Dell Studio XPS 435MT with 12GB only showing 8GB

[ADB100]

I have a Dell Studio XPS 435MT. I purchased 6 * 2GB DDR3 DIMMs and the BIOS only sees 8GB. I have ran various diagnostics (Windows & Boot CD's) and they all show that all six slots each have a 2GB DIMM installed, however slots 1 & 4 are not counted. I have swapped the DIMMs around and the fault follows the slots. I have upgraded/downgraded the BIOS and the fault remains.
I can only conclude that the motherboard (or DIMM slots?) is faulty but I don't know why the dignostics show DIMMs installed in slots 1 & 4 but it doesn't include them?

The system is out of warranty so I am not sure what my options are?

Andy

 

[xit]

I am sure you tried this but empty all slot but #1 then do the same with slot# 4, what happens.

xit

 

[rclarke250]

hmmm, what do you see in the bios? What version of OS do you have? windows vista and 7 home basic have a 8gb limit. because if you see the full 12gb in bios then its most likely not a hardware error, except maybe a config issue.

 

[ADB100]

The BIOS shows 8GB but doesn't have the ability to show which DIMM slots are occupied. From Windows if I run CPUZ it shows all six DIMM slots occupied with 2GB DIMMs. If I use Ultimate BootCD 5 and then the 'ASTRA' tool from the 'System' utilities it shows 8GB total and then shows all six DIMM slots as being occupied and shows the speed, width, part number, serial number etc. However slots 1 & 4 show the size as 'not installed' and the other four show 2048MB as the size.

Andy

 

[ADB100]

If I take all the DIMMs out and only occupy slot 1 & 4 (or any combination) the PC beeps twice when it is switched on and does nothing else. I assume this indicates there is no RAM installed?

Andy

 

[ADB100]

Dell 32bit Diagnostics show this SMBIOS Memory Information:

** SMBIOS Memory Information **

Device Number			: 1
Location 			: System board or motherboard
Use				: System memory
Memory Error Correction		: None
Maximum Memory Capacity		: 12582912 kilobytes
Memory Error Information Handle	: N/A
Number of Memory Devices	: 6

Device Number			: 1
Memory Array Handle		: 29h
Memory Error Information Handle	: N/A
Total Width			: 64 bits
Data Width			: 64 bits
Size				: Not Installed
Form Factor			: DIMM
Device Set			: Not part of a set
Device Locator			: DIMM1
Bank Locator			: N/A
Memory Type			: Other
Speed				: 1066MHz
Manufacturer			: N/a
Serial Number			: 00000000
Asset Tag Number		: 020000
Part Number			: OCZ3OB1600LV2G
Rank				: N/A

Device Number			: 2
Memory Array Handle		: 29h
Memory Error Information Handle	: N/A
Total Width			: 64 bits
Data Width			: 64 bits
Size				: 2048 Megabytes
Form Factor			: DIMM
Device Set			: Not part of a set
Device Locator			: DIMM2
Bank Locator			: N/A
Memory Type			: Other
Speed				: 1066MHz
Manufacturer			: 
				: Mfg=
Serial Number			: 00000000
Asset Tag Number		: 020000
Part Number			: OCZ3OB1600LV2G
Rank				: N/A

Device Number			: 3
Memory Array Handle		: 29h
Memory Error Information Handle	: N/A
Total Width			: 64 bits
Data Width			: 64 bits
Size				: 2048 Megabytes
Form Factor			: DIMM
Device Set			: Not part of a set
Device Locator			: DIMM3
Bank Locator			: N/A
Memory Type			: Other
Speed				: 1066MHz
Manufacturer			: 
				: Mfg=
Serial Number			: 00000000
Asset Tag Number		: 020000
Part Number			: OCZ3OB1600LV2G
Rank				: N/A

Device Number			: 4
Memory Array Handle		: 29h
Memory Error Information Handle	: N/A
Total Width			: 64 bits
Data Width			: 64 bits
Size				: Not Installed
Form Factor			: DIMM
Device Set			: Not part of a set
Device Locator			: DIMM4
Bank Locator			: N/A
Memory Type			: Other
Speed				: 1066MHz
Manufacturer			: N/a
Serial Number			: 00000000
Asset Tag Number		: 020000
Part Number			: OCZ3OB1600LV2G
Rank				: N/A

Device Number			: 5
Memory Array Handle		: 29h
Memory Error Information Handle	: N/A
Total Width			: 64 bits
Data Width			: 64 bits
Size				: 2048 Megabytes
Form Factor			: DIMM
Device Set			: Not part of a set
Device Locator			: DIMM5
Bank Locator			: N/A
Memory Type			: Other
Speed				: 1066MHz
Manufacturer			: 
				: Mfg=
Serial Number			: 00000000
Asset Tag Number		: 020000
Part Number			: OCZ3OB1600LV2G
Rank				: N/A

Device Number			: 6
Memory Array Handle		: 29h
Memory Error Information Handle	: N/A
Total Width			: 64 bits
Data Width			: 64 bits
Size				: 2048 Megabytes
Form Factor			: DIMM
Device Set			: Not part of a set
Device Locator			: DIMM6
Bank Locator			: N/A
Memory Type			: Other
Speed				: 1066MHz
Manufacturer			: 
				: Mfg=
Serial Number			: 00000000
Asset Tag Number		: 020000
Part Number			: OCZ3OB1600LV2G
Rank				: N/A

 

[rclarke250]

Either it is a config issue, something crazy like only slots 1 & 4 have to have single sided dimms only, of which I could find no info at dell of this, some weird memory profile setting for dual channel or three channel. The slots are being turned off by something, or they are bad. or there is a problem with the system board, or the cpu, as the memory controller is on the cpu die.

 

[BadBigBen]

Q: have you updated the BIOS to the latest?

if yes, it is the latest BIOS installed, then I am with RC there in that it is a weird config issue or that the RAM used is not compatible with the system...

BIOS lates version: 1.1.4

Dell Studio XPS 435MT system BIOS

http://support.dell.com/support/dow...dateid=-1&formatid=-1&source=-1&fileid=370532

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[ADB100]

I have two identical XPS 435MT's, each with 12GB or RAM installed (6*12GB DDR DIMMs). One system is fine the other reports only 8GB of RAM and this weird issue. I have swapped the RAM between systems now and the fault follows the system.
I am convinced this is a hardware issue and the resolution is to replace the motherboard, however it is now out of warranty. I think the issue is a manufacturing problem and has been there since it was shipped to me (I upgraded the RAM later).
The BIOS is the very latest (1.1.4) and I have tried downgrading to all previous releases but the problem still remains.
I was hoping there was someone who knew of some additional tools or know how as to fixing this.

Andy

 

[ADB100]

6*2GB DIMMS... typo