Can I change ram limits

  • Thread starter Thread starter G-Pa_ks
  • Start date Start date
G

G-Pa_ks

Last year I purchased an Alienware notebook computer. Pentium M 730 1.6hz 2mb
533fsb processor. It came with two 512 sticks of sodimm memory. Running
Windows xp media edition. I wanted to upgrade so I purchased 2 2gig sticks
of sodimm memory. My problem is, if I put both sticks in the computer will
not boot up. I tried putting in one stick, and one of the 512 sticks and it
works, and says on the task manager, under performance that I have 2096496 of
total physical memory. I contacted alienware and they said my notebook only
supports 1 gig( but it is running a little over 2 now) and working fine. I
was just wondering if there is a setting or something I can change to allow
it to use the 4 gigs that windows xp supports? If not, is it safe for me to
run the way I am with one 2 gig and one 512mb stick? Thanks for any help.
 
If the PC maker states that only 1gb is supported then by running 1gb+ you
risk unintended consequences. eg data corruption
There is no win setting available to overide the bios, or mobo capabilities
Also Tsk Mngr is not recording the correct amount of physical memory anyway.
 
G-Pa_ks said:
Last year I purchased an Alienware notebook computer. Pentium M 730 1.6hz 2mb
533fsb processor. It came with two 512 sticks of sodimm memory. Running
Windows xp media edition. I wanted to upgrade so I purchased 2 2gig sticks
of sodimm memory. My problem is, if I put both sticks in the computer will
not boot up. I tried putting in one stick, and one of the 512 sticks and it
works, and says on the task manager, under performance that I have 2096496 of
total physical memory. I contacted alienware and they said my notebook only
supports 1 gig( but it is running a little over 2 now) and working fine. I
was just wondering if there is a setting or something I can change to allow
it to use the 4 gigs that windows xp supports? If not, is it safe for me to
run the way I am with one 2 gig and one 512mb stick? Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

One way to cross-check memory support, is to look up the chipset being
used in the computer. Try the "mainboard" tab of this program,
then post the information you find ("chipset" and "Southbridge").

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

For example, say I determined the chipset was 915PM. Looking up on
Intel, and looking on page 18, it says "Maximum memory supported is 2 GB".

http://download.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/30526402.pdf

If you look on Crucial.com, using your model number, what you should
be seeing, is Alienware's recommendation for the system. If you look it
up yourself, you can see if there are any hardware limits. If the
limit was imposed by the BIOS, then you'd be stuck.

Paul
 
G-Pa_ks said:
Last year I purchased an Alienware notebook computer. Pentium M 730 1.6hz 2mb
533fsb processor. It came with two 512 sticks of sodimm memory. Running
Windows xp media edition. I wanted to upgrade so I purchased 2 2gig sticks
of sodimm memory. My problem is, if I put both sticks in the computer will
not boot up.
Click to expand...

Noit at all surprising, in view of the following. Why would you not
have checked this *before* buying the additional but useless RAM modules?
I tried putting in one stick, and one of the 512 sticks and it
works, and says on the task manager, under performance that I have 2096496 of
total physical memory. I contacted alienware and they said my notebook only
supports 1 gig( but it is running a little over 2 now) and working fine. I
was just wondering if there is a setting or something I can change to allow
it to use the 4 gigs that windows xp supports?
Click to expand...



This is a limitation of the hardware, so the only fix would be to
replace the computer's motherboard, which isn't really doable for an end
user and a notebook computer. Simply put, if you find the hardware
limitations of the notebook to be unacceptable, it's time to buy a new
computer that can meet your needs.

If not, is it safe for me to
run the way I am with one 2 gig and one 512mb stick? Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

Not really. You'll eventually have data lose and program file corruptions.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Thanks Paul, it is a 915M, and only supports 2 gigs.
Paul said:
Last year I purchased an Alienware notebook computer. Pentium M 730 1.6hz 2mb
533fsb processor. It came with two 512 sticks of sodimm memory. Running
Click to expand...
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
it to use the 4 gigs that windows xp supports? If not, is it safe for me to
run the way I am with one 2 gig and one 512mb stick? Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

One way to cross-check memory support, is to look up the chipset being
used in the computer. Try the "mainboard" tab of this program,
then post the information you find ("chipset" and "Southbridge").

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

For example, say I determined the chipset was 915PM. Looking up on
Intel, and looking on page 18, it says "Maximum memory supported is 2 GB".

http://download.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/30526402.pdf

If you look on Crucial.com, using your model number, what you should
be seeing, is Alienware's recommendation for the system. If you look it
up yourself, you can see if there are any hardware limits. If the
limit was imposed by the BIOS, then you'd be stuck.

Paul
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top