missing memory!!?

Question

Just upgraded my PCs memory from 256MB to 1GB. Installed the new RAM as per instructions, re-booted the PC, all was well until I went and checked 'My Computer' properties to confirm the newly installed RAM to find the memory as only 480MB!!!

What on earth is going on here? Please HELP!

New 1GB RAM Spec: 1024M,B PC2700, 333Mhz, DDR Ram, 1GB, PC2700 Memory

Motherboard - AMD Duron , KM2M (MS-6738) v1.X Micro ATX mainboard. based on VIA KM266 and VIA VT8235 chipset.

and according to the manual supports PC2700/PC2100/PC1600 DDR SDRAM and PC100/133 SDRAM.

running WindowsXP

Answer 1

what did you do with the 256MB module? in case it's a PC100/133 SDRAM it will NOT work together with the 1GB DDR.
this mobo supports only either SDRAM or DDR.

it seems like only half of the 1GB module is seen. i would explain the indicated 480MB as 512MB - 32MB for the integrated graphics chip ProSavage8.

in case you still use the 256MB stick, take it out and reboot the PC.

Answer 2

First turn on the memory check in the bios settings this will tell you when you boot up how much memorythe bios is detecting, if it detects it all then it may be windows for some reason isn't seeing the memory properly.

Another posibility is if you still have the old 256mb card in the board as well as the 1gb card it may be using them both as 256mb (512mb minus some for shared graphics memory), this could be solved by removing the old card.

Answer 3

First, see if the BIOS is detecting the memory correctly, if it is... I'll get to that, if it isn't, try the memory in another slot...

I noticed that particular motherboard has an integrated graphics chip, if you did not install a dedicated one, it could be that it is using more than its share of the memory but it's not likely since it comes out using the numbers you provided to be 544MB which doesn't make any sense to me, still, it wouldn't hurt to check...

If you have a dedicated video card installed then that is obviously not the case.

As I said, try it in another slot... it COULD be a bad module but bad modules just cause blue screen errors or the computer won't get past POST. That's all I got. Hope it helps...

Answer 4

Your board supports 4 banks at a max of 2Gb meaning 512 per bank.
I will assume you removed the 256?
Does your 1 Gb stick have chips on one side or both sides?
Your onboard video card has 32MB assigned to it.
1 Gb / 2 = 512
-32 = 480

480
+32
-----
512

You require double sided memory to utilize a 1Gb chip to full capacity.

Answer 5

After you put the new ram in and restarted the PC you should have hit the F12 key during boot up that going to take into the bios there use your directional arrow keys on key bourd to move down the list to the memory or ram link as you move down the list you see each item high light as you move down when you get to the item you need hit the ENTER KEY once to activate the new ram then use the Esc KEY to exet bios reboot the PC then recheck it.

Answer 6

If you are using dual channel memory in a PC that does not support it, you will only be able to access 1/2 of the stated memory capacity.

Answer 7

uh, back to a time when my family was all together for the holidays... now, my sister has moved away, my brother is barely even home... I just wish things could go back to the way things were when i was like 10 years old... (cept i wanna grow up). = [

Answer 8

Some video cards can use system RAM.

Answer 9

The extra memory you put in is running your operating system thats why it doesn't show up as free ram

Answer 10

Classic case of PC Alzheimer's. Have to talked to your GP?