WinXP sees 1.5 GB memory as 1GB: Solution?

  • Thread starter Thread starter htchess
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H

htchess

Dear members,

I experience following problem on my Foxconn p4m800p7mb, 2 memory
slots, one with 1Gb, other 512 MB.


WinXp sees this as 1G. winxp clients like CPU-z and sandra see this as
1.5 GB.


Any solution urgently appreciated.


HT
 
htchess said:
Dear members,

I experience following problem on my Foxconn p4m800p7mb, 2 memory
slots, one with 1Gb, other 512 MB.

WinXp sees this as 1G. winxp clients like CPU-z and sandra see this as
1.5 GB.

Any solution urgently appreciated.

HT
Click to expand...

The listing here shows the board will take 512MB, 1GB, and 2GB unbuffered
DDR2 memory.

http://www.crucial.com/search/srchr...cv=Crucial&keywords=P4M800P7MB-RS2H&submit=Go

I would start by testing the modules separately. Plug in just the 1GB
module. Try it in both slots. Does the BIOS report 1GB ? Does Windows
report 1GB ? Then, repeat by using the 512MB stick by itself. Does
the BIOS report 512MB ? Does Windows report 512MB ? And for each slot ?

There are a couple methods for determining module size. The SPD chip
(a small EEPROM on the DIMM) records timing information and also the
size of the module. The BIOS reads that information during POST, and
uses the timing information to select tCAS, tRCD and so on. But
the BIOS also has a second test. It does a memory test, which can
include test probes which write a value and then attempt to read it
back. If the memory testing and probing returns a smaller result,
the BIOS may decide the memory is smaller than the declared size.

Utilities like CPUZ, read the SPD, so they are reporting the
"declared" memory size. But the BIOS works out the "real" size
and passes that "real" size to Windows. The BIOS sets registers
like "top_of_memory" in the Northbridge, so the memory map is
set up by the BIOS.

Now, if you test the memory DIMMs separately, and both DIMMs always
report the correct amount of memory, in BIOS and Windows, no matter
which of the two slots are used, then you know the memory is "compatible"
in some sense. The remaining test is a "slot order" test. This
really shouldn't be necessary, but you could try to reverse the position
of the DIMMs in the two slots. Years ago, some BIOS confused easily,
and sometimes it made a difference if the big DIMM went first or
last.

So, do some more testing, and it may become clear just what is defective.
Report back your test results. Also record what is printed on the label
affixed to each DIMM.

If you want a good test program, there is memtest86+ from www.memtest.org .
It is a memory test program that runs with no OS. So you don't need
anything on your hard drive and can test even before you install
Windows. The program is available in a floppy and a CD version. The
floppy version contains a floppy formatter, and you use a blank
floppy, and the program formats it for you. The ISO version, you
feed to a CD burning program, to make a bootable CD. The program is
neat, in that it tests every byte of memory. The program actually
"lifts itself out of the way", and tests underneath itself. When
you boot the computer with the memtest86+ disk, you'll see a
640x480 display, with test status on the screen. The test will
run forever, but two full passes is enough to prove the memory
has no stuck faults.

Paul
 
If the MSCONFIG memory setting isn't doing it(Advanced Options on the
BOOT.INI tab), there may be a timing issue, you could try swapping the
memory in the slots.
 
Paul said:
The listing here shows the board will take 512MB, 1GB, and 2GB unbuffered
DDR2 memory.

http://www.crucial.com/search/srchr...cv=Crucial&keywords=P4M800P7MB-RS2H&submit=Go
Click to expand...

Hmmm. I just noticed their 2GB entry, is a 2x1GB pair. So the max module
is 1GB then.

The page here makes the extravagant claim that it supports 16GB total.
Which seems highly unlikely.

http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/chipsets/p4-series/p4m800_pro/

The chart here lists 2GB total max.

http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/chipsets/p4-series/comparison_p4-series.jsp

Another option, is CPU-Z has a "dump" option, and in the resulting text
file, you'll see tables like this. Post the dump module for each DIMM
and maybe there is something in there that hints at the problem.

Dump Module #1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
00 80 08 07 0D 0A 02 40 00 04 50 65 00 82 08 00 01
10 0E 04 1C 01 02 20 00 60 70 75 75 38 28 38 28 40
20 60 60 40 40 00 00 00 00 00 37 46 20 28 50 00 00
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 8C
40 7F 98 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 4B 00 00 00 00 00 00
50 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 63 09 06
60 FF FF 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

Paul
 
Thank you, Paul, detailed answer.

