2 x 512 sticks PC 3200 Ram only read 256mb each

[Pc Fixed Right]

I have never encountered this type of issue before but I will list what I have tried.

Custom Computer Windows Xp
2 x 512 PC 3200 Super Talent Ram

Customer Complained and said the machine had slowed down.

Checked Machine for spyware and Viruses (machine is clean)
Looked at the system properties and noticed it only mentioned 480 mb ram / 32 shared with video

I know the computer has 2 x 512 MB PC 3200 Ram installed so tested with memtest 86+ to see if one of the sticks is bad. Both Sticks have 0 errors.

Looked in the bios and the computer only sees 512 mb ram

Took out one stick and repeated this process with both sticks and the computer only reads 256 mb ram from each stick

Confused as of right now but in the process of trying known good ram and bios update.

any ideas as to why only half of the ram is being recognized in either slot?

 

[Fixedathome.com]

What is the model of Motherboard? Have you checked if the ram is on the motherboards compatibility list?
Are you able to test a different brand of ram in the board?

I used to see this problem a fair bit on older boards using SDRAM and the problem was the boards didn't support high density memory. Maybe the same issue here?

You could also try checking for a BIOS update (Check the update notes for any memory compatibility fixes)

 

[Martyn]

Check it out with the tool at www.crucial.com it will tell you what it has and what it can support.

 

[Pc Fixed Right]

Problem has been solved. It seems the guy that built this machine for them sold them mislabeled ram, Even though both sticks say they are 512 MB ram each that is unfortunately not the case. I stuck both sticks into 2 separate machines both of which read each stick as 256 mb ram. The crucial.com test also indicates 2 x 256 sticks so their old tech is in trouble lol.

thanks

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Problem has been solved. It seems the guy that built this machine for them sold them mislabeled ram, Even though both sticks say they are 512 MB ram each that is unfortunately not the case. I stuck both sticks into 2 separate machines both of which read each stick as 256 mb ram. The crucial.com test also indicates 2 x 256 sticks so their old tech is in trouble lol.

Sometimes you can peel back the labels and see the original label.

 

[joydivision]

Sounds like the old tech went to a computer market (here now, gone tomorrow) and fell for a scam. I can't see the old tech would have put the wrong label as theclient wouldn't see the RAM anyway and it would report wrong.

I cannot believe the old tech didn't check the amount of RAM installed though!.

 

[Pc Fixed Right]

the old tech is out of business, the client is unable to get ahold of him and the shop is also gone. He probably didnt do it on purpose but he definately should have checked to see what he had installed.

 

[NeutronTech]

A lot of times the chips themselves will have 64x64, or whatever value you have, etched on them. That tells what the memory is also.