DXDiag not showing all RAM?

[Liam]

Hi.

Today I upgraded my old PC from 128MB of RAM with another 256MB - therefore making it 384MB. However, dxdiag only shows it as 190MB - any idea why this is?

Mobo = Gigabyte GA-6WMM7

[4_Series_Scania]

Hi.

Today I upgraded my old PC from 128MB of RAM with another 256MB - therefore making it 384MB. However, dxdiag only shows it as 190MB - any idea why this is?

Mobo = Gigabyte GA-6WMM7

I'd guess you either have a large ammount of RAM set aside for integrated (on-board) Graphics, which utilises system RAM, or, you did'nt fit the RAM properly, it isn't being recognised.

Possibly, the RAM isn't recognised at all by the motherboard, although, usually the PC would'nt even get past the "POST" stage if this were the case.

Make sure your old RAM matches the new RAM  ;)

[GunnerMan]

Thats wierd, no if his ram was not seated he would have fried system, if he made it to windows it would only show 128. I suggest u take out the 128 stick and try your system with that 1 and only 256 stick. If it still dosnent see it id say ram has issues

[Liam]

I've been looking around and it seems quite alot of people who have this problem has onboard cards - so it could be that. If I installed a fairly rubbish (32mb PCI gfx card - no AGP slot) card could I totally disable the integrated graphics?

Good thinking about trying the 256MB alone, I think I will try that tomorrow.

[GunnerMan]

Yes if you install a video card and disable onboard in BIOS you will get that ram back.

[Liam]

Thanks.

I think tomorrow I will try just the 256 on its own, if it is succesful I may consider getting a PCI gfx card (32MB about

[GunnerMan]

No you should be fine with the PCI gfx card.

[Liam]

Thanks for the help.

[Liam]

Update: After trying just the 256MB of its own Dxdiag now displays just 62MB of RAM!

At least it's consistant (128 + 62 = 190) so it doesn't change when I use both sticks. It does make me think there could be a problem with the RAM however.

[GunnerMan]

But when its just the 128 it shows alll 128? If so I think most of that stick is botched.

[Liam]

Yup that's right, I guess I should return it.

[Liam]

Aha! The RAM I ordered was this:

https://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/spe ... M-256%2f13

Which is compatable with my mobo as all the details are the same (except 256mb instead of 128mb)...In the plastic wallet it came in it has the same information written on it. However on the sticker which is on the actual RAM it says PC3200.

I doubt my mobo is compatable with that as it is fairly old and the original RAM says PC133.

Do you think that this could cause this strange behaviour, or if it really was the wrong type would it not work at all?

[Stormtropper]

Hmmm...make sure you have the voltage set right, that appears to be a really high voltage RAM, at 3.3 volts...

[congo]

Liam, get pro help quick before you fry the lot.

You can't even fit PC3200 into the slot if it's a PC133 board, well......... I didn't think it possible.

The slots have different notches

[Liam]

Thanks for the help guys...I think I will remove the stick and contact Novatech about it!  ;)