My memory cut in half *sad*

[ticktock123]

i am having huge problems with my computer right now. At this second i have 2X 256 samsung DDR DIMM 333(PC 2700) and 1X 512 GIEL DDR DIMM 333(PC 2700) in my computer. Slot 1 and 2 are the 256 and slot 3 is the 512. While going to a few sites and trying to figure out something about my computer, it came to my attention that my computer sees that i have 1024MB of RAM but it says that i only have 512 of Phsyical.

(MOTHERBOARD: (754-pin Socket) GigaByte GA-K8N Pro nForce3 Chipset)

PCPITSTOP.com said this
Memory ConfigurationDescription Results
RAM installed 512 MB
Windows RAM 1024 MB
Total RAM slots 3
Available RAM slots 0
Max RAM module size 1024 MB
Memory Type 128+128+256;DIMM,Unknown,;T16
Speed Rating 7432 MB/s (100% of 2257 similar)

I need new Memory anyways for my 2nd computer so i will just take the stuff out of my current one and move it to that one. But does anyone have any ideas what may be the cause?

Also it is 184 Pin I think (the one with the 1 cut in it)

[Know Nuttin]

what do other programs say?

[jcw122]

I'd download CPU-Z or EVEREST Home Edition and use one of those to check, mainly because they are probably more accruate.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php CPU-Z

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html EVEREST Home Edition

Unfortunately EVEREST Home Edition has been discontinued, but that has been recent so it should still be just fine to use.

[ticktock123]

I used memcheck or soemthing like that and ran it for 2 1/2 times though and it said no errors. As for other programs, i forgot the name of the site but it does the same sort of thing as pcpitstop, but only for memory and it says that i have the same set up as above i.e 128X2 256X1. A friend of mine told me that i should try moving the memory around and maybe that would fix it but i don't know if i want to mess with that.

[ticktock123]

all right here is what EVEREST says
SPD Memory Modules
DIMM1: Samsung M3 68L3313CT1-CB0
256 MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM (2.5-3-3-6 @ 133 MHz) (2.0-2-2-5 @ 100 MHz)

DIMM2: Samsung M3 68L3313CT1-CB0
256 MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM (2.5-3-3-6 @ 133 MHz) (2.0-2-2-5 @ 100 MHz)

DIMM3: GeIL CL25-3-3DDR 333
512 MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM (2.5-4-3-8 @ 166 MHz)

So it looks like it says i have the right amount of memory but it is running at half speed. How would you go about fixing this?

[Bullnettles]

If I'm not mistaken, that's because it's DDR (Double Data Rate) I dunno why, but double that given speed and you have your RAM speed.

[ticktock123]

so would you be saying that nothing is wrong with my Memory? because i know about the FSB and the multy that goes in to that...but i fig that DDR only has a 2x mult so it would just be at the speed it is running at...or atleast tell the speed it is running at. Dunno

[Bullnettles]

It should run at a 2x multi off of the FSB, unless you're using mem dividers, which it doesn't look like you are. Windows is just stupid sometimes, JCW's right, stick with Everest.

[Skeen]

I gathered your problem wasn't speed related but capacity related, ie you have 1024MB installed but Windows, ect only recognizes 512MB. If this is the case forget all that stuff about DDR multis and whatnot.

I don't know what the problem is but I'm getting it too. I have 2x512 and either stic works in either slot and the computer functions with both in but will only recognize 512MB. Sucks.

[ticktock123]

I gathered your problem wasn't speed related but capacity related, ie you have 1024MB installed but Windows, ect only recognizes 512MB. If this is the case forget all that stuff about DDR multis and whatnot.

I don't know what the problem is but I'm getting it too. I have 2x512 and either stic works in either slot and the computer functions with both in but will only recognize 512MB. Sucks.


It almsot looks like i have both of those problems...because it SAYS that all memory is running at 133Mhz wich is wrong they should be running at 2x that atleast...also it says that there is 1Gb of memory and i can use all of it i have seen it up to 930Mb but i am not sure what "RAM installed 512 MB Windows RAM 1024 MB" Means if that is nothing or what not.

[Skeen]

Concerning the speed its running, do you have the max memclock setting, under DRAM Configuration, set at 133Mhz? If so just put it on auto.

[apu318]

You cannot mix and match memory speeds. In your case, you either run it at 133mhz (DDR266) or 166mhz (DDR333). You have to set one or the other in your BIOS. Currently it's running at 133mhz, which is correct for the ram that was originally in your motherboard. Your ram isn't running at "half speed". I'm not exactly sure what you mean by that, but the clock cycles that is mentioned is unconditionally multiplied by a factor of 2, thus making it DDR.

Keep in mind, if you set 166mhz (DDR333) in the bios, you will be overclocking your older 2x256mb sticks. It should run fine though.

[Skeen]

You cannot mix and match memory speeds.

