How do you get Vista to recognize 3Gb Memory?

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Hello Greg,
I think that system only reports 2 gig of RAM to Windows.
Windows gets the RAM amount from what the bios reports as available to it.
I was helping a relative with what I think was the same system a few months
ago with the same issue.
At least some of the specs on the Dell site only state 2 gig for that
system.
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/global/products/dimen/topics/e
n/dimen_xps600_sp_specs?c=us&cs=QTO45&l=en&s=bsdv

Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights
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<Subject: Re: How do you get Vista to recognize 3Gb Memory?
<Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:08:01 -0700
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<I'll check with Dell, but if the Bios sees the 3GB of memory I'd think
that
<wouldn't be necessary, but I'll check anyways.
<--
<Greg
<
<
<"Dave Burns" wrote:
<
<> Have you checked the Dell support site? Do you have the current BIOS
and
<> chipset updates?
<>
<> -- Dave
<>
<> <> > Well I ran the Memory Diagnostics Test that ran on reboot of the
system,
<> > after I select it. There were 2 test performed and it found no
problems.
<> >
<> > Again, the bios shows 3GB and the OS only shows 2GB.
<> >
<> > Any other suggestions?
<> > --
<> > Greg
<> >
<> >
<> > "Dave Burns" wrote:
<> >
<> >> Go to Windows Help and type "Memory Diagnostics" to run the new memory
<> >> diagnostics tool. It's pretty cool. Then let us all know what you
<> >> learned
<> >> about how it works.
<> >>
<> >> -- Dave
<> >>
<> >>
<> >> <> >> >I just upgrade my Dell XPS 600 from 2Gb to 3Gb of memory, but Vista
<> >> >still
<> >> > sees 2Gb of memory. My bios recognizes the 3GB of memory, but the OS
<> >> > doesn't.
<> >> >
<> >> > Any suggestions on how I can correct this?
<> >> > --
<> >> > Greg
<> >>
<> >>
<>
<>
<
 
Two different color slots on current motherboards is not two different
types of memory. The last ones of those I remember were when DDR was
still fairly new to the public and it was sharing with SDRAM on the same
motherboard. Current chipsets or processors (AMD only) support ONE type
of memory. The second/third/fourth colored slots are for dual channel
memory. I have only seen more than two colors on server boards trying to
do a psuedo quad channel setups.

But that subject has nothing to do with the post at hand. It could be a
bios glitch that may not be fully transferring all known memory to the
OS. I have personally seen where a simple switch in the bios, mainly
memory hole and shadow bios, have caused it not to show up completely
either.

Lastly, a 32bit OS like x86 Vista or XP can only use 4GB of memory total
for normal operations. That would include Virtual Memory as well. By
disabling VM temporarly to see if it shows up or lower the amount
Windows uses. There are available switches in XP to do this, I have not
found them in Vista yet.

-Luke
 
Luke Fitzwater laid this down on his screen :
Two different color slots on current motherboards is not two
different types of memory. The last ones of those I remember were
when DDR was still fairly new to the public and it was sharing with
SDRAM on the same motherboard. Current chipsets or processors (AMD
only) support ONE type of memory. The second/third/fourth colored
slots are for dual channel memory. I have only seen more than two
colors on server boards trying to do a psuedo quad channel setups.
Click to expand...

*sigh*

http://www.quepublishing.com/articles/article.asp?p=404292&seqNum=3&rl=1

--
Mamamegs.

I reject your reality and substitute my own.
(Adam Savage)

Nederlandse nieuwsgroep voor Vista
alt.nl.os.windows.vista

(e-mail address removed)
 
Still can't or won't read. AMD has the controller built into the processor
and supports DDR2 or DDR not both
Current chipsets or processors (AMD
 
Are all 4 banks the same color? If not, it could be that one pair
is DDR and the other DDR2.

