3 gigabytes of ram registers only at 256 mb in XP help!

talking · 11-25-2008, 07:19 PM

I decided to add more memory to my dinosaur system. Some specs below:
Windoxs XP home 32 bit
Athlon 64 X2 3800(dinosaur I know but it still good enough for me)
Palit HD 3870
Rosewill 550 watts

I added 2 G(1Gx2) to my existing 1 G(2x512) in dual channel. The bios reads all 3 ddr1 gigs of ram but in XP it only registers at 256 mb. Both RAM are from kingston, same volts=2.6, same latency and same speed. With the 2 G in dual channel mode XP reads it right.When I add a 512 mb stick, XP reads it at 1.5 G. When I add the other 512 mb stick XP reads it at 256 mb.
Here what I did so far:
Used all my memory by themselves and each one registered right at XP.
So I think it is not the RAM modules.
I flashed to update the bios. nothing.
I reinstalled my OS. nothing
I searched online.nothing
I upgraded my mb drivers. nothing
Followed the MB manual strictly from the beggining. nothing.
Scratch my head. nothing.
Only thing I can think of is by another 2 G dual channel sticks to replace the 512s and maybe that will solve the problem and have 1 gig(2x512 wasted) but DDR ram is just stupid more expensive than DDR2. By the way I needed the Extra ram to buy me some time, play crysis decently and wait till AMD moves to AM3 and then upgrade.

I probably sound stupid but I need help! Thanks!
Where did all my RAM go? How do I fix this?

Thanks for helping.

Mcninjaguy · 11-25-2008, 09:02 PM

well 2 gigs in XP should be fine for playing crysis on xp as long as when you're on desktop you're just using less than 500 mb of ram.

when I was palying crysis warhead with settings on very high except post fx and something else(high) and anti aliasing on 4x it would use up 1 gb of ram

talking · 11-26-2008, 10:38 AM

Yes I can just use 2 Gigs but I have an extra 1 gig that I would like to use if a solution is found. I thought XP32 can use up to 3 gigs? I tried playing Crysis last night and with 2 gigs it still pagefiles up to 1.4 gig even thought the machine is way more responsive during gaming with 2 gigs of memory than with just 1 gigs.

Mcninjaguy · 11-26-2008, 11:07 AM

32 bit systems can recognize (XP, vista, ubuntu) up to 3.1 to 3.5 gbs of ram
a 64 bit machine can theoretically recognize up to 128 gigs of ram (vista 64, XP64, ubuntu 64)

talking · 11-26-2008, 06:13 PM

Thanks for the info mcninja!

Problem solved! I changed my Jetway MB into an older 3 year old MSI K8neo board and everything works fine. Recognized all 3 gigs in dual channel. XP recognizes all of it too! Now my machine seems to be faster.
Lesson learned, do not buy Jetway!!
Anyway! how long do you guys think the MSI K8neo will last? Its nf4 north bridge is hot to the touch. I had to mod a fan to have it blow directly on it.

Mcninjaguy · 11-26-2008, 10:33 PM

post your temperatures from the bios and we'll see

11-25-2008, 07:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
talking Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp home sp3	3 gigabytes of ram registers only at 256 mb in XP help! I decided to add more memory to my dinosaur system. Some specs below: Windoxs XP home 32 bit Athlon 64 X2 3800(dinosaur I know but it still good enough for me) Palit HD 3870 Rosewill 550 watts I added 2 G(1Gx2) to my existing 1 G(2x512) in dual channel. The bios reads all 3 ddr1 gigs of ram but in XP it only registers at 256 mb. Both RAM are from kingston, same volts=2.6, same latency and same speed. With the 2 G in dual channel mode XP reads it right.When I add a 512 mb stick, XP reads it at 1.5 G. When I add the other 512 mb stick XP reads it at 256 mb. Here what I did so far: Used all my memory by themselves and each one registered right at XP. So I think it is not the RAM modules. I flashed to update the bios. nothing. I reinstalled my OS. nothing I searched online.nothing I upgraded my mb drivers. nothing Followed the MB manual strictly from the beggining. nothing. Scratch my head. nothing. Only thing I can think of is by another 2 G dual channel sticks to replace the 512s and maybe that will solve the problem and have 1 gig(2x512 wasted) but DDR ram is just stupid more expensive than DDR2. By the way I needed the Extra ram to buy me some time, play crysis decently and wait till AMD moves to AM3 and then upgrade. I probably sound stupid but I need help! Thanks! Where did all my RAM go? How do I fix this? Thanks for helping.

11-25-2008, 09:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: 3 gigabytes of ram registers only at 256 mb in XP help! well 2 gigs in XP should be fine for playing crysis on xp as long as when you're on desktop you're just using less than 500 mb of ram. when I was palying crysis warhead with settings on very high except post fx and something else(high) and anti aliasing on 4x it would use up 1 gb of ram

11-26-2008, 10:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
talking Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp home sp3	Re: 3 gigabytes of ram registers only at 256 mb in XP help! Yes I can just use 2 Gigs but I have an extra 1 gig that I would like to use if a solution is found. I thought XP32 can use up to 3 gigs? I tried playing Crysis last night and with 2 gigs it still pagefiles up to 1.4 gig even thought the machine is way more responsive during gaming with 2 gigs of memory than with just 1 gigs.

11-26-2008, 11:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: 3 gigabytes of ram registers only at 256 mb in XP help! 32 bit systems can recognize (XP, vista, ubuntu) up to 3.1 to 3.5 gbs of ram a 64 bit machine can theoretically recognize up to 128 gigs of ram (vista 64, XP64, ubuntu 64)

11-26-2008, 06:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
talking Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp home sp3	Re: 3 gigabytes of ram registers only at 256 mb in XP help! Thanks for the info mcninja! Problem solved! I changed my Jetway MB into an older 3 year old MSI K8neo board and everything works fine. Recognized all 3 gigs in dual channel. XP recognizes all of it too! Now my machine seems to be faster. Lesson learned, do not buy Jetway!! Anyway! how long do you guys think the MSI K8neo will last? Its nf4 north bridge is hot to the touch. I had to mod a fan to have it blow directly on it.

11-26-2008, 10:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: 3 gigabytes of ram registers only at 256 mb in XP help! post your temperatures from the bios and we'll see