Aight so my PC originally had 512MB of ram (2x256MB) and i wanted to upgrade to 1GB. So I bought one stick of 512MB 3200 RAM (which IS the correct ram for my computer. Then I installed the RAM but system properties/BIOS/task manager were all showing about 768 or so.
I took out the orginal 2 and just left my new 512MB of ram and it showed up as 512MB so it's not the RAM. I've checked each slot and they all work properly. My PC has 4 slots and when i arrange the 3 cards in certain orders i a different reading of RAM (between 512 and 768 and 256). I have heard that someone had a problem where they just needed use either all 512MB or all 256MB and that it didn't work when he tried to mix.
I believe it might be my new 256DDR2 MB video card stealing an extra 256MB but wouldn't i still see 1GB in BIOS or Task Manager?
If it is my card how can i find out via BIOS? and how do i stop it from stealing RAM via BIOS? Or what else could it be?
2007-12-22 18:40:11 · 4 answers · asked by Jordan T 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Add-ons
Basically i'm doing this all for World of Warcraft. So if i do come to find that my card IS stealing another 256MB which would be better for me to do..let the video card take it or not? Which would give me a better gaming experience?
2007-12-22 18:42:26 · update #1
Could be a bad ram chip OR could also be the brand of memory with your motherboard. Sometimes even "the right stuff" can have compatibility issues. See if your vendor has another brand of the same memory - you might have better results. If your video card was not using RAM before, it will not use it now. If it's non-integrated, it has its own RAM and you couldn't share system RAM even if you wanted to. Also, lastly, could be that your motherboard requires you to "pair" ram. E.G. to get 1gb you need 2x512, or for 2gb you need 2x1gb, etc. Having just one chip might be the problem - do some research into your motherboard and see if that's the case
2007-12-22 18:50:00 · answer #1 · answered by kwishot 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt your video card is "stealing" your RAM. When your computer starts up it should say the amount of RAM detected. If this isn't what you think it should be, then it HAS to be either a) the RAM sticks or b) the slots. Recheck each slot with a single stick of memory and make sure it reads the correct amount for each slot.
2007-12-23 02:49:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are doing all this for a game, you should really get a new video card (onboard video cards suck). I recommend an 8600GT or similar. Then Get yourself 2 sticks of 1GB to equal to 2GB. Then you can play WoW at high resolutions smoothly.
2007-12-23 02:52:33 · answer #3 · answered by Peter P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your operating system can use approx. 256MB of ram--so the 768 reading may be normal.
2007-12-23 12:54:15 · answer #4 · answered by Nemo the geek 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