How much RAM do I have?

I used to have 2x256MB DDR sticks for a total of 512MB. The box was getting slow, so last week I bought a 1024MB stick, so I believe I should have 1.5GB. On booting, the POST runs a memory check which checks 1.5GB. OK so far.

But the Help & Support app > System Information reports only 1GB. And the app SIW (text below, slightly edited for space) recognises all three sticks (the new one in Slot 1, the old ones in Slots 2 and 3), but reports (3rd line from top) "Max. capacity 1024 MB." That made me suspicious.

I'm confused. Then a friend told me it's unwise to install too many sticks, as they might run into compatibility problems and make the system hang. In fact, twice in the last week of pretty intensive use, kbd and mouse froze and I had to use Reset, which I haven't needed to do for several months past.

So I guess my questions are:

1. How much RAM do I really have?
2. Ought I to remove the two old sticks, or are they doing any good there?

Memory Summary
Property Value
Maximum Capacity 1024 MBytes
Maximum Memory Module Size 32 MBytes
Memory Slots 4
Error Correction None
DRAM Frequency 133.8 MHz
Memory Timings 3-3-3-5 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Device Locator Slot 1 Top
Property Value
Manufacturer A-Data Technology
Part Number PMNGC1A16
Capacity 1024 MBytes
Memory Type DDR (PC3200)
Speed 200 MHz
Supported Frequencies 166 MHz, 200 MHz
Memory Timings 2-3-3-7-0 at 166 MHz, at 2.5 volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
Memory Timings 3-3-3-8-0 at 200 MHz, at 2.5 volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
Data Width 64 bits
Manufacturing Date 2009, Week 6
EPP SPD Support No
XMP SPD Support No
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Device Locator Slot 2 Top
Property Value
Manufacturer Nanya Technology
Part Number M2U25664DS88B5G-5T
Serial Number B78E220B
Capacity 256 MBytes
Memory Type DDR (PC3200)
Speed 200 MHz
Supported Frequencies 133 MHz, 166 MHz, 200 MHz
Memory Timings 2-2-2-6-0 at 133 MHz, at 2.5 volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
Memory Timings 2-3-3-7-0 at 166 MHz, at 2.5 volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
Memory Timings 3-3-3-8-0 at 200 MHz, at 2.5 volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
Data Width 64 bits
Manufacturing Date 2004, Week 19
EPP SPD Support No
XMP SPD Support No
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Device Locator Slot 3 Top
Property Value
Manufacturer Nanya Technology
Part Number M2U25664DS88B5G-5T
Serial Number 9A90220B
Capacity 256 MBytes
Memory Type DDR (PC3200)
Speed 200 MHz
Supported Frequencies 133 MHz, 166 MHz, 200 MHz
Memory Timings 2-2-2-6-0 at 133 MHz, at 2.5 volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
Memory Timings 2-3-3-7-0 at 166 MHz, at 2.5 volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
Memory Timings 3-3-3-8-0 at 200 MHz, at 2.5 volts (CL-RCD-RP-RAS-RC)
Data Width 64 bits
Manufacturing Date 2004, Week 19
EPP SPD Support No
XMP SPD Support No

 

Hi Pete, and thanks for reply.

Yes, I also thought something was odd: 4 slots x a max. module size of 32MB ought to give a max. RAM of 128MB, but maths has come a long way since I was in school...

But I know I've increased the RAM, because the last (out of 4 ) and largest partition I had to convert to NTFS I couldn't, got the errormessage "not enough memory ", but after installing the new stick I was able to complete the conversion. If that makes sense

SIW on the mobo has the following:

Manufacturer
Model KT333-8235
Version
Serial Number
North Bridge VIA KT266/333 Revision 00
South Bridge VIA VT8235 Revision 00
CPU AMD Duron(tm) processor
Cpu Socket Socket A (462)
System Slots 4 PCI, 1 AGP
Memory Summary
Maximum Capacity 1024 MBytes
Maximum Memory Module Size 32 MBytes
Memory Slots 4
Error Correction None

Warning! Accuracy of DMI data cannot be guaranteed

 

Everest is great! I'm looking forward to playing with it some more... For example, this is the first time I've ever seen the mobo manufacturer of this machine identified. (BTW and OT: Does this show I have a 64-bit system? I always thought it was 32 bit...)

Meanwhile here's the report you requested. I've also included the Memory module in the report, as it's more detailed than SIW.

