Computer won't acknowledge extra ram

Citroy · 08-11-2007, 07:26 PM

I'm in the situation that I bought a new computer.
I put in 4gb of ram, the motherboard supports 8gb but it only acknowledges 2.96gb ram, I don't know what the problem is at the moment, anyone knows.

Motherboard: ASUS P5B-E AiLifestyle Series
RAM: Mushkin 4 x 1 GB.

Thanks-

**PanamaGal** · 08-11-2007, 08:24 PM

Sounds like either one of sticks of memory is bad, or one of the slots. First thing I would do is try one stick in memory slot 1. If that works, try that stick in slot 2, and so on. If that stick works in all slots, then your problem is likely with one of the sticks of RAM as opposed to one of the slots. Then just try the remaining sticks one at a time to see if one does not work. If they all work in all slots, then I would either run memtest on each stick, or play around with combinations as it still could be some wierd problem with the board. Another thought, are you using default BIOS settings for the memory?

SLG · 08-11-2007, 08:45 PM

it may be the operating system, what operating system are you using?

**Aus_Karlos** · 08-11-2007, 08:53 PM

32-bit XP can only support ~3gb to utilize 4gb or even 8gb you need to install or upgrade to XP 64-bit. But you will require a 64-bit processor..
Also on most motherboards you need to activate a function in the BIOS to support 4gb. Mainly called "Remap RAM (4gb Support)" and there is a RAM settings that is set to a default of "T1" which needs to be changed to "T2".

Citroy · 08-12-2007, 07:44 AM

I tried replacing all the different memory sticks, they all seemed to work fine.
Then I tried activation "Remap RAM" which made my "startup screen" acknowledge the total of 4 gb RAM. There is one problem though, entering the system under generally it says:
Computer:
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU
6600 @ 2.40Ghz
2.40 Ghz, 2.00 GB RAM

So I don't understand why it doesn't say 4gb ram.?

**Deleted090308** · 08-12-2007, 08:05 AM

What XP version do you have? 32- or 64-bit?
How much RAM on the video card?

Citroy · 08-12-2007, 08:08 AM

I'm not really sure which XP version I have, I would guess 32-bit - but as I said im not sure. (How do I check it?) I have GeForce 8800 GTX which has 768MB.

**Deleted090308** · 08-12-2007, 08:19 AM

When you right click "My computer" and choose Properties - what does it say?
A 32-bit system can only "see" about 3.12 GB RAM - that is RAM sticks + video RAM. You need a 64-bit OS to use all RAM.

Citroy · 08-12-2007, 08:45 AM

I really don't know the difference. Is it possible for me to get a 64-bit OS?

**Deleted090308** · 08-12-2007, 08:59 AM

Yes, your motherboard/CPU can handle a 64-bit OS.

Citroy · 08-12-2007, 09:00 AM

Can you possibly send my a stupid guide for 64-bit OS? I really don't know how. ;)

**Deleted090308** · 08-12-2007, 09:03 AM

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. See if this helps: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.mspx

Citroy · 08-12-2007, 09:11 AM

That was what I was asking for ;) Thanks a lot everyone for your help.

**Deleted090308** · 08-12-2007, 09:14 AM

Please post back if you need more help.

08-11-2007, 07:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Citroy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Computer won't acknowledge extra ram I'm in the situation that I bought a new computer. I put in 4gb of ram, the motherboard supports 8gb but it only acknowledges 2.96gb ram, I don't know what the problem is at the moment, anyone knows. Motherboard: ASUS P5B-E AiLifestyle Series RAM: Mushkin 4 x 1 GB. Thanks-

08-11-2007, 08:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
PanamaGal Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Panama Posts: 1,240 OS: WinXP Pro SP2; Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista Ultimate; Vista Business	Re: Computer won't acknowledge extra ram Sounds like either one of sticks of memory is bad, or one of the slots. First thing I would do is try one stick in memory slot 1. If that works, try that stick in slot 2, and so on. If that stick works in all slots, then your problem is likely with one of the sticks of RAM as opposed to one of the slots. Then just try the remaining sticks one at a time to see if one does not work. If they all work in all slots, then I would either run memtest on each stick, or play around with combinations as it still could be some wierd problem with the board. Another thought, are you using default BIOS settings for the memory? __________________ It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. Last edited by PanamaGal; 08-11-2007 at 08:25 PM.

08-11-2007, 08:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
SLG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 234 OS: XP	Re: Computer won't acknowledge extra ram it may be the operating system, what operating system are you using? __________________ "Discrimination occurs from experience, Over discrimination occurs from the lack of it" - SLG

08-11-2007, 08:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
Aus_Karlos Moderator, Games Team Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western Australia Posts: 3,449 OS: Vista Ultimate x64, Windows XP 32-bit/64-bit, Ubuntu x64, Windows 7 x64 Beta My System Blog Entries: 2	Re: Computer won't acknowledge extra ram 32-bit XP can only support ~3gb to utilize 4gb or even 8gb you need to install or upgrade to XP 64-bit. But you will require a 64-bit processor.. Also on most motherboards you need to activate a function in the BIOS to support 4gb. Mainly called "Remap RAM (4gb Support)" and there is a RAM settings that is set to a default of "T1" which needs to be changed to "T2". __________________ MemTest86 / Nvidia Drivers / ATI Drivers / DirectX 9.0c / Sys Requirements / Everest Folding@Home

08-12-2007, 07:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
Citroy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: Computer won't acknowledge extra ram I tried replacing all the different memory sticks, they all seemed to work fine. Then I tried activation "Remap RAM" which made my "startup screen" acknowledge the total of 4 gb RAM. There is one problem though, entering the system under generally it says: Computer: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40Ghz 2.40 Ghz, 2.00 GB RAM So I don't understand why it doesn't say 4gb ram.?

08-12-2007, 08:05 AM	#6 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Computer won't acknowledge extra ram What XP version do you have? 32- or 64-bit? How much RAM on the video card?

08-12-2007, 08:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
Citroy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: Computer won't acknowledge extra ram I'm not really sure which XP version I have, I would guess 32-bit - but as I said im not sure. (How do I check it?) I have GeForce 8800 GTX which has 768MB.

08-12-2007, 08:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Computer won't acknowledge extra ram When you right click "My computer" and choose Properties - what does it say? A 32-bit system can only "see" about 3.12 GB RAM - that is RAM sticks + video RAM. You need a 64-bit OS to use all RAM.

08-12-2007, 08:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
Citroy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: Computer won't acknowledge extra ram I really don't know the difference. Is it possible for me to get a 64-bit OS?

08-12-2007, 08:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Computer won't acknowledge extra ram Yes, your motherboard/CPU can handle a 64-bit OS.

08-12-2007, 09:00 AM	#11 (permalink)
Citroy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: Computer won't acknowledge extra ram Can you possibly send my a stupid guide for 64-bit OS? I really don't know how. ;)

08-12-2007, 09:03 AM	#12 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Computer won't acknowledge extra ram I'm not sure I understand what you mean. See if this helps: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.mspx

08-12-2007, 09:11 AM	#13 (permalink)
Citroy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: Computer won't acknowledge extra ram That was what I was asking for ;) Thanks a lot everyone for your help.

08-12-2007, 09:14 AM	#14 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Computer won't acknowledge extra ram Please post back if you need more help.