Physical memory and available memory

[ggeoff]

Hi

My first post.I have added new memory, or rather second hand memory, to my Dell Precision 490, Windows Pro 7 64 bit system. (I bought an upgrade from XP Pro 32 bit) I have also upgraded the BIOS.

The new memory is two 4 GB sticks of FB ECC. In Setup the memory is displayed as two 2 GB sticks. I took out all the memory and just re-inserted the two 4 GB sticks. The system on re-boot reported no memory. I am thinking that my purchase is faulty, but then why would it be reported as two off 2 GB sticks when installed with the other memory if it was faulty?

I have download PC wizard 2010 and it reports Physical Memory as being 13312 MB which is what I should expect 13 GB. (2 off 2 GB, 2 0ff 4 GB and 2 off 512 MB). Task Manager reports Physical memory as 5117 MB ie it doesn't recognize the two 4 GB sticks.

Control Panel under System reports Installed memory as 9 GB (5 GB usable) recording the two 4 GB sticks as being 2 GB sticks! I don't understand why only 5 GB is usable and don't understand whether the memory I have bought is defective or not, or whether Windows is misreporting how much memory I have installed. Does anyone know what is happening?

 

[logicearth]

Check the BIOS, how much does it report? Does the motherboard support that line of memory and its capacity?

 

[yowanvista]

Enable memory remap in your BIOS if it is available

 

[ggeoff]

@ logic earth

Thanks! On entering Setup I get Installed memory 5.00 GB memory speed as 533 MHz. Memory channel mode Dual. Memory techology: FB-DIMM DDR2 SDRAM (ECC).

The 490 can accommodate 32 GB: 8 x 4 GB.

Geoff

 

[unifex]

Well, if you are sure that the 4GB memory is not faulty, then make sure you insert them into right slots - dual channel memory should be inserted in proper order to work, consult your PCs manual on that. On my Dell Inspiron, the right order is 1 and 3, then 2 and 4 (there are only 4 memory slots).

 

[ggeoff]

@unifex

Thanks, I do not know whether the 4 GB memory is defective. It is is not recognized when inserted on its own. Whether that means it is defective is awaiting someone on this forum who has the knowledge to evaluate what is happening.

The Dell 490 has eight dimm slots arranged in a single row split into two "banks" 1-4 cream retainer clips 5-8 black clips. I have inserted two 2GB sticks in slots one and two and two 4 GB sticks in slots 3 and 4. The two 512 sticks are inserted in slots 5 and 6. There is no guidance in the Dell 490 manual other than putting them in pairs - banks do not exist. The system can accommodate a maximum of 32 GB 8 x 4 GB.

 

[unifex]

ggeoff, here you will find the memory-related chapter from Dell's instruction manual for Precision 490 - I guess that's your model. When inserting memory you should follow the directions precisely, especially pay attention to the slot numbers. Please let us know how this went.

Now, to check whether your system recognizes your new DIMMs, simply remove all other memory and put one new DIMM in slot 1. If the BIOS won't see it - and the computer won't boot - that means that either the DIMM is defective, or it is not suitable for your motherboard, or you may need a BIOS upgrade. I don't see any other possibility.

 

[Keiichi25]

Another thing to consider is also checking whether or not that is the correct memory for your system. When you got the second hand ram, did you go through the memory configurators for Crucial, or Kingston or the like to make sure it works for that model of computer.

I have to ask this cause sometimes people think they have the right kind of ram, but ended up getting the wrong kind, not knowing that the speeds and chips make a difference.

 

[ggeoff]

Hi

I have twice tried to reply to posts and have been told that I am not logged on. so maybe third time lucky

Geoff

 

[ggeoff]

Yes seems to have worked. The supplier has reassured me that the memory supplied is correct.

 

[ggeoff]

ggeoff, here you will find the memory-related chapter from Dell's instruction manual for Precision 490 - I guess that's your model. When inserting memory you should follow the directions precisely, especially pay attention to the slot numbers. Please let us know how this went.