The listing here shows the board will take 512MB, 1GB, and 2GB unbuffered
DDR2 memory.

http://www.crucial.com/search/srchrslt.asp?type=All&ANDOR=AND&rowcoun...

I would start by testing the modules separately. Plug in just the 1GB
module. Try it in both slots. Does the BIOS report 1GB ? Does Windows
report 1GB ? Then, repeat by using the 512MB stick by itself. Does
the BIOS report 512MB ? Does Windows report 512MB ? And for each slot ?
Click to expand...

I worked with a computer hardware specialist and
give below our findings.

-- we checked mainboard pdf. 2 slots (DIMMs) and up to
2 GB memory installable. (we know 512 MB + 512 MB,
totalling 1 GB worked. we dont know for sure, if 1 GB + 1 GB
works. Perhaps my foxconn mainboard just supports
max 1 GB memory, but I would not think this personally.

-- 512 MB memory module works perfectly.

-- The problem is probably on the newly purchased
1 GB memory module. Winxp sees this just as 512 MB.
We made separate testings:

a. only with 1 GB memory module:
winxp: while booting and systems information tab.: 512 MB memory
cpu-z: 1024 MB memory

b. together
winxp: while booting and systems information tab.: 1024 MB memory
cpu-z: 1536 MB memory

It is strange that FreshDiagnose sees total physical memory as 1024 MB.

We have made some BIOS changes. But these didnot help.

Best regards,
HT
 
my boot.ini file from c:\

Best regards,
HT

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

How to change it?
 
Dump Module #2, ie 1 GB memory module

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
00 80 08 08 0E 0A 60 40 00 05 3D 50 00 82 08 00 00
10 0C 08 18 01 02 00 01 50 50 00 00 3C 1E 3C 2D 01
20 25 37 10 22 3C 1E 1E 00 06 3C 7F 80 1E 28 00 00
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 12 97
40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 31 47 42 55 4C 55 52
50 54 54 4C 42 42 00 00 00 00 00 00 06 32 81 53 00
60 48 42 42 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

Best regards,
HT
 
Excerpt from cpuz.txt, with the hope that is useful:

DMI Physical Memory Array
-------------------------
location Motherboard
usage System Memory
correction None
max capacity 1024MBytes
max# of devices 2


DMI Memory Device
-----------------
designation A0
format DIMM
type unknown
size 512MBytes


DMI Memory Device
-----------------
designation A1
format DIMM
type unknown
size 512MBytes

Best regards,
HT
 
I have two further points:

-- One net-friend just mentioned the possibility of video card may
consume 512 MB.

-- Can vista perhaps solve this problem?

Best regards,
HT
 
I have two further points:

-- One net-friend just mentioned the possibility of video card may
consume 512 MB.

-- Can vista perhaps solve this problem?

Best regards,
HT
Click to expand...

One final note from cpuz.txt:


Chipset
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge VIA P4M800CE rev. 00
Southbridge VIA VT8237 rev. 00
Graphic Interface AGP
AGP Revision 3.0
AGP Transfer Rate 8x
AGP SBA supported, enabled
Memory Type
Memory Size 1536 MBytes

Best regards,
HT
 
DDR2 memory.
Click to expand...

I just burned memory test 1.70 and booted.

Here are the results, with BIOS-std option I suppose:

memory: 1023M
cached 1023M
rsvdmem 20M
memmap e820-std
20+ minutes Pass 1 Errors 0

well, then I chose configuration option 2: BIOS-All
I got a red screen and program crash.

Should I replace this 1 GB memory module with a newer one?

Best regards,
HT
 
Dear members,

Last tests were carried out by MS Windows Memory Diagnostic.

6/6 passes. No errors found.

Your urgent suggestions?

Best regards,
HT
 
htchess said:
Dump Module #2, ie 1 GB memory module

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F
00 80 08 08 0E 0A 60 40 00 05 3D 50 00 82 08 00 00
10 0C 08 18 01 02 00 01 50 50 00 00 3C 1E 3C 2D 01
20 25 37 10 22 3C 1E 1E 00 06 3C 7F 80 1E 28 00 00
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 12 97
40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 31 47 42 55 4C 55 52
50 54 54 4C 42 42 00 00 00 00 00 00 06 32 81 53 00
60 48 42 42 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

Best regards,
HT
Click to expand...