Since, again, the pin structure is totally different for DDR and DDR2 if the
board accepts both, they still couldn't put the wrong memory in the slot for
the other memory type. It is, possible, with this setup that it uses only
one type or the other at one time and if this is the case with this board,
it could be the answer. Most boards that support dual memory have differnt
colours, even for the same memory type.
 
if the board has 4 slots and it is dual channel memory
then assuming Dell put the 1 Gb modules in bank0 and bank1 then that would
be correct
However if you added 512Mb modules in bank2 and bank3 then you would have a
mismatch
With dual channel channel A=bank0 and bank2 and channel B=bank1 and bank3
therefore if the user wants to add 2 512 Mb modules they would have to be
installed in bank1 and 3 (channelB) and have the 1Gb modules installed in
bank0 and 1 (channelA)

I hope that makes sense to everyone.
 
However having the ram modules in the wrong slots with dual channel memory
doesn't mean it won't show up in windows

I have many times mistakenly installed memory the wrong way on a dual
channel board and all the memory still shows in windows the only thing is if
you install the memory in the wrong slots the dual channel function doesn't
work

Will said:
if the board has 4 slots and it is dual channel memory
then assuming Dell put the 1 Gb modules in bank0 and bank1 then that would
be correct
However if you added 512Mb modules in bank2 and bank3 then you would have
a mismatch
With dual channel channel A=bank0 and bank2 and channel B=bank1 and bank3
therefore if the user wants to add 2 512 Mb modules they would have to be
installed in bank1 and 3 (channelB) and have the 1Gb modules installed in
bank0 and 1 (channelA)

I hope that makes sense to everyone.
Click to expand...
 
I have many times mistakenly installed memory the wrong way on a dual
channel board and all the memory still shows in windows the only thing is if
you install the memory in the wrong slots the dual channel function doesn't
work
Click to expand...
I can attest to that :/

I have 3 Slots, For Dual channel to function, I *HAVE* to use Slot 1
and 3. (I can populate slot 2 with a third stick of DDR and dual
channel still functions according to BIOS)
Another thing my board did not like was DDR with a different CL value
 
Thats an unusual board
Yes all modules must have the same cl value in a dual channel setup and
preferably all ram modules should be identical
 
It is a Shuttle AN-35N Ultra.
My only complaint (and it seems common to other boards), is you have
to remove the Power supply (or Motherboard) to remove the CPU Heat
sink/fan assy.
 
Yes thats a pitty but unfortunatly very common there is a trend from
manufacturers to make pc's smaller and more compact
I've always preferred to build my own systems and I mostly choose large
cases so that everything is accessable and that there is plenty of air flow
for cooling
 
gzt7d8 said:
The memory is DDR2, the way I received the systems, Bank 0 and Bank1 had
the
1Gb chips, Banks 2 and 3 were empty. I installed the new memory in the
empty
banks. So why would the bios see the memory if I didn't install it in the
order that you suggested?
Click to expand...

If the 3GB appeared durning POST or in the BIOS, the hardware is installed
correctly. Which Banks are used and what DIMMs are installed where doesn't
matter. All this stuff about the hardware is nonsence. IT'S NOT A HARDWARE
PROBLEM.

Now I'm not sure what the problem could be. Windows may be setup to see just
2 megs of memory. You can adjust this using msconfig. PAE maybe disabled.
Your processor may not support PAE in which case your screwed. Though if 3GB
shows up in the BIOS, it probably supports PAE.
 
From Dell Why don't you install Vista64 and be done with it?
Overview


Installation in matched pairs of modules is required. Please order quantity
two. Maximum memory depends on the installed operating system. 8GB maximum
for Windows XP 64bit based systems and 2GB for Windows XP 32bit based
systems.

Supercharge your DellTM XPS 600 System with a DellTM Memory upgrade
engineered, tested and customized for your system. DellT
 
It *IS* a large case. IT is a DIY system w lots of fans ( I ran
GRID.org cancer projects on it 24/7)
They put the CPU at the top edge (tower case). Doesn't matter which
case (I looked) I might have bought. Everyone generally seems to put
the Mobo directly under the PS (there are a few exceptions,mainly
SERVER class cases). This case is too %^#* shallow and I can only put
CD/DVD in the top 2 bays as the other bay positions hit Mobo power
connectors long before the drives are in position.
 
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