Whoops didn't even catch that at first. Yeah in every board where I have mixed speeds of RAM, it always just defaults to the slowest RAM speed which in your case is 133Mhz, as pointed out by apu318.

[ticktock123]

yup but then what is the differece in RAM installed 512 MB Windows RAM 1024 MB ...or is there nothing ?

[Skeen]

That means that you have 512MB of physical RAM and a page file that is 1024MB. The page file is also called virtual memory. Its a portion of the hard drive that windows uses for memory storage when you've run out of physical RAM. Its much slower than physical RAM.

[ticktock123]

But i have 1Gb of Phisical Memory not 512

[Bullnettles]

How old is that install of windows? Sometimes a fresh install helps whenever mine does something unexplainable. What version do you have?

[ticktock123]

Microsoft Windows XP Version: 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2

it isn't THAT old...prob been like 5-6 months since last reformat. I am thinking i may just refromat to just clean house a bit

[apu318]

Do not confuse the page file with your physical RAM. Like skeen said, after that 1gb of physical RAM is taken up, windows starts to write to the page file on the hard drive up to 1gb. The page file is a single file that contains mixed information. You can change your page file to what suits your needs, and you don't need to change it.

512mb, 1024mb (same as 1gb) are different capacities of the storage medium, how much data it can hold. 133mhz(DDR266), 166mhz(DDR333) are different speeds that the motherboard and memory controller can transfer the data in and out of the RAM.

[SolidxSnake]

but look at his DIMMS. He has 2x256 dimms (thats 512), and then 1x512 dimm (another 512). 256+256+512=512+512=1024=1GB. So he SHOULD have 1gb of ram total. Maybe one stick isn't being taken because your bios settings are wrong? Maybe a wrong configuration?

[Skeen]

Yes you are correct SolidXSnake. He (the original poster) has a physical RAM recognition problem. As do I. I was just trying to tell him what his diagnostic read-out means.

Ticktok, you still have a RAM slot issue.

I also have a 512X2 situation but WinXP, among other programs, read that I only have 512MB.

[Otter]

Updating your motherboard's BIOS to the latest official release might help.

[Skeen]

Thanks, Otter. I already tried. In fact there has been 3 BIOS releases since I got this little box. I tried all 3 and still have this problem.

[Joe Phantom]

I think ticktock123 doesn't have any problem. Everest said that the total ram was 1024 MB and the clock cycle is 133 and 166, it's double rated so the ram he has run at 266 MHz and 332 MHz. I can't see the problem :shrug:. Apart from that apu318 you are wrong. Windows (or any OS) doesn't start to write page file/swap/virtual memory when the physical memory had been completely used. It's a little more complex. In the book called "Foundations Of the Computer" written by Pedro de Miguel Anasagasti (Teacher of "Facultad de Informatica en la Universidad Poltiecnica de Madrid") everything about memory/RAM and swap it's explained with all details. I will try to find a copy of the book so that you can read that chapter if you want.
Do not confuse the page file with your physical RAM. Like skeen said, after that 1gb of physical RAM is taken up, windows starts to write to the page file on the hard drive up to 1gb. The page file is a single file that contains mixed information. You can change your page file to what suits your needs, and you don't need to change it.

512mb, 1024mb (same as 1gb) are different capacities of the storage medium, how much data it can hold. 133mhz(DDR266), 166mhz(DDR333) are different speeds that the motherboard and memory controller can transfer the data in and out of the RAM.

[Skeen]

Hey ticktock, in Everest, in the menu go to Computer->Summary. Under the Motherboard heading how much System Memory does it say you have?

The Everest page you described sounds like SPD heading under Motherboard. I was wondering because with my problem, the SPD heading tells me the correct number of DIMMs and all that, but my System Memory is still 512MB, which cpu-z and Windows System Property page also confirm.

All I'm saying is there is 1024MB of physical installed in my machine but only 512 is recognized. Is the situation the same for you?

[Misfit138]

I have a similar problem, and posted here about it as well.
cpu-z recognizes 3gigs of RAM, but Windows only reports that I have 2 gigs.
Strange! :shrug:

[apu318]

I think ticktock123 doesn't have any problem. Everest said that the total ram was 1024 MB and the clock cycle is 133 and 166, it's double rated so the ram he has run at 266 MHz and 332 MHz. I can't see the problem :shrug:. Apart from that apu318 you are wrong. Windows (or any OS) doesn't start to write page file/swap/virtual memory when the physical memory had been completely used. It's a little more complex. In the book called "Foundations Of the Computer" written by Pedro de Miguel Anasagasti (Teacher of "Facultad de Informatica en la Universidad Poltiecnica de Madrid") everything about memory/RAM and swap it's explained with all details. I will try to find a copy of the book so that you can read that chapter if you want.


You are wrong. Sticks are rated at different speeds, and you can see the default speeds in the SPD, which is what you saw. You CANNOT run one stick @ 266 and one @ 333. It is impossible.