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I am trying to find out how to tell if my sons computer is using the extra stick of RAM (128) I installed as it is not showing it when I look at properties in "my computer" . Aida shows both sticks of RAM but I can not tell if it is being used by the computer. Can someone tell me how to definativly test the motherboard to see if it is using the RAM? The Motherboard is a A-OPEN AX6LC.
My thanks for any assistance
KennJ
When you first start the computer, what shows in the first window. There should be memory count there. I believe you can press the "pause/break" key to stop boot up, then look at the top of the screen, will show how much ram is installed. To continue the boot up, just press enter.
195584k is what it is reading out of 2 128's and a 64 so for some reason it is only reading 1 of the 128's. Aida sees all three sticks and it does not seem to matter where they are so my guess is the mobo has a problem.
KennJ
Could be the new stick of ram isn't compatible too. Try putting the two 128's in the first two slots then the 64 in the last slot. I had a Dell I was working on that refused to see the new 128 I tried to add, so it could be a conflict in type/manufactuer of the new ram also.
The 2 128's are exactly the same make and I have tried them without the 64 to see if somehow it was causing the problem.Both sticks are good and either one will work fine. Just not both for some reason. Strange thing as I know they can be seen by Aida so the slots are at least partialy OK
Could be one stick is bad too. There's a couple of tests you can run to check to make sure the RAM is good. Even new RAM can be bad at start. So here's the sites to get the testers from:
http://www.memtest86.com/
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp
If you have not done so, try going in to bios setup, then simply do a Save and Exit. See if the mem gets picked up properly then.
All three of the sticks of RAM are fine and I went into the BIOS to see if there was anything relevant to the issue although I had checked the MoBo book allready and it should accept the RAM no problem.
The strange thing is that Aida shows all three sticks of RAM and reads them correctly.
KennJ
You say the sticks are the same. Are they the same in all respects, ie, CAS, voltage, ns etc? Are you using SDRAM or EDO?
One other thing just for my sake, are they seated correctly. Even one side up a bit can cause it not to register.
The two 128's (SDRAM)are exactly the same in all respects down to the mfg. and , yes they are seated correctly .They were seated properly in all the variations I tried .
KennJ
Ok, just checking. Could be a motherboard problem then. One dead slot. :( You could try blowing some air in the slot with canned air, might be some dust bunnies in there or other objects that could cause problems too.
I guess it is a posability but considering that Aida can see all the RAM my guess is it is a motherboard issue. I am going to try putting in a 256 to see if it is being limited for some reason. Thanks for the help.
KennJ
Ok, I think your motherboard manual states that 128mb is highest you can add to a slot though. Might want to check that also. I downloaded the manual for this board and it states that when using SDRAM maximum allowed/accepted is 128mb sticks.
I just discovered that this board is only seeing 128's as 64's for some reason. Could this be a problem in the BIOS ?
KennJ
Yes, the mobo may actually have a limit to how much ram it can use in each slot. Which tells me that you may have a OLD mobo. Post teh make and model of the computer, or mobo if you can not find the other.
I had a old Compaq that was that way. A Bios flash fixed that though. Just a Compaq thing, but others may have done the like.