512MB RAM Showing As 256MB 1

[TimboA]

I've just replaced my single card of 64MB RAM with a new single card of 512MB RAM. Upon reboot, the PC now shows 256MB RAM installed, not the full 512MB. How do I getbthe full 512MB to be recognised.

For info, my PC is Compaq Presario 5170, Pentium II 350mhz. The original 64mb RAM was 100hz SDRAM, the new 512mb RAM is 133hz SDRAM.

Your help is appreciated.

 

[mark01]

Are you sure your board accepts 512 MB?? Maybe you might have to buy two 256 MB chips. Just a thought.

 

[TimboA]

No, I'm not sure if my motherboard will accept this chip. I've made the assumption that it will. (The chip I bought was such a bargain, I couldn't resist it.) Is there any way I can check ?

 

[mark01]

Its possible it will say it on the board, but probably not. Look at the model number on the board, then look on the internet for an owners manual, or some other info about the board, this will tell you how much RAM can be on your board at a time.
My AMD 300Mhz board only accepts up to 128 MB total of RAM (two 64Meg chips in each slot.

 

[Rhoon]

I used to work for Compaq Tech support, I dug around on their site, as far as I remember, 5170's are older models and from what I've found at: ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/supportinformation/techpubs/qrg/presario5100.pdf

(Complete specs for 5100 series computers).

it looks like you can have the max of 384 Megs of memory. It didn't show your motherboard specifically but all the other boards there show 384 as being the highest possible.

check out the FTP site I posted above if you would like to check it out. Under Models, its ordered from lowest to highest. It'll show 51xx, xx,xx,xx,xx for each xx after a coma thats the last two digist after the 51.
So for 5170, you might see 5134,50,55,60,70
thats how you can tell what standard parts your compaq was built with. There's a few specs at the bottom of that page, it does required Acrobat reader, see Adobe's website for more details on getting that (its free if you dont have it already).

Hope this help,

Andrew