Few questions

[BanannaClips]

Ok i just bought this comp from a friend and the sticker on the cpu says it has 512mb ddr sdramand the chip says 512 also, but when i look at system info it says i have only 384 mb of ram. my question is, Is it supposed to say that much or is something wrong?

Another question i have. when i go in help and support and get general info about my system it says my ram capacity is 512mb. does this mean i can only install 512 mb of ram on my comp? like if i were to install another 512 chip would the comp work?

Thanks

[BanannaClips]

bump bump anyone?

[Budfred]

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

Please note that most of us are asleep when you posted and none of us do this as a job... We are volunteers and we have lives, please show some patience if you wish to be a valued member of this board... Expecting a response in 2 hours, especially for a non-urgent problem, is not patient...

That said, it does sound like you don't have 512... Without a clearer idea of where you are reading the "capacity", I don't know if your computer is capable of more than that... You need to post system specs, particularly details about the brand/model of the computer if it is a manufactured computer and the name of the motherboard if it is not... Since it is used, it is quite possible that someone removed 128 Mg RAM at some point in the past....

[sassie05]

You also could have shared memory for on board video.

[jlreich]

It's also very possible that missing 128MB has been allocated to onboard video. With onboard video whatever amount you allocate to it is taken away from system ram.

But as Budfred said post your specs so we can get an idea of what is going on for sure. :)

EDIT - Ha, sassie05 beat me! :p

[Matt]

Wait, does it say 512 MB on the RAM itself?

If so, you can probably check your BIOS to see how much of that is allocated to an onboard video chip. How much is detected at POST (if you see a splash screen instead of the POST and don't see an option to display the system information, the splash screen can usually be disabled from the BIOS).

[Paul Komski]

Sandra (http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/index.html?dir=dload&location=sware_dl_3264&langx=en&a=) and Everest (http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/Everest-Home-Edition.shtml) can both help you dig out the information from within Windows.

[BanannaClips]

ok this is my specs

windowns xp home edition sp2
amd athlon 64 processor 3000+
1.99 ghz 384mb of ram (the sticker says 512)
ati radeon xpress 200
80 gb hard drive

Is that it or am i missing something thanks for the help.

Sorry for my rushing.

[BanannaClips]

ok i downloaded everst and i found this under over clock

cpu cache
L1 code cache - 64 (Parity)
L1 data cache - 64 (ECC)
L2 cache - 512 (one-die, ECC, full-speed

well 64+64=128 so i guess thats the missing ram?

[Paul Komski]

Those are the cache settings on the CPU not the RAM which would be under the Motherboard >> Memory settings.

[BanannaClips]

its says total 382 mb =/

[Paul Komski]

If the RAM has an SPD chip then there should be SPD settings giving individual details about each stick of RAM. 382 is abnormal and even a single 384 stick is unusual this value usually resulting from 3x128 or 1x256 + 1x128 sticks.

[BanannaClips]

the stick says 512 also

[Paul Komski]

By all means test the RAM with DocMemory or similar but it sounds more like the RAM that is installed is incompatible in some way with your system. If all is working OK don't let it bother you but there can be subtle effects going on which can give rise to file corruption or BSODs down the line. Check with crucial (http://www.crucial.com) or similar as to exactly what is compatible with your PC.

[BanannaClips]

ok i went in bios change the uma buffer to 16mb and i got 496 ram but my video card has only 16 mb should i put it back at 128?

[Paul Komski]

The BIOS is obviously the answer to the conflict so ignore my last advice.

http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/jive3/thread.jspa?threadID=8159&messageID=28311

[BanannaClips]

Okay I set my UMA to 64mb now i have 448mb of ram. But i was thinking of getting the ram card out of my previous computer and install it in this computers second slot, Is this a good idea?

This probably isn't possible, but is there a way i can get the full 512mb of ram without lowering the UMA in the BIOS?

[alternate]

Ha, Budfred, you have more posts than Paul Komski.

bump bump anyone?

Please note that most of us are asleep when you posted and none of us do this as a job... We are volunteers and we have lives, please show some patience if you wish to be a valued member of this board... Expecting a response in 2 hours, especially for a non-urgent problem, is not patient...

lots of laughter... BanannaClips is obviously from somewhere in England. :D I mean of his writing style, but his time of post may be London time.

[Budfred]

Ha, Budfred, you have more posts than Paul Komski.

lots of laughter... BanannaClips is obviously from somewhere in England. :D I mean of his writing style, but his time of post may be London time.
Both of these comments are irrelevant and not useful... Please do not post in a thread like this unless it is somehow helpful...

[jlreich]

Okay I set my UMA to 64mb now i have 448mb of ram. But i was thinking of getting the ram card out of my previous computer and install it in this computers second slot, Is this a good idea?
Depends on if the ram from the old computer is compatible or not. Pull it out and have a look at what it says on the stick. And what everest says about your current stick. My guess would be the old stick is SDRAM and the current stick is DDR-SDRAM and not compatible.

One of the easiest way to tell SDRAM is to look at the notches. If it has two notches it's SDRAM. If it has only one then it is either DDR or DDR2.

is there a way i can get the full 512mb of ram without lowering the UMA in the BIOS?
Install a dedicated video card. It will have its own video ram and won't take from the system ram. Even a cheap video will be better than onboard video.

[BanannaClips]

@alternate I'm from The Bahamas

Thanks guys for the help. Maybe ill buy a nice plug and play video card.

God i hope my previous computers ram is DDR-SDRAM.

[Matt]

Depending on the age of your motherboard, make sure you buy a compatible video card (PCI, AGP 1X/2X, AGP 4X/8X, etc).