DDR2 SPD.

http://www.jedec.org/download/search/4_01_02_10R14.pdf

Byte 5 is what is upsetting. 0x60 is the value. The
lowest three bits of that hex number are 000 binary,
which corresponds to 1 rank. The module should be
declared as two ranks. Byte 31 says a rank is 1GB
in size. It almost implies the chips are x4 wide. But
byte 13 says the chips are 8 bits wide.

My guess would be the SPD is programmed inconsistent
with the configuration of memory chips being used.

The model number is:

31 47 42 55 4C 55 52 54 54 4C 42 42 = 1GBULURTTLBB

and I'm not able to find that model number in a search
on the web.

Paul
 
http://www.jedec.org/download/search/4_01_02_10R14.pdf

Byte 5 is what is upsetting. 0x60 is the value. The
lowest three bits of that hex number are 000 binary,
which corresponds to 1 rank. The module should be
declared as two ranks. Byte 31 says a rank is 1GB
in size. It almost implies the chips are x4 wide. But
byte 13 says the chips are 8 bits wide.

My guess would be the SPD is programmed inconsistent
with the configuration of memory chips being used.

The model number is:

31 47 42 55 4C 55 52 54 54 4C 42 42 = 1GBULURTTLBB

and I'm not able to find that model number in a search
on the web.

Paul
Click to expand...

Thanks, Paul.

I'll replace this new 1 GB memory module with a newer one.

I'll report back shortly.

Best regards,
HT
 
Dear members,

I consulted another computer specialist.

He said that BIOS upgrade might probably the solution.

My bios is dated 20060516. OS is XP Pro SP2.

Your suggestions or similar experiences with foxconn mainboard?

Best regards,
HT
 
htchess said:
Dear members,

I consulted another computer specialist.

He said that BIOS upgrade might probably the solution.

My bios is dated 20060516. OS is XP Pro SP2.

Your suggestions or similar experiences with foxconn mainboard?

Best regards,
HT
Click to expand...

My feeling right now, is the BIOS is doing what it has been told
to do, by the contents of the SPD on the DIMM. Since you haven't
provided any more information about brand/model of DIMM, I cannot
correlate what I see in the SPD, with the physical aspects of the
product. For example, knowing the part number printed on each
chip is valuable information. Or even the part number on the DIMM,
so I can search for a picture of it, or a datasheet.

I cannot pretend to know what all fields do in that JEDEC file,
and what I'm doing is just comparing the ranks, widths and the
like, for consistency with your typical 1GB DIMM construction.
I don't know how to read the timing by hand, for example.

A BIOS upgrade won't change anything, if indeed the problem is
with the DIMM SPD programming. In fact, it may take a naive
BIOS, that checks very few fields in the SPD, to get it to
work.

I'm curious whether the DIMM works in another computer.
Can your computer specialist test it for you ?

If the DIMM has 16 chips, my expectation is it should report
two ranks of 8 chips each. Each rank 512MB in size.

Paul
 
to do, by the contents of the SPD on the DIMM. Since you haven't
provided any more information about brand/model of DIMM, I cannot
correlate what I see in the SPD, with the physical aspects of the
product. For example, knowing the part number printed on each
chip is valuable information. Or even the part number on the DIMM,
so I can search for a picture of it, or a datasheet.

I cannot pretend to know what all fields do in that JEDEC file,
and what I'm doing is just comparing the ranks, widths and the
like, for consistency with your typical 1GB DIMM construction.
I don't know how to read the timing by hand, for example.

A BIOS upgrade won't change anything, if indeed the problem is
with the DIMM SPD programming. In fact, it may take a naive
BIOS, that checks very few fields in the SPD, to get it to
work.

I'm curious whether the DIMM works in another computer.
Can your computer specialist test it for you ?
Click to expand...

Today, I brought the memory module -- 1 GB-- back.
They tested it on one of their computer. Computer specialist,
the first one, has said their computer sees 1 GB while booting.
If the DIMM has 16 chips, my expectation is it should report
two ranks of 8 chips each. Each rank 512MB in size.
Click to expand...

Dont remember which, but one winxp client showed that
the architecture of memory module is 8x128x8.
Is this the information what you looking for?

