2.00 GB ram installed (512mb usable)??

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texastone

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Hey guys! Sure this should be easy but I thought I would ask you what you thought. I am running windows 7 ultimate 32 bit on a compaq presario S5400NX. it had 512 mb of ram installed and i removed them and replaced them with 512mb non eec, PC2700 SDram sticks. it has 4 slots so I put 4 of them in. Anyway the bios shows them installed and when I click properties in Computer, it shows 2.00 GB ram (512 mb usable). Any Ideas what this is about and if it's a problem?? I did check the manufactures website and schematics before I did this to make sure I got the right memory obviously. Here is a link of a recommended upgrade that I also used http://www.memorystock.com/memory/CompaqPresarios5400nx.html

Anyway let me know what you guys think or if you have had any experience with this. Thanks a lot guys!!
 
Not sure exactly but I always suggest purchasing and inserting the largest capacity module the slot will handle. More cost effective in the long run.

Is the video setup in the BIOS to use system memory? May be a setting taking some away. Check that and let us know.

Tom
 
yeah it says max is 1gb per slot and compaq says a max of 2gb for whole system but crucial says 4gb. any way i ran a memory diagnostics test and all was fine. checked bios and saw no option for video card or processor to use more of less memory. Any other ideas??! lol. Thanks!
 
The board supports dual channeling and it has an Intel processor.

"On motherboards with four memory sockets, which is the most common scenario, the correct way to enable dual channel technology varies.If you have four memory modules simply install all of them and dual channel method will be enabled.
If you have two memory modules – which is the most common situation – you have to pay attention.
In order to facilitate our explanations, let’s number the motherboard memory sockets as 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Motherboards Targeted to Intel CPUs
On motherboards targeted to Intelprocessors, usually dual channel is enabled by skipping one memory socket. So you have to install your first memory module on socket 1 and the second memory module on socket 3, skipping (leaving empty) socket 2. Installing the first memory module on socket 2 and the second memory module on socket 4 will also work.
To make dual channel installation an easier process most of the manufacturers use the same color for sockets 1 and 3 and a different color on sockets 2 and 4, see Figure 4. So in order to enable dual channel simply install your memory modules on sockets with the same color (it doesn’t matter which color you pick)."
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Everything-You-Need-to-Know-About-Dual-Channel/133/5

So I suppose the first thing is to check if dual channeling is enabled. Other than that, I'd try 2 x 1GB chips staggered and see how it reads. I'm assuming that the original 2x256MB chips were staggered, right?
 
Hey thanks Mac! educate me a little bit here. Why are there 4 slots if only 2 work?? In either case I just have to put 2 1gb sticks in the primary slots and it will be at the max?? Thanks man!!
 
ok just read your last post and yes you are correct the 256mb sockets and sticks were staggered. I put in 4 512MB DDR SDRAM non eec sticks in all 4 memory slots. The bios reads that they are all there, and under the properties section of "Computer" it shows it has 2.00GB. But in ( ) it shows 512mb usable. Do I need to buy some 1gb sticks and just use the primaries to have it all usable?? Thanks for all your help buddy!
 
According to the motherboard specs:
Maximum Memory Supported4GB (4 x 512MB) unbuffered (HP and Compaq recommend 2GB)

But then according to the computer specs:
Maximum allowed2 GB (2 x 1GB) requires replacement of the two installed 256MB DIMMS

Kind of conflicting info, but points to the 2x1GB configuration. If dual channel is supported, what happens when you stagger 2x512MB?
 

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ok so I staggered just 2 of the 2 x 512GB ones and it shows 1.00 gb (512mb usable) so still the same dang thing. I wonder if its a problem within windows 7? I just have never run into this. Why would it only use 512mb when it could use 1024mb or better yet 2048 in dual channel? Or maybe its using it and it says its not. I just don't know! lol
 
A little research is telling me this is something with the Bios and Win7. Some folks are finding success with changing bios settings, like max memory setting unchecked or enabling remapping. Others are updating their bios and/or reinstalling Windows to fix it. Its just weird Compaq is saying 2x1GB while the motherboard specs are saying 4x512MB. Dual channeling should be enabled either way with 2x1GB or 4x512MB.
 
You could try...

For sure try flashing the BIOS with the latest version of firmware as possible. You could also try this too...

Check your BIOS... Look for "Memory Remap" and see if its enabled. On some Asus mobo's and a few other brands, when Win 7 is installed it recognizes this problem. The problem was there all along and people just didn't know it until Win 7 was installed. Here's a common location, at least for my situation.
1 Enter BIOS
2 Advanced
3 Chipset Settings
4 Enable Memory Reamp Feature
5 Exit and Save

If you don't have that, then you can try this...

open run>

type msconfig>

go to boot tab>advance options>

select maximum memory

apply and restart

Let us know what you find. Good Luck and have a good day.

Kevin
 
Last edited:
Ok I did update the Bios yesterday to a 2004 version which didn't give any new options so I still had no option to increase the memory. I cannot believe I didn't think to go to MSCOFIG and put in the maximum memory which I did and now it is using all of it!! lol. So simple! Thank you so much everyone for their help on this. It is SOLVED!:)
 
texastone said:
Hey thanks Mac! educate me a little bit here. Why are there 4 slots if only 2 work?? In either case I just have to put 2 1gb sticks in the primary slots and it will be at the max?? Thanks man!!
Click to expand...

sometimes they go bad. sometimes its meant to support dual channel. sometimes you need to flash the bios :-)
 
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