ECS P4M900T-M Memory issue?

[SwiftWind]

Ok so here's the deal. I have 4GB of DDR2 on the motherboard. The bios detects 3.26GB of ram, and windows detects 3.18GB. Originally, the BIOS detected only 2.5GB. I did a BIOS upgrade and it went up to 3.26GB.

Now, I do realize that with 32 bit Windows, there's a memory limit of around 3GB limit. However, the bios should still be able to detect 4GB, no? According to other users on forums, they had the same mobo and the Bios did detect 4GB except for Windows.

I have the latest BIOS upgrade. I also tried one stick at a time and in different slots too to make sure the stick shows 2048MB per stick and that each slot works, but with both sticks in there it shows 3.26GB still...

Ideas?

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: SwiftWind
Now, I do realize that with 32 bit Windows, there's a memory limit of around 3GB limit. However, the bios should still be able to detect 4GB, no?

Not necessarily. The BIOS can be written to report either total installed memory, total available (i.e. useable) memory, or both. A BIOS that reports total available memory but not installed memory is not necessarily mishandling memory detection or allocation. And total available memory reported by BIOS is not necessarily going to match what Windows will report.

But it does invite confusion or doubt when the BIOS only reports available memory. This is why Intel released an application note a while back encouraging BIOS writers to report BOTH figures for added clarity.

Then again, this BIOS might indeed be mishandling things, I can't say for certain. Does the first page of CMOS Setup report anything for memory?

 

[SwiftWind]

It counts the memory up, and says OK.
No error messages if thats what you mean, or did you mean something else?

 

[Err0r404]

oh man, ECS is notorious for problems like that, i have about 2 or 3 ECS boards that sitting here all DEAD. I think the board jumpers are most useful than the board. (i'd only saved the jumpers from ECS boards lol)
I think ECS will be out of business if it wasn't for FRY's bundling with their cheap processors!!!!!

Anyway before i get side tracked too far:

1. If you can get a confirmation that other people can see 4gig on that exact same model + revision, i would take the board back and return/exchange.
2. If you are using all 4 slots for ram, it might just be ECS's hardware problem that can't address all slots...they may release the additonal newer bios that will fix it soon (let's hope)
3. Try lowering your RAM CAS timing, say 5-5-5-15 or so, and pump up the RAM voltage to slightly higher...2.1v and see if it does anything. I've heard of boards acting funny when all 4 slots are being used. (ie. not enough voltage being supplied or unable to see upper memory address.)
4. Get your self a decent board like Abit/Asus/Gigabytes (which are my recommendations atm)

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: SwiftWind
It counts the memory up, and says OK.
No error messages if thats what you mean, or did you mean something else?

No, in BIOS Setup, under the first page usually called CMOS Setup, where you set the date and time, manually configure hard drives and that stuff, does it report anything for system memory?

 

[Peter]

Err0r404, ah, ECS bashing, always an indicator of superior computer knowledge. Not.

On with the show. The BIOS quite obviously detects all the RAM, else you wouldn't get this much usable RAM.

And then, it is entirely up to the BIOS whether it reports the detected amount or the usable amount. Yours obviously does the latter.

Finally, on an Intel architecture machine (not AMD) you'll only ever get the full 4GB if the chipset supports "memory remapping". If it doesn't, then the amount of RAM overlapped by the I/O hardware is permanently lost.

regards,
Peter

 

[Err0r404]

well I must admit, you obviously don't need superior computer knowledge to critique ECS.

Originally, the BIOS detected only 2.5GB. I did a BIOS upgrade and it went up to 3.26GB.

Enough said

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: Err0r404
4. Get your self a decent board like Abit/Asus/Gigabytes (which are my recommendations atm)

Except for the ABIT and ASUS models designed and/or manufactured by ECS, right? :laugh: