Older Gateway motherboard doesn't register full 128 SRDAM

[techwanabe]

I tried recently to add extra memory to an older Gateway computer (about 3+ years) with an Athlon 950 Mhz processor. It has a 64 mb stick on it. So I added a 128 stick to the 2nd slot. It only registered 64 in the 2nd slot.

Is it possible from the BIOS and firmware that this mobo will only register a max of 64 mb per slot? There for with all four slots populated, it would only have a max of 256 mb? Unfortunately in this case, I don't have more than 2 64 mb SDRAM memory sticks... the 3rd is a 128, so it will go to waste as a 64....

 

[DieHardware]

What chipset? That motherboard might not support high density RAM. Or the RAM is defective.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

It's a Gateway motherboard, made by whoever (most likely Asus, but I forgot who gave them their AMD line-up for that era). ANyway for some reason they have their boards design crippled. Take for instance their Jabil 440BX based motherboard manufactured by Intel for them. Their board supports a maximum of 384MB of memory that must be low density. While the very same board that Intel markets on their own will support a maximum of 768MB (again low density, all BX boards had that drawback).

You'll find this true with a lot of older OEM computers. To my knowledge all AMD based motherboard from the original Athlon - present day support High Density ram. So DieHardwares first explanation is most likely wrong. The second much more probable. But you must goto Gateways web site and find out what memory is compatable and what sizes the banks will accept. At first glance of you post I thought video was taking memory till I seen you added a second stick. But it is possible they limited your max memory to 256MB... meaning you 64mb per slot could be correct, so again check their web site.

 

[Zap]

Two things...

First, you need to test the 128 stick of RAM by itself, with no 64MB stick in the system

Second, you may need to get an 8 chip module. Most 128MB SDRAM modules these days have physically 4 TSOP chips on them. Try finding modules that use 8 chips. At Newegg the only ones that do are the more expensive Crucial modules that say they are compatible with Macs.

 

[natto fire]

What chipset does the mobo have? My IBM (Athlon 550, AMD 751 chipset) has no problem recognizing 256MB chips. It has 512 in it now.

 

[techwanabe]

I don't have the computer anymore... but probably the BIOS/firmware of that mobo doesn't support higher denisity memory sticks. Some folks probalby hit the nail on the head there.

The 128 PC100 that was in there registered 128 on the old computer it was removed from.