DiMM slots, according to mainboard specs. Installed a third memory chip with 256MB RAM on DiMM 3, and for some reason, it was not recognized. Proceeded to remove it, and now the 256MB RAM that were already in DiMMs 1 & 2 are showing up as a total of 128MB RAM. The mainboard appears to only recognize half of the RAM installed! Switched the chips around to different DiMM slots, but nothing happened. (PC has an AZZA 5VMX VIA MVP3 ATX mainboard, an AWARD BIOS, AMD K6-2/550 CPU, and OS = W98SE. Mainboard manual allows for single or double sided memory, EDO or SDRAM.) Any ideas on how to correct this issue? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-18-2002, 01:40 PM	#2
Cricket Shiro Usagi Premium Member Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Kaneohe, Hawaii Posts: 34,002	Hi FZWG, Are they all the same speed and type (non-EEC, non-buffered)? I'd put the 256MB stick in the first DIMM slot (dimm 0 or dimm 1), and then follow with the other two 128MB sticks in slot 2 and 3. You may want to clear the CMOS too. Either set the jumper to clear or remove the battery for a few minutes (with the PC off and unplugged). If that doesn't work, then it might be the RAM don't like each other or the motherboard is picky about the RAM quality. Cricket Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-18-2002, 04:50 PM	#3
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	It helpful to know WHERE you are getting the amount of ram in your system, as for some unexplained reason, different programs will / can show different amounts of ram in the system. To see what Windows "thinks" you have, press your Start key, then tap the Pause key to bring up System Properties. The amount of ram listed there is what Windows "sees." As they say in commercials, "other programs can vary." Also, go to simmtester.com and download their Free DocMemory tester. For the price, you can't beat it. It's bailed me out of a jam or two... HTH, TwoRails Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-19-2002, 12:13 AM	#4
mantapc Banned Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: CA Posts: 129	are they either all gold pins or all tins pins? No combinations.... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-19-2002, 07:49 AM	#5
Hpro Power in the Box-P4 XEON! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Europe >Swiss Posts: 3,014	Your AZZA board - may doens't take more than 256 - but for sure no @56 Memory chip.. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ It's not as hard to do as you may think...It's just that you try.!And I'm still trying..! The Machine: i7 920CPU @ 2.66 Hypertreading / Asus P6T / 12GB DDR3 Ram 1366 / 3 x Sata 160GB Hot Swap / 1x Sata 160GB / 2 x Sata 300 GB / Plextor DVD 800 SATA / Plextor CDRW IDE / Audigy Sound Blaster 24 Bit / ASUS Nvidia ENGT 240/ Chieftec Full Tower / PSU Chieftec 600 Watt / Win7 x64 Ultimate MAPS

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01-19-2002, 10:17 PM	#6
FZWG Member (10 bit) Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 566	Thank you for your replies. The mainboard accepts up to 1GB RAM. Windows "thinks" it has 128MB RAM vs 256MB RAM. RAM chip is pushed in, tight!! All the chips are PC-100, all have gold pins. The 256MB chip by itself shows up as 128MB. RAM size is not locked in on msconfig. Three days ago, the two 128MB chips were showing as 256MB. Now they show up as half of that!!! Cleared the CMOS, same thing happened all over again. Any other words of wisdom?? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-19-2002, 10:59 PM	#7
Hpro Power in the Box-P4 XEON! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Europe >Swiss Posts: 3,014	Yes - Buy a new MOBO.. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-20-2002, 01:45 AM	#8
D'angelo Member (5 bit) Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 21	what'up hi, I'm not sure if you are using the same kind of RAM as some times that affects adding different brands, but it should not affect your current one move the ram around and see what banks report the ram install and go from there. start w/one and see if it is recognized and so on. Run antivirus I don't believe that is the problem but it won't hurt. Good luck. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-20-2002, 01:57 AM	#9
D'angelo Member (5 bit) Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 21	what'up hi, I'm not sure if you are using the same kind of RAM as some times that affects adding different brands, but it should not affect your current one move the ram around and see what banks report the ram install and go from there. start w/one and see if it is recognized and so on. Run antivirus I don't believe that is the problem but it won't hurt. Good luck. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-20-2002, 08:07 AM	#10
RayH Member (12 bit) Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2,437	Try testing each RAM module separately in each slot. Maybe one of the slots went bad. Maybe one of the slots went bad and you have a bad module. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-20-2002, 08:41 AM	#11
shadow_man Member (8 bit) Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Upper Midwest Posts: 168	Your ram is propably HIGH density ram and your MO uses only LOW density ram. IE: you must have a 440BX chip, it only recognizes half the amount of ram. You need low density memory. shaadow_man Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-20-2002, 01:32 PM	#12
FZWG Member (10 bit) Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 566	Thank you for the replies. Tried every possible combination, shifting around the memory chips, and it is no go. Still reads only half of what it is. How do you tell the memory chip is high density or low density? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-20-2002, 03:18 PM	#13
Hpro Power in the Box-P4 XEON! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Europe >Swiss Posts: 3,014	High density are RAMS with more than 16 chips when counted on both sides..there are not many computers which will read those and there are not many manufacturers which make them.. may you clean the contacts forst and then start that you get ONE of the Sticks seen in full amount starting at bank 0 if you get it then go on with the next one and so on.. I still DO NOT BELIEVE that a Socket 7 board can take more than 128 Mb per bank and more than 512Mb for full size - despite what the manual reads - never forget = paper takes everything... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-20-2002, 07:28 PM	#14
FZWG Member (10 bit) Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 566	Tried every suggestion so far, except buying a new mainboard (no way, don't give up that easy). Currently removed battery from CMOS and will keep it out overnight. Also trying DiMMs on another pc to see what happens. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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