Date 2009-05-12
Time 09:01


--------[ Motherboard ]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motherboard Properties:
Motherboard ID 12/09/2003-KT333-8235-6A6LVJ19C-00
Motherboard Name Jetway V333PRO/V333U

Front Side Bus Properties:
Bandwidth 1600 MB/s
Bus Type DEC Alpha EV6
Bus Width 64-bit
Effective Clock 200 MHz
Real Clock 100 MHz (DDR)

Memory Bus Properties:
Bandwidth 2133 MB/s
Bus Type DDR SDRAM
Bus Width 64-bit
Effective Clock 267 MHz
Real Clock 133 MHz (DDR)

Chipset Bus Properties:
Bandwidth 0 MB/s
Bus Type VIA V-Link
Effective Clock 267 MHz
Real Clock 67 MHz (QDR)

Motherboard Physical Info:
CPU Sockets/Slots 1 Socket 462
Expansion Slots 5 PCI, 1 AGP, 1 CNR
Form Factor ATX
Integrated Devices Audio
Motherboard Chipset KT333
Motherboard Size 210 mm x 300 mm
RAM Slots 3 DDR DIMM

Motherboard Manufacturer:
BIOS Download http://www.jetway.com.tw/evisn/download/bios/index.htm
Company Name Jetway Information Co., Ltd.
Product Information http://www.jetway.com.tw/evisn/product/index.htm


--------[ Memory ]------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Physical Memory:
Total 1535 MB
Used 484 MB
Free 1051 MB
Utilization 32 %

Swap Space:
Total 3693 MB
Used 364 MB
Free 3328 MB
Utilization 10 %

Virtual Memory:
Total 5228 MB
Used 849 MB
Free 4379 MB
Utilization 16 %

Physical Address Extension (PAE):
Supported by Operating System Yes
Supported by CPU Yes
Active No


--------[ SPD ]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ DIMM1: A-DATA PMNGC1A16 ]

Memory Module Properties:
Module Name A-DATA PMNGC1A16
Serial Number None
Manufacture Date Week 6 / 2009
Module Size 1024 MB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Memory Module Features:
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

[ DIMM2: Nanya M2U25664DS88B5G-5T ]

Memory Module Properties:
Module Name Nanya M2U25664DS88B5G-5T
Serial Number B78E220Bh
Module Size 256 MB (1 rank, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 133 MHz 2.0-2-2-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Memory Module Features:
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

Memory Module Manufacturer:
Company Name Nanya Technology Corp.
Product Information http://www.nanya.com/e-htm/abc/abc-03.htm

[ DIMM3: Nanya M2U25664DS88B5G-5T ]

Memory Module Properties:
Module Name Nanya M2U25664DS88B5G-5T
Serial Number 9A90220Bh
Module Size 256 MB (1 rank, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 133 MHz 2.0-2-2-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Memory Module Features:
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

Memory Module Manufacturer:
Company Name Nanya Technology Corp.
Product Information http://www.nanya.com/e-htm/abc/abc-03.htm

 

Well, Pete, I have also been exploring the Jetway site since discovering it yesterday thanks to Everest. I followed your link, but saw no reference on that page to a 3GB max; it appeared to be a page on updating the BIOS, but I'll keep on exploring.

(Since my BIOS is from 2002, my next major task will be updating it - scary, especially given their unreassuring command of English - but that's a whole nother can of worms, and possibly another thread if I run into problems .)

It still doesn't explain why Msinfo32.exe and SIW report 1GB of RAM, while POST memory check and Everest report 1.5GB. Either way, I certainly have more RAM now, enough for example to successfully complete the FAT32>NTFS conversion, but with no perceptible improvement in speed.

So I guess to close this thread I still haven't discovered exactly how much RAM I have (or can access), but leaving the two older modules in place doesn't seem to be causing any conflicts, am I right there ?

 

I tried that, but it crashed the browser. I'm going to try again later.

That's a relief! I'll take a look, because I really try to make a point of keeping all the bits & pieces as updated as possible, but if it looks too dodgy I'll take your advice and drop it.

1536 memory total, 998 MB free

That was very instructive. Last week I read a lot of your older threads in reply to others about pagefiles, and followed your advice to them with a fixed size pagefile on a separate physical disk. I thought I noticed an improvement there.

I think the bottom line is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, so I'll leave the RAM as it is and keep saving for a newer machine. Maybe by 2011...