Probs with memory recognition....

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
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I recently acquired an Abit bp6 (used) and promptly installed my 256 PC133 stick of RAM (specifically: 256MB PC-133 (32x64) SyncMax NEC Chip)

The problem is that it is only is registering as 128MB stick (both in BIOS and in Win2k). But when placed in my ASUS P3V4X motherboard (VIA chipset) it registers just fine at 256MB.

Anyone have any clues or ideas?

The bp6 I know is supposed to accept 256 sticks... but in this case it isn't.

Any help would help!

 

SaturnX

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2000
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It isn't like the good old days of RAM, where one "size" fits all. Most motherboard manufacturers have specific RAM that they have tested, I personally stick with memeory tested by the manufacturer.

--Mark
 

Choy

Member
Jul 27, 2000
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Somewhat an impossible issue. But try upping the bios. The move to another slot might work. Other wise I don't think there is much hope...
 

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
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Bios is the latest and I've tried every slot (even tried mixing in other sticks just as a last hope)... no luck though... odd. Maybe its just the make/models are incompatible... oh well... looks like my work station gets an upgrade and my server gets a downgrade =)

Thanks all!
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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Intel 440BX is showing its age here. The maximum SDRAM density it can handle is 128-MBit. Meaning that if your 256-MByte stick is 8-chip (thus having 256-MBit density SDRAM chips on it), the BX will only see half of them.

VIA's current chipsets support 256-MBit technology SDRAM.

256-MByte DIMMs to be used on i440BX have to be double-sided, 16-chip.

Regards, Peter
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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... to be exact, VIA P6 bus north bridges Apollo Pro 133 (693A) and Pro 133A (694X) as well as PM601 and PM133 integrated-VGA north bridges support 256-MBit technology, as do the KX/KT133 Athlon north bridges.

Apollo Pro (691) and Pro+ (693) support 128-MBit or lower density technology.

Regards, Peter
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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one more note, Intel i810 and i815 also don't support 256-MBit technology SDRAM ...

Regards, Peter
 

ERJ

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
325
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Hey Homerboy....

You didn't happen to get that SyncMAX chip from www.computersupersale.com did you? I just got one of their 256 meg chips and it is only recognizing 128mb on my system also. Hmmmm....looks like that Duron/Thunderbird upgrade is coming sooner then I thought.

ERJ

P.S. The crazy thing is that it is 16 chips, at least on mine. Oh well, on the web site they warned that it only worked in certain motherboards.