2GB RAM Limitation (Windows XP, Intel Celeron M)

2010-08-23 Edit:
Please read my post here in the page 2 of this thread (as I have encountered a new issue):
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...windows-xp-intel-celeron-m-2.html#post6625003

I recently bought a 2GB module of Transcend DDR2-800 RAM and tried installing it alongside a 1GB module of DDR2-533 RAM.

I should have 3GB of total RAM but Windows XP reports my total RAM as 2GB. My BIOS also reports my total RAM as 2GB (-128 MB video card RAM). CPU-Z reports my total RAM as 3GB though.

Is there a way for me to access all 3GB of my RAM? Or is this a motherboard/processor limitation?

Note: This is related to a previous post of mine here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...9-ddr2-533-ddr2-800-ram-upgrade-question.html

Here is CPU-Z's report:

Windows XP's report is attached: It reports 2GB (- 128MB for video card RAM). Windows XP is 32bit, w/ SP3.

 

That is very common and there is often nothing you can do about it. It could be due to either a chipset limitation or a limitation put in place by the manufacturer, but either way there is nothing you can do about it. When I read your original thread I was surprised you were able to install a 2GB stick in such an old laptop, but I guess my initial feelings were correct.

I'm the last person to say something can't be done, but I'm afraid anything else would be just getting your hopes up.

Edit:

Ok, not that it matters, but it's a chipset limitation. That series of chipset was first released in 2005!

 

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'll just remove the 1GB RAM stick since it is not detected anyway.

 

I'm afraid the 1GB stick is detected, but the 2GB stick is only detected as 1GB.

 

What is the make and exact model number of your laptop?

Open MSCONFIG, go to the Boot.ini tab, then click on the Advanced Options Button. Verify that the /MAXMEM= box is NOT checked and that there is no value set.

 

For future reference, a trip to crucial.com before buying the RAM months ago would have shown the limitations of your laptop (2GB max, 1GB per slot).

Computer memory upgrades for ASUS A6R Laptop/Notebook from Crucial.com

 

Asus A6R, according to his other thread. crucial.com says max of 2GB, 1GB per slot.

 

Too bad I didn't scroll all the way down before doing some google search.

ATI RS400 chipset is the reason here, it doesn't support bigger than 1GB sticks. In case someone else searches this later

 

I've tried removing the 1GB stick and it seems that Windows was able to recognize all of the 2GB memory in the 2GB RAM module.

Everest Home report:

CPU-Z:

Windows XP still reports a total of 1.87RAM (2GB - 128MB shared videocard memory).

 

You are better having two sticks in. Don't believe me. Run some bandwidth tests with one and two DIMM's in.

 

I have recently come across a 1GB module of a Samsung DDR2-800 (PC2-6400 (400 MHz)) RAM and tried installing it alongside the 1GB Kingston module of DDR2-533 RAM (PC2-4300 (266 MHz)) (still the same 1GB Kingston memory module, and laptop that I talked about previously in this thread). This is because I transferred the 2GB RAM that this laptop previously had to another laptop.

I should have 2GB of total RAM but Windows XP reports my total RAM as 896 MB (128 MB as shared memory). My BIOS also reports the same as Windows. CPU-Z detects all of the total memory that I have installed (see CPU-Z details below), though.

I tried swapping the places of the RAM modules in the slots, but the issue persists. I also tried installing the Samsung module by itself (2nd slot is blank) - Windows loads fine with this RAM module.

Also - weird: If I install the 1GB Samsung RAM by itself , the BIOS and Windows reports 960 MB total of available memory, much larger than the 896 MB if both are installed. Does anyone know the reason for this?


I checked out 1shado1's link to crucial.com here: Computer memory upgrades for ASUS A6R Laptop/Notebook from Crucial.com
I thought that this laptop should have a maximum memory of 2GB(2048MB) and that 1GB memory is supported. Is there any workaround that I can do to make Windows detect all of the memory I have installed? Anything that I might have installed or configured incorrectly?


CPU-Z details:

 

Many motherboards, especially older ones, require matched pairs of memory sticks for dual-channel mode. Matched sticks means same capacity, speed, and configuration (single/dual sided). If he is running 1x1GB and 1x2GB stick, then it is quite possible that he won't get dual channel memory mode.