Memory issue

from WinCustomize Forums

Ok, here is a tech question... hope someone can answer this because i am at a loss.

my system had 2 GB's of ram (4 x 512MB) and I just bought 2 GB's of ram (2 x 1GB's) and went to replace 2 of the 512MB sticks with the 1 GB sticks to give me a total of 3 GB's of ram from the original 2 GB's.

After installing the ram I started the system and went into BIOS and noticed that my BIOS said that I had 3GB's of ram installed but only 1.7GB's ram available.  I updated the BIOS and after restarting the system and going back into BIOS to check the RAM again.  I noticed it changed to 3.0 GB's installed and 2.0GB's availble.  Even though I gained 0.3 GB's I still have 1.0 Gb's still unavailbale. 

Again my BIOS tells me i have 3.0 GB's installed but only 2.0 GB's available.

I had 2 x 512MB's Corsair XMS and 2 x 512MB's Ultra, I bought 2 x 1 GB's of Patriot to replace the Ultra.  I understand mixing memory can cause stabilty issues but i have checked that the latency and voltage setting are the same.  So I do not think that the different brands is a cause of the issue.  But then again i could be wrong.  If anyone has a solution to this please help.  Thanks.

My motherboard is the Asus A8N-SLI Premium, and I am using Windows Vista Ultimate.

1,987 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My motherboard is the Asus A8N-SLI Premium, and I am using Windows Vista Ultimate
End of quote


Had the same issue with my old ASUS A8N VM...would only accept 2gigs of RAM despite the specs saying it was capable of 4gigs...and when 4gigs for Vista Ultimate 32bit was installed the value decreased to 1.75gigs, like yours.

Essentially, I was told there was no solution and I'd be stuck with 2gigs... so when a mobo fault forced an upgrade the problem was resolved with my new Gigabye board, which accepts 4gigs comfortably. :)
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i figured as much, asus has really become a dissappointment lately with a lot of users... guess a new mobo is going to be in the works.
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have an Asus A8n-SLi, it requires dual channel memory. That is, 2x512Mb, or 4x512Mb... or 2x1Gb or 4x1Gb. Mix and match will not work, that is why you are only seeing the 2x1Gb or the 4x512Mb ;)
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I do not know if this will help since Fuzzy has the same or similar board, but just in case:

You need to have the two 1 GB sticks in the blue slots (or slots labeled A1 & B1) and then the two 512 MB sticks in the black slots (or slots labeled A2 & B2).

This will enable dual-channel if the BIOS does not disagree with the normal set-up.

Anyway, just a thought in case you do not already have it configured this way.

Good luck. :)