1.5GB RAM only shows as 1GB..

[basepointdesignz]

Hi,

I just put in a new 1GB RAM stick inot my PC, plus the 512MB stick i already had, so in theory I should now have 1.5GB of RAM, but when i check the system in control panel, it only shows up as 1GB..

I did check through the virtual memory (Control Panel > System Properties > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Advanced) and its says there's 1530ish MB of paging file size, so this seems to work out, but why does the main System Properties only say 1GB???

Cheers,

Paul @ basepointdesignzltd..

 

[Ploper001]

The page file has nothing to do with the amount of RAM in your PC. I beleive Windows XP makes the page file 1.5GB by default.

Try swapping the sticks around - if you then get only 512MB of RAM then one of the slots is damaged (possibly damaged while you were putting the new stick in?).

 

[basepointdesignz]

ok will try that, although my pc at work shows up as 2GB in system properties and 2046MB in the paging file size on the virtual memory page, so dunno whats up, but will try swapping the slots over on my one and see what happens

thanks..

Cheers,

Paul @ basepointdesignzltd..

 

[smah]

In 'theory' (old school conventions), the paging file is typically 1.5 times the amount of physical RAM. So, your 1.5GB paging file is actually in agreement with 1GB of RAM.

 

[koresnordic]

It might be that your bios has a maximum of 1gb allowed.



Graham

 

[JustinTMI]

If the RAM is DDR400 or meant to run in dual channel mode they have to be matching sticks. If they are not matching go into Bios and turn off dual channel mode. what type of ram and mb do you use?

-Justin

 

[cdogg]

basepointdesignz,
Search for Belarc Advisor and CPUID on the net. Download both applications to read the specs of your PC. Report back here with the CPU, chipset, and type of memory you are using.

Like Justin said, you should be cautious when upgrading RAM in newer PC's. "Dual-channel" configurations are essential to getting the most performance out of today's PC's.

Also like smah said, the default value for the paging file size that Windows uses is 1.5 times the amount of RAM. The one you have at work must have been specifically setup to be limited at 2GB (or that could have something to do with the 4GB address limit space that Windows XP 32-bit has).

Either way, we need to know more about the hardware you have to help you further.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[linney]

RAM, Virtual Memory, PageFile and all that stuff.

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/WindowsGeneralWeb/RAMVirtualMemoryPageFileEtc.htm

Video Memory

http://www.pcmech.com/show/video/185/

 

[Freestone]

What does BIOS report for installed memory? If it isn't right there then forget all the downloading of Belarc and/or reading of virtual memory settings. I suspect that the 512MB and 1GB sticks are not compatible.