This week, I am going to purchase a 1GB Kingston RAM
module, 30 - 40% more expensive.

Best regards,
HT
 
htchess said:
Today, I brought the memory module -- 1 GB-- back.
They tested it on one of their computer. Computer specialist,
the first one, has said their computer sees 1 GB while booting.


Dont remember which, but one winxp client showed that
the architecture of memory module is 8x128x8.
Is this the information what you looking for?

This week, I am going to purchase a 1GB Kingston RAM
module, 30 - 40% more expensive.

Best regards,
HT
Click to expand...

OK, that makes more sense. 8 chips of 128Mx8 would give a
gigabyte. Basically, that is "2GB technology", in a sense.
If 16 of those chips are used, the DIMM would have held
a total of 2GB. Modules like that are just coming out.
(The reason I latched onto the notion I was dealing with
64Mx8, was the rows and columns fields. They were
consistent with 64Mx8 addressing, at least according
to the JEDEC document. I'll have to find a 128Mx8
datasheet, and see if there is some weirdness in there.)

I find it hard to believe, that any chipset with a DDR2 interface,
would not be prepared for use with 128Mx8 chips. But maybe
that is the problem. Maybe the controller can only handle
up to 64Mx8 chip type. To be consistent with previous
cases like this, this would be termed a "density" problem,
and the DIMM you bought originally is "high density". It's
not really, but that is the closest terminology I can think
of, for describing it to someone. People in the newsgroups
use that terminology.

When you get the new 1GB module, if it has 16 chips, odds are
good it will work. If it has 8 chips like the other one,
maybe the same thing will happen.

OK, one more experiment. If I go to Crucial and look for
memory upgrades for Asus P5B-E (a DDR2 motherboard),
Crucial lists a 2 x 2GB kit. Meaning Crucial does sell
2GB DIMMs (for the princely sum of $1050 for 4GB total).

If I run the Foxconn p4m800p7mb, the largest kit offered
is 2 x 1GB. And that confirms that "2GB technology" is
incompatible with your board. You have indeed suffered
from a density problem. Make sure your new stick
is a 1GB with 16 chips and all will be well.

Paul
 
gigabyte. Basically, that is "2GB technology", in a sense.
If 16 of those chips are used, the DIMM would have held
a total of 2GB. Modules like that are just coming out.
(The reason I latched onto the notion I was dealing with
64Mx8, was the rows and columns fields. They were
consistent with 64Mx8 addressing, at least according
to the JEDEC document. I'll have to find a 128Mx8
datasheet, and see if there is some weirdness in there.)

I find it hard to believe, that any chipset with a DDR2 interface,
would not be prepared for use with 128Mx8 chips. But maybe
that is the problem. Maybe the controller can only handle
up to 64Mx8 chip type. To be consistent with previous
cases like this, this would be termed a "density" problem,
and the DIMM you bought originally is "high density". It's
not really, but that is the closest terminology I can think
of, for describing it to someone. People in the newsgroups
use that terminology.

When you get the new 1GB module, if it has 16 chips, odds are
good it will work. If it has 8 chips like the other one,
maybe the same thing will happen.

OK, one more experiment. If I go to Crucial and look for
memory upgrades for Asus P5B-E (a DDR2 motherboard),
Crucial lists a 2 x 2GB kit. Meaning Crucial does sell
2GB DIMMs (for the princely sum of $1050 for 4GB total).

If I run the Foxconn p4m800p7mb, the largest kit offered
is 2 x 1GB. And that confirms that "2GB technology" is
incompatible with your board. You have indeed suffered
from a density problem. Make sure your new stick
is a 1GB with 16 chips and all will be well.

Paul- Alýntýyý gizle -- Alýntýyý göster -
Click to expand...

Thanks, Paul, for the very detailed eloboration.

I have one more point. I am from Antalya, Turkey. Yesterday,
I queried a few computer stores. They say Kingston RAMs
dominate the market, in 1 GB RAM, Plus some OEM RAMs
with lower price. Other memory modules from MT, APACER,
CORSAIR, ELPIDA, INFINEON, NANYA, GEIL, ELIXIR and
VDATA are virtually absent on the market. Now, my questions:

1. Specifically, which 1 GB RAM should I purchase totalling
1.5 GB on my computer? Or

2. Are two 512 MB modules totalling 1 GB better to employ?
In this case, which model should I purchase?

Best regards,
HT
 
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