BIOS/Win2k won't recognize all my RAM

[LowTeck]

I have an Albatron PX845PE ProIIS(Silver) motherboard, and it has the following configuration for RAM:
DDR Sockets:
DDR400/333/DDR266 unbuffered /None-ECC DDR SDRAM up to 2GB( DIMM1 uses 2 Banks/ DIMM2 & DIMM3 share 2 Banks )

I have 2 x Corsair XMS 512MB PC3200 sticks (matched pair) and
I have 1 x Corsair XMS 512MB PC3500 stick

At first, I figured my motherboard didn't support > 1GB of RAM, but it clearly states in the manual that it supports up to 2GB. Any ideas on how to get my BIOS to recognize all 1.5gigs?

Note`1: CPU-Z recognizes that all 3 Slots are full, for a total of 1.5GB of RAM.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[stevty2889]

Have you tried putting the PC3200 sticks in slots 2 and 3, and the PC3500 in slot 1?

 

[LowTeck]

Yes, that is the configuration I am using right now. I have also tried the two (slower) PC3200 sticks in slots 1 and 2 and the (faster) PC3500 stick in slot 3.

Same result - BIOS will only recognize the two PC3200 sticks.

 

[stevty2889]

Have you tried with on of the PC3200, and the PC3500? Perhaps it's a limitation of the motherboard, I know there were some that could only run 2 sticks of PC3200, but 3 sticks of PC2100 or PC2700.

 

[LowTeck]

Ya, I was gonna try 1 stick of PC3200 and the PC3500 stick...see what happens. I'm also going to try increasing the voltage...


EDIT: Ok, it recognizes both the PC3200 and the PC3500 just fine. Problem is only when I add that 3rd stick. Note sure what else to do - I'm stumped that CPU-Z will recognize the RAM as being there, but my system doesn't.

Any other ideas?

 

[cryptonomicon]

Originally posted by: LowTeck
I have an Albatron PX845PE ProIIS(Silver) motherboard, and it has the following configuration for RAM:
DDR Sockets:
DDR400/333/DDR266 unbuffered /None-ECC DDR SDRAM up to 2GB( DIMM1 uses 2 Banks/ DIMM2 & DIMM3 share 2 Banks )

I have 2 x Corsair XMS 512MB PC3200 sticks (matched pair) and
I have 1 x Corsair XMS 512MB PC3500 stick

At first, I figured my motherboard didn't support > 1GB of RAM, but it clearly states in the manual that it supports up to 2GB. Any ideas on how to get my BIOS to recognize all 1.5gigs?

Note`1: CPU-Z recognizes that all 3 Slots are full, for a total of 1.5GB of RAM.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks.

if CPUZ recognizes it, then effectively that means that windows recognizes it. what about right click on my computer>properties. how much ram is listed there?

 

[LowTeck]

if CPUZ recognizes it, then effectively that means that windows recognizes it. what about right click on my computer>properties. how much ram is listed there?

Win2k doesn't recognize it either, computer>properties shows only 1gig (1,008,400 or whatever)

 

[Dr X]

I'm guessing they're all double sided memory modules?

 

[LowTeck]

yup, they are all basically identical, except 2 are PC3200 and the third is PC3500.

 

[Dr X]

Page 5 of your manual under DRAM Memory:
"Supports up to three single-sided or two double-sided memory modules with a total capacity of 2GB..."

Page 14, Memory Installation:
"Each DIMM socket is capable of using a memory module of up to 1GB. However if you use DIMM2 and DIMM3 at the same time you must use single-sided memory modules nd the total memory used by these sockets cannot exceed 1GB.

 

[LowTeck]

And there it is.

Thanks for your help guys, glad I finally know what was going on.