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Thread ID: 107244 2010-02-09 21:56:00 Adding more RAM - advice please? John H (8) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
856748 2010-02-09 23:29:00 Well, thanks for all that advice - I think! :waughh:

The thing gets curiouser and curiouser. I have Windows saying I have 1024 MB of RAM, ditto Belarc Advisor saying I have the same amount but also saying I have 4 x 512 sticks installed, and I have now tried CPU-Z as suggested by heni. CPU-Z tells me I have 4 x 256 sticks installed, and 1024MB total RAM!

I think my next step must be to get into the guts of the machine and see what is actually there physically.

Realistically, assuming there is 1 GB of RAM installed, am I likely to see any improvement in speed if I installed more than that?
John H (8)
856749 2010-02-09 23:31:00 You should with 3.0 - 3.25 GB ram. it depends on WHAT's in startup / whats running in the background now. Why it is so slow. BUT, I would say MSSE would be one of the culprits. If the video is onboard its probably taking some ram from the physical ram. Speedy Gonzales (78)
856750 2010-02-09 23:41:00 Good point.

www.gigabyte.com.tw

Coaster, how did you identify my mobo as being GA-K8NF-9 from the data I posted? Sorry if this is a really dumb qn...

PS - I just found the mobo box in the garage and it says GA-K8NXP-9 - I don't know if that makes any diff. It also says 4 DDR400CH
John H (8)
856751 2010-02-09 23:47:00 You should with 3.0 - 3.25 GB ram. it depends on WHAT's in startup / whats running in the background now. Why it is so slow. BUT, I would say MSSE would be one of the culprits. If the video is onboard its probably taking some ram from the physical ram.

Thanx SG. Maybe I ought to look at reducing some services etc. Video is not onboard - I am running a NVIDIA GeForce 6200 Display adapter.
John H (8)
856752 2010-02-09 23:56:00 I just checked the mobo on the Gigabyte website and it says:
1. Type: Dual channel DDR400/ 333/ 266 -184pin
2. Max capacity: Up to 4GB by 4 DIMM slots
It doesn't say how much you can put in one slot.
John H (8)
856753 2010-02-09 23:58:00 Coaster, how did you identify my mobo as being GA-K8NF-9 from the data I posted? Sorry if this is a really dumb qn...

PS - I just found the mobo box in the garage and it says GA-K8NXP-9 - I don't know if that makes any diff. It also says 4 DDR400CH

Close guess I found with google.

asia.giga-byte.com

will tell you:
4 DDR DIMM memory slots (supports up to 4GB memory) (Note)
Supports dual channel DDR 400/333/266/200 DIMM

(Note) Due to standard PC architecture, a certain amount of memory is reserved for system usage and
therefore the actual memory size is less than the stated amount.
For example, 4 GB of memory size will instead be shown as 3.xxGB memory during system startup.
Coaster (270)
856754 2010-02-10 00:00:00 I just checked the mobo on the Gigabyte website and it says:
1. Type: Dual channel DDR400/ 333/ 266 -184pin
2. Max capacity: Up to 4GB by 4 DIMM slots
It doesn't say how much you can put in one slot.

It'll be 1 GB per slot since 1 x 4 = 4 GB. You cant put 2 GB in each it wont boot. And 2 GB sticks dont exist anyway (well I've never seen 2 GB DDR 400 ram).
Speedy Gonzales (78)
856755 2010-02-10 00:03:00 dragonpc.co.nz Coaster (270)
856756 2010-02-10 00:04:00 Thanx SG. Maybe I ought to look at reducing some services etc. Video is not onboard - I am running a NVIDIA GeForce 6200 Display adapter.

Um I wouldn't disable services if you have no idea what they do. Disabling the wrong one can affect other services. And other programs, that may rely on the services (that you disable). Look in startup, and see how many programs are there
Speedy Gonzales (78)
856757 2010-02-10 00:42:00 No doubt that is good advice SG - I probably wouldn't know what they do...

I just installed and ran Everest, and this is what it said (I have edited out unnecessary info from the following):
Motherboard Name Gigabyte GA-K8NXP-9 (4 DDR DIMM)
System Memory 1024 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)

And:
Memory Controller Properties:
Supported Memory Types SPM, DIMM
Maximum Memory Module Size 4096 MB
Memory Slots 4

And:
[ Memory Modules / A0 ]
Socket Designation A0
Type EDO
Speed 70 ns
Installed Size 512 MB
Enabled Size 512 MB
Everest then gives identical info for each of slots A1, A2 and A3

[ Memory Devices / A0 ]
Form Factor DIMM
Size 512 MB
Device Locator A0
Bank Locator Bank0/1
Everest then gives identical info for each of slots A1, A2 and A3.

So if I have 4 x 512 MB DIMMs showing as installed, why am I still showing only 1024 MB RAM altogether?
John H (8)
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