MS x64 OS and 4GB+945GM chipset?

Hey all,

Anyone had any issues getting either XP or Vista x64 on a 945GM with 4GB ram installed? I can install either with 2GB or 3GB but when I have all 4GB installed (3318MB showing in BIOS), the OS'es will not install. After it has been installed with less memory, and then I put it back to 4GB, I get various BSOD's and can't get into the OS.

I've updated the bios on my Acer Aspire 5570 to the latest ones. No change.

I am running a T5500 so 64 bit support is there. Is it a matter of the 945GM chipset not being fully compatible with 64bit Windows and 4GB? Or something else? Any insight would be appreciated.

I've installed Vista x64 on desktop systems so it should not be the media that I am using. Also done the same with XP x64.

 

try running memtest86+ to see if the ram may be bad

 

There is a known bug, on Vista at least, that prevents installation on 4GB in some cases. You'll need to increase your RAM to 4GB after you install the OS. Its possible that XP has the same problem...you already did that but I at least wanted to tell you what you did was probably the best thing to do.

As for actually using 4GB, that will never happen even with a 64bit OS. Anything older than the 965 chipset is unable to fully address that RAM, its just a matter of a lack of hardware.

As for the BSODs...as harpreet said...use MemTest86+. Sounds like the chips might be faulty.

 

I've run memtest on these sticks for 24+ hours, no errors. I tested that first off to see if that was the case. Tested individually and together, different slots, same clean results.

I'm using Vista 32bit (which also doesn't like installing with 4GB and needed a windows update for the chipset/vga driver to let me back in with 4GB installed) and it never gives me any issues now. Fresh installing and getting this up and running was a bit of "fun" too.

I realized the 945 chipset wasn't able to see the full 4GB but didn't think it would present all these issues with installing and setting up a system with that much memory installed.

Thanks for the replies, given me something to think about.

 

Make sure you have Service Pack 1 if running any of the variants of Vista. Also serach the forum threads if u don't have the santa rosa chipset or later the 4gb thing is a known issue with certain chipsets and its well documented on MS website

 

Forgot to mention what versions of the OS I was attempting to install:

1. Vista Ultimate x64 with SP1 integrated
2. XP Pro x64 with SP2 integrated
3. Vista Ultimate x86 with SP1 integrated

It definitely seems to be more particular to the 945GM chipset which I have in my laptop. I attempted to install those OS'es on my desktop with the exact same media (nVidia 650i Ultra mainboard with 4GB PC2-6400) and it loads perfectly every time. I try on this one and I can't even get to the setup with 4GB installed. It gets as far as "Windows is loading files" on the black screen with either Vista and then after that, stays black and nothing happens. XP x64 will BSOD when trying to install.

 

I thought the 945GM chipset only supported 3GB?

 

Might depend on what components you have installed as well, I can see perhaps a discrete video card needing more memory addresses so you would end up with less than what an integrated one would leave available. Mine shows 3318MB available (BIOS and Windows).

 

no the 945 does recognize 4gb but the flaw is in the memory maping design. THe 945 is on my xps m1210. it sees the 4gb but only lets me use 3.5gb... if i remove my wirelss card it goes up to 3.7............