Solved Is My New RAM Working?

[xTweakx]

This is my first time on here and I wasn't sure where to post about this. I have posted on gamespot.com but nobody really gave me an answer. So here goes-

I bought 2GB for my computer 1GB stick each. And I put the RAM in the last available slots I had. So now all 4 are taken up and I should have 3GB. When I go to my system properties it says I have 3.00GB, which is correct. But Windows Task Manager, Can You Run It (for games), and some other diagnostic programs only recognize me as having 1022MB, so basically 1GB. What is the problem here or is it just a glitch? Thanks...

 

[Vista Dan]

Windows Task Manager? Don't you mean its using 1GB?

 

[Brink]

Hello xTweakx, and welcome to Vista Forums.

In Task Manager, you would want to look at the Total boxed in red below instead.



Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[xTweakx]

Yeah. In that red box it says it's only 1022MB when it should be 3GB so like 3022MB. Any ideas?

 

[Brink]

Strange that is would show up in Properties but not Task Manager.

I know that they are not the same size, but are the RAM sticks the same speed (ex: 800 MHz or PC5200) and type (ex: DDR2, Single or Dual channel) ? Sometimes when you mix RAM types you will get problems with them not working properly together.

 

[xTweakx]

Well I know for sure at least 3 of them are the same. PC2-5300, 667MHz, DDR2. I don't know about the one that came with my computer. But the ones I bought and put in match the one the guy at the store put in in the beginning.

 

[Brink]

Looking at what you said above, do you have two 512 MB and two 1 GB sticks now for the total of 3 GB?

If so, then make sure that each same size pair are in the same colored RAM slot on the motherboard. The color should be the same for every other slot. (Ex: slots 1 & 3 (512 MB), and slots 2 & 4 (1GB). Dual Channel memory must have the exact same RAM stick paired together on the motherboard.

 

[bruce2]

Hi xTweakx, I would try to remove the original 2x.5gb and install the two new sticks you bought to see what happen. When you install them, make sure put them in the same color banks. If they show up fine then consider reinstall the original sticks. Hope this would help.

 

[xTweakx]

Brink & Bruce2= Thanks alot guys, problem solved. Before both the pairs were in one of each of the colors. Idk why the guy at the store put them like that? I put the 2GB in the orange ones and the 512MB's in the purple ones. Now everything recognizes it as 3070MB. Thanks....

Oh, and the colors were actually side by side, not every other slot.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome xTweakx. I'm happy to hear it is showing the correct amount of RAM now. LOL, I suppose each motherboard is different on how they place the colored slots.

Shawn

 

[james12345]

Hey Guys,

Ive got a similar problem, and the above solution does not apply to me because i have a laptop that has its only 2 dimms populated with 2x2gb memory modules. I just put them new ones in today and it is only showing up at 1022mb in the task manager, but in the system properties it shows up as 4gb. I had 2x512mb sticks of the same spec ram in their before. Also, when vista is loading and its finished loading the drivers, it comes up with the message saying that its got 2 processors and 1024mb ram.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

James.

 

[bruce2]

Hi James, welcome to the board.
It would be helpful if you post your computer model and specs. Have you check on the specs to see if there is a limit on ram? Some laptops only can handle certain amount of rams.

Bruce

 

[james12345]

Hey Bruce,

I have a Dell M1210, Intel Core 2 Duo 1.83 Ghz and now 4GB ram 5300(667) DDR 2.

Thanks for your quick reply!

James.