Gateway MT3707-RAM Problem

I got some RAM (Crucial PC4200 SODIMM, 2x1GB) for my Dad's laptop for Christmas to max out the RAM and he got the guys at Best Buy to install it.

However, for some reason, it does not run in dual channel. The ram itself is fine, both modules can work in either of the slots, but when both are in, the computer still only recognizes one of them (ie. only 1,000MB instead of 2,000MB).

Does anyone know how to fix this?? I noticed some other people were having problems as well:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=129289

Note: the 2x512MB sticks that it came with run in dual channel fine

Also, I have the serial number from the bottom of the laptop, but it is over 13 digits, and when I try to enter it in the driver dowload section of the Gateway website, it says the it can only be 10 or 13 digits long.

I thought there might be an update for something (ie. the BIOS) that would allow the memory to run in dual channel.

Any help would be great!

 

Let me have you step back for a second as you are confused and I think I can help. First having both RAM slots filled and working does not mean you do or do not have "Dual Channel". Let us start slow, the failure of the BIOS and/or OS to recognize both sticks indicates a problem or your chipset max out at 1GB. What do you want to know first, can my system run "Dual Channel"? or why does my system not recognize more than 1GB of RAM?

I would recommend you put the original two sticks in and run CPU-Z that will tell you if they are running in "Dual Channel" or not. The second is with the same config run SiSoft Sandra (lite) Memory bandwidth and that will tell us if "Dual Channel". That will get us the answers on DC. But the failure to recognize more than 1GB RAM might be a "system","BIOS" or "chipset" issue. The applications I mentioned are both free. I will check more and see if I can answer but what I mentioned might be the best and fastest way. Good luck and respond w/any questions.

 

thanks for the reply

I am not concerned with dual channel has I have already read in various threads that more ram is better than having less ram that's running in dual channel.

My issue is that it says that the memory is expandable to 2GB:

http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/2007/Apache/1014372R/1014372Rsp2.shtml

Do you think that a BIOS update would address this kind of issue?

 

From the link you provided, no you should not have to. Have you mixed the 512MB and 1GB sticks? switching slots if need be?

Don't discount dual channel so easily as if you have it is free and can increase bandwidth 10% at no charge and potentially improve performance from 2% to 5% at no charge.

Anyway start with mixing 512MB and 1GB sticks see if it is recognized.

 

For the ram, is PC4200 the same as PC 24200?

 

All 4200 is DDR2 so I would say yes, Make sure 200pin SODIMM.

 

thanks, that's what I thought.

It is 200pin SODIMM, here is the link (I got 2 of these for my dad):

http://www.shoprbc.com/ca/shop/product_details.php?pid=12420

I have been emailing back and forth with one of the Gateway support guys and he says that there are no BIOS updates for my dad's computer.

He also told me to make sure that it is the right type of ram (which it is) and to check the extended memory in BIOS (which only says 958MB with both
1GB sticks inserted).

Right now I'm just waiting for his response.

Could it just be that the only way to fix this is to get a new laptop??

 

I tried something else tonight and it turned up some interesting results. Here is the email I sent to the Gateway support guys that I had been talking with before:

"Hello,

I know it's been awhile. However, tonight I ran the freeware program "CPU-Z" on my dad's computer (as well as my own in order to make sure that it was working properly) and it says that my dad has 2048MB of ram in his computer (I left both of the 1GB sticks in from before). As you know though, for some reason both Windows and the BIOS are only recognizing 1GB of memory.

One interesting thing with CPU-Z is that it says I have 1GB in each slot. When I look at the information for slot #2, it is able to list the ram manufacturer (Kingston) as well as the part number and everything. However, when I look at the information for slot #1, it does not say anything about the manufacturer or part number, and all it says for the serial number is "FFFFFFFFF". It is able to give me the proper module size and the max bandwidth. Keep in mind that both sticks of ram are the exact same in terms of manufacturer, size, and bandwidth.

I understand that we may have reached the limit on the assistance that you could give me, but if you can think of any reason why something like this would occur, I would be glad to hear it.

Thank you,"

If anyone could shed some light on what this means, I would be greatful.

 

I think that you laptop is recognising the 1gig modules as been only 512mb. this is because and please correct me if I'm wrong to do with high and low density memory chips.

what I'm trying to say is you're using high density ram and your laptop accepts only low density ram. I can't explain the technicality of high and low density ram because i don't undestanding very well. I know about it because couple of years ago I tried to upgrade the ram on an old desktop, and the 2x512mb modules I bought where recognised only as 2x256mb.

try to test the ram on anther laptop and if the whole 2gigs are recognised by the bios and windows it means I'm right and you'll have to replace them with low density ones.

 

I am having the exact same problem w. the same laptop. CPUZ is the ONLY thing that will recognize my ram. PLease find the answer