RAM memmory to low than what I must have

[Saphery]

Hello all,

I've got this problem with my PC. I must have 4 gigabyte of RAM. At the properties screen at 'my PC' it shows that it got read. But when I open task manager, it only goes to max. 2 gigabyte (and if I reach that, my aplications (such as games) begin to lagg).

My question is: does someone know how to solve this problem? I'd Like to have my 3 gigabyte (Vista-32 bits max.) back :(.

My RAM-sticks aint broken, I've pulled 1 out at a time, and started the computer with 1 RAM-stick in it, The same with the other. When I did that, the properties of my computer read 2 gigabyte, so that's not the problem. I don't know if it's another hardware-issue, or that it's an software issue.

http://www.pchelpforum.nl/viewthread.php?tid=33471&page=1#pid311403

This link shows a screenshot of my properties and the taskmanager, shows what I mean (pictures say as much as 1000 words ^^)
Sorry for my dutch Vista, but I'm sure it's pretty much the same, so I don't think I need to translate it. If I do have to, please don't hessitate to ask.


My system prefrences are shown on the screeny, and the following parts are in my computer:

Corsair Powersupply 550W Bulk, black,
ATX/EPS, 120mm fan, 4xSATA, SLI

MSI P7N SLI Platinum, nForce-750i SLI,
Socket-775, ATX, DDR2, 3xPCI-Ex(2.0)16

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 2.67GHz
Socket LGA775, 8MB, BOXED with cooling

OCZ nVIDIA SLI DDR2 PC6400 4096MB KIT,
XTC, w/two 2048MB, CL5-4-4-15 (these I pulled out to test them)

2 times: XFX GeForce 8600GT 620M 256MB XXX GDDR3,
PCI-Express, 2xDVI, 620/1600Mhz

Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB SATA2
16MB 7200RPM

Thanks in advance, I hope that someone knows what to do about it.

[TheBearMay]

To access the full 4GB you'll need to go to a 64-bit OS.

[Saphery]

I know, but with a 32-bit OS, I should still have 3 gigabytes. When I got this computer at first, I did have 3 gigabytes. But the supplier of my computer had to take it back, becouse my PSU was broken. After that I lost 1 gig.

[David Harrison]

Sounds like your supplier took out 2GB then.

Download this utility to see just what sticks you've got in your system.
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

The SPD tab has a drop down menu where you can select each RAM slot individually and it will tell you what you have in each one. Information listed there may or may not be accurate, most often the frequencies, latencies and voltages listed are off, but the module size will be correct.

For 4 GB total you might have two 2048 MB sticks, or four 1024 MB sticks. If you only have 2 GB then obviously halve that.

As for your task manager picture, I can't see that as the topic was deleted from those forums, but if you feel it will help, you can attach it to a post here.

[Saphery]

Oh, the picture has been deleted... I've uploaded a new one..

And there are 2 of 2 gig sticks in it. These:
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr2_pc2_6400_sli_ready_edition_4gb_dual_channel

I've tried if one was broken (or one was like 1 gig or so) But when I startup with 1 in the slots... system says: 2 gig, I've tried with both.
As you can see on the screenshot; it reads 4 gig, but uses 2... If I take out 1 of the cards, it reads 2 gig, and also uses 2 gig..

I do have SLI enabled (in Nvidia properties screen) but that doesnt work.

Anyway, thanks for the reply's already :)

[David Harrison]

Well that's quite odd then. I'd contact whoever changed your PSU and ask them if they did anything else.

Of course, if you have a free partition or spare HDD lying around, you could install a 64bit OS even if only temporarily, to see if that allows you to use the full 4 GB. Even so, a 32bit OS will restrict your RAM availability, but it shouldn't be by that much.

Another interesting test would be to install a utility like Everest or Sisoft Sandra and run a memory bandwidth test. If you get around 6 GB/s then you're in single channel mode and likely only using one stick, but if it's closer to 12 GB/s then it is at least using both.

I'd also try moving the RAM sticks around, you have 4 RAM slots on that board so try a few different combinations and see if one of those unlocks that missing gig. Bear in mind that some mobos have certain requirements like there must be a stick in slot 1 or something, so if it doesn't bootup with one combination don't freak out, just try another.

[Saphery]

I don't have any spare hard disc or 64-bit OS.. And it's pretty expencive to buy. And when I had the computer at first, I had 3 gig of physical memmory, so it can't be the OS..

I've already tried the swiching around of the sticks.. no positive result :(

[David Harrison]

I believe that trial versions of Vista are good for at least 30 days free use. Don't kid yourself that it can't be the OS, I've found that Windows can break almost anything.

If you are having a problem with your PC, I'd go to the supplier and get them to take a look. After having a quick nosey around inside the machine, the first thing they'll probably do is to reinstall the OS.

[Saphery]

Well ok, think there's nothing else to do than send it back (again..). Thanks allot for your help mate :)

[ebar]

did you open the case and see what you had in it?? i know some suppliers are dirty or rather not exactly sure what they are doing.. so if you check yourself you know... better yet... learn how to build your own... you should either have 3 gigs of 1g sticks or 1 gig of 2 gig stick and 1 1 gig stick... unless your suppose to have 4 gigs in there and in that case you will have 2 2gig sticks or 4 1g sticks....

The other problem you could be having either either the motherboard or the ram slots has a problem, if its the ram slots moving them to the specified locations shoud fix the problem if the motherboard can't handle 4 gigs then of course you would actually have more problems than what your having.

also while your at it most bios will make you have to show that you have that much memory in teh computer... so read up on your bios... or update it(flash)...

Windows is the last place i look to for having a problem with hardware like memory, cpu, usb... everything esle would be drivers... you could make sure you have all the updated drivers first... and in teh end if none of that works... take it back and have them tell you why it says you have less than you have...

[JunkMale]

If you go to a memory manufacturer / supplier and do an online test to check your ram, this will tell you what you have.

here is a good starting point : http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&rls=en-GB&q=online+ram+test&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Then if you find that your system has less ram than you think, I would get your facts straight and go to the supplier of your system and get them to put in writing exactly what spec machine you purchased in detail and check it against what you have under the hood.

If you find that your system has been tampered with and items stolen, you should in the first instance go to the police, record it as a crime, get a crime number to give to trading standards authority in your area and make an official complaint.

If you go back and challenge the shop who repaired your machine, the may get wise and cover up any current activity and others who may have had their systems tampered with may be unaware as the shop would have every oppotunity to cover up the problem by giving you your memory and claiming that it was a technicialns error and forgot to put memory back in after testing or some othe guff to throw you off the trail.

SO... double check before you go in guns blazing or it could be you with "egg on your face"

[criterion9]

Another thing to keep in mind is that 32-bit OSes (Windows in this case) actually limit the amount of addressable RAM to 2gb unless the "extended ram" option is set in your boot settings. With the extended flag you can access and address 3GB max on a 32-bit windows OS, otherwise you are limited to 2GB. When they replaced the PSU they may have changed your settings on the OS. Additionally Ubuntu has a 64-bit version for free if you wanted to try it out. You can even just use the live-cd version so it won't take any HD space. It will also let you know if your RAM isn't functioning properly.