Computer Memory/RAM question

[VibrantRedGT]

I bought a my son a PC a few months ago. It came with only 256MB of ram. So I yanked that and added two sticks of 512MB to get 1G out of it. Yesterday I pulled one 512 stick and added a 1G. Problem is the computer is still only recognizing 1G.

Here are ths stats. It states below it can take 2G.

CPU: Intel® Celeron® D Processor 335
(256KB L2 cache, 2.80GHz, 533MHz FSB)
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition (SP2)
Chipset: Intel 865GV chipset
Memory: 256MB DDR 333
Expandable to 2GB
Hard Drive: 80GB
Optical Drive: CD-RW/DVD combo optical (48 × 32 x 16 × 48)
Video: Intel® Extreme Graphics2 3D
64MB shared video memory
Sound: AC '97 audio
Network: Intel® PRO 10/100Mbps integrated Ethernet
Modem: 56K ITU v.92-ready Fax/Modem
Peripherals: Standard keyboard, 2-button wheel mouse, amplified stereo speakers
Ports/Other: 6 USB 2.0 ports (2 in front, 4 in back), 1 VGA external connector, 1 serial, 1 parallel, 2 PS/2, 5 audio (2 in front, 3 in back)
Dimensions: 7.25"W x 14.125"H x 16"D

 

[Synned]

The computer may not be able to support a 1g chip. How many slots are there? If there is 4 slots, to get to that 2g capacity you may need 512 * 4. Try moving the 1g into the first slot, and booting up with just that.

BTW: Is there a reason you need 1g 1/2 of memory? The processor and video card are like 2's and the memory is enough for just about anything. 1g should be plenty for anything you try to do with that processor/video card. The Celeron is what's really slowing you down.

 

[MysteryMachine]

yeah I thought when you changed chips you have to use the same size.

 

[urban96]

yeah I thought when you changed chips you have to use the same size.

with most DDR motherboards you need to keep all the ram sticks the same size. i would check in the manual.

 

[jasonlee0704]

Vibrant, did you get a cheap 1 GB stick? ($70 or less) There's a configuration of 1 GB sticks (x4 high density RAM) that are cheap to manufacture but not a lot of motherboards support them, so they only work on certain systems.

Here's a post on it.

Here's another post on it.

Apparently one of the symptoms of a non-working motherboard is that it only recognizes half the capacity of the memory stick, which sounds like your situation. So adding a 1 GB non-working stick to a system with 512 MB will only = 1 GB of RAM.

ETA: Here's a good summary of what's going on with the different RAM chip sizes.

 

[VibrantRedGT]

Jason, you are correct. Just pulled the other slots 512 and left just the 1G card in it. The PC only recognized half the stick. I won it off Ebay. Guess I'll have to re-Ebay it.