Occasionally, about once every month or two, my computer will say that I have only 992MB of RAM, when usually it shows my full 1024MB. It will say this during POST, and also after I boot and look at the properties for My Computer. In addition, I have noticed that when this happens, I tend to have problems with my video card. Basically, my computer will say that I don't HAVE a video card. It has done this with both my NVidia FX5700, and with my ATI Radeon 9800SE. I'm sure it is no coincidence that it is exactly 32MB. 32MB is the amount per chip. I am using 2 sticks, consisting of 2 banks of 256MB per stick. Has anyone heard of this happening, or experienced it? And if so, is there a fix? It doesn't make sense to me for RAM to work SOME of the time. A chip is either bad, or it isn't.
2006-07-13 04:22:52 · 5 answers · asked by Lamont M 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Exactly, the accounting error is somehow related to your video card. It is probably a software glitch. The POST software and Windows System properites probably DO THE MATH differently.
It is probably a waste of time chasing this down. New drivers might help. Check Windows Update or visit the ATI website and look.
2006-07-13 04:27:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it's both the ram AND video, it's the mobo that has the problems. There are occasions when the ram chip gets faulty and don't register completely. Tear and wear might be a cause, defective ram chip, or just a messed board. Your best bet right now is to see what happens with just 1 stick. Also fault protection won't stop because the chip is responding, just not to its entirety. If it registers to its entirety, switch it out and see what happens with the other one. Also, your video cards...you're switching them out, but are the drivers correctly installed?
2006-07-13 11:53:32 · answer #2 · answered by yogurtsoju 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like a faulty RAM chip.
If it is still under warranty I would get that fixed fast. I think its a 30day manufacture warranty against defects like that.
It is odd that the fault protection doesn't trip when 1 chip stops repsonding during the POST phase of boot up.
Also, make sure your not overclocking the RAM. That may have damaged it.
2006-07-13 11:30:19 · answer #3 · answered by uqlue42 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i can help u but u need to try more than 1 solution for this problem and plus i need to know some information about ur computer to start giving u answers..u can email me on superguy0084@yahoo.com and ill help u out i am computer engnieer guy
2006-07-13 11:28:02 · answer #4 · answered by superguy0084 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u dont have a problem, u use it xtremely!!
u most prob have given certain amount of ur ram to ur display
and u might have applns running with high need of memory
and u might have given ur virtual memory more amount than needed
2006-07-13 11:28:22 · answer #5 · answered by optijk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