Notebook RAM reported size is low?

[webley]

I just got my first laptop (Compaq 1100) and installed a second 256 MB RAM module to make a total of 512 MB or so I thought. Under system information it only lists 448 MB RAM and not 512. I've never had this problem with desktops but is this an issue with laptops or did I do something wrong? Thanks for any help.

 

[zephyrprime]

What does you bios say? Something is wrong. This isn't normal of notebooks.

 

[Lord Evermore]

512 minus 448 = 64MB. Your BIOS is reserving 64MB for the onboard video. That's my guess.

 

[webley]

Bios doesn't seem to report the RAM size as with desktops I'm used to but I'll try to look again. Where in the Bios would it be?

 

[webley]

512 minus 448 = 64MB. Your BIOS is reserving 64MB for the onboard video. That's my guess.

OH! of course that's right it has the ATI MOBILITY RADEON with shared memory. It's the first shared memory vid card I've used so I guess I forgot. Thanks for solving the problem Lord Evermore!