Memory amount shown incorrectly.

Ive a small problem with my memory.

I recently bought some new memory: 1GB PC3200 CL3 from Kingston.

When my PS has booted up it only recognizes 256MB RAM insteaf of 1GB. Ive moved to RAM to onther Slot but the problem still exists. Now and then when the PC gets booted up it does find the 1GB strangely enough.

Ive been thinking that it might have to do with my board:

Epox EP-4PEA(+) i845PE

as on the Epox website when the deatils for this chip come up it says you need PC2700.

Does this really make a difference?

How much memory did that computer had before you added the new memory?

I had 1 512MB RAM DDR stick and 3 slots in total are on my board and come up correctly shown as well.

Edit: Ive now read up and found out that the PC3200 will switch to working like a PC2700 so the stick itself should be compatible.

[edit on 15-8-2010 by Fett Pinkus]

Originally posted by Fett Pinkus
as on the Epox website when the deatils for this chip come up it says you need PC2700.

Does this really make a difference?

I think the '2700' is a frequency, you have brought RAM that can operate faster than your mother board can handle... I don't think this is usually a problem (not sure though) it just means you will not be able to get the full speed out of your RAM, it will operate at the 2700 Mhz...

With regard to it not showing the right amount I'd say the RAM is duff, send it back and get a refund.

reply to post by Fett Pinkus


OK, thanks, I asked because you could have reached the board's limit, but that's not the case.

Did you try the new memory only, without the old one on the board?

Edit: another thing, the memory could have been badly labelled, does the memory have any reference written on it (or on a sticker)? And what's written in the memory chips themselves? It's possible you bought the wrong memory (although not very likely).

[edit on 15/8/2010 by ArMaP]

Just had another thought, quite a lot of Linux live disks have a memory tester option, if you have say a copy of Ubuntu lying around, or you have a spare blank disk (or even a USB flash drive - use unetbootin to make a bootable Linux image easily) you could then boot up from that, instead of installing the OS choose the memory test and let that run.

There may more specialised.... Just did a quick google, Memtest86 looks like it should de everything you need.

yes 2700 and 3200 will work and are mostly interchangeable (even one stick of each)
You may need a bios update.

I reset my bios using the reset jumpers on the mainboard and now everything works correctly.
It even finds the 1 GB RAM strangely enough.

That's a strange one, I have to remember that for future occasions.