Now, to check whether your system recognizes your new DIMMs, simply remove all other memory and put one new DIMM in slot 1. If the BIOS won't see it - and the computer won't boot - that means that either the DIMM is defective, or it is not suitable for your motherboard, or you may need a BIOS upgrade. I don't see any other possibility.

yes thanks have read and read that. According to Dell it makes no difference, they suggest using sets of four sticks but also suggest sets of two sticks. BIOS detects 9 Gb as what is in the DIMMs but only 5 GB. So thats odd and also the 4 GB sticks are 2 GB sticks according to the table.

 

[bigmck]

Hi

My first post.I have added new memory, or rather second hand memory, to my Dell Precision 490, Windows Pro 7 64 bit system. (I bought an upgrade from XP Pro 32 bit).

You can't upgrade from 32 to 64 bit. Do you mean that you purchased a 64 bit DVD and did a Clean Install?

 

[ggeoff]

@bigmck

Off topic but for what it's worth I have upgraded from XP Pro 32 bit to windows 7 Pro 64 bit. I bought a windows 7 pro Upgrade.

 

[bigmck]

@bigmck

Off topic but for what it's worth I have upgraded from XP Pro 32 bit to windows 7 Pro 64 bit. I bought a windows 7 pro Upgrade.

If you did not do a clean install, I am not sure what you did. There is no upgrade from XP to Win 7 and there is no upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit. You must have done a clean install.
Are you sure you are running 64-bit? That could be the reason you are seeing the memory problem.

 

[ggeoff]

@bigmck

Off topic but for what it's worth I have upgraded from XP Pro 32 bit to windows 7 Pro 64 bit. I bought a windows 7 pro Upgrade.

If you did not do a clean install, I am not sure what you did. There is no upgrade from XP to Win 7 and there is no upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit. You must have done a clean install.
Are you sure you are running 64-bit? That could be the reason you are seeing the memory problem.

Thanks bigmck, Well, I have the upgrade package it contains two disks 32 and 64 bit versions. It is described as Upgrade designed for Windows Vista but does include the warning reprinted below. "If you are upgrading from Windows XP you will need to back up your files and settings, perform a clean install and then re-install your existing files, settings and programs."

I had a clean system, no programs, so no backup etc required. Control Panel reports that I have Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Operating System. Are you suggesting that the upgrade is possibly corrupt?

 

[Keiichi25]

I doubt it is a corrupt install if the BIOS itself is not seeing the new memory. I am still questioning about the memory in and of itself. Have you tried just putting one of the RAM sticks in and seeing if it bothers to see just the memory itself at startup?

 

[bigmck]

Thanks bigmck, Well, I have the upgrade package it contains two disks 32 and 64 bit versions. It is described as Upgrade designed for Windows Vista but does include the warning reprinted below. "If you are upgrading from Windows XP you will need to back up your files and settings, perform a clean install and then re-install your existing files, settings and programs."

I had a clean system, no programs, so no backup etc required. Control Panel reports that I have Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Operating System. Are you suggesting that the upgrade is possibly corrupt?

No, not corrupt. The fact that you told me it was a clean install instead of an upgrade, makes perfect sense. I was just confused because you said it was an upgrade. Sorry for any confusion on my part. == Your memory problem still is a mystery to me. Hopefully someone else can give you an answer.

 

[bobtran]

I have to ask....what/who manufactures 4gb sticks of DDR-2 SDRAM (240 pin) desktop memory that runs at 533 or 667 mhz. I would really like to see this memory, can you provide a link because the best I can do in DDR-2 is 2gb per stick which, with 8 slots, would give you a max of 16gb with DDR-2 memory. All 4 gb sticks that I can find for desktops are DDR-3 which is not compatible with your system according to your spec's.

Specs: Documentation

 

[ggeoff]

Another thing to consider is also checking whether or not that is the correct memory for your system. When you got the second hand ram, did you go through the memory configurators for Crucial, or Kingston or the like to make sure it works for that model of computer.

I have to ask this cause sometimes people think they have the right kind of ram, but ended up getting the wrong kind, not knowing that the speeds and chips make a difference.

Hi
I bought it on ebay from a dealer and aasked whether it will work on the Dell 490 and was told it will.

 

[ggeoff]

I doubt it is a corrupt install if the BIOS itself is not seeing the new memory. I am still questioning about the memory in and of itself. Have you tried just putting one of the RAM sticks in and seeing if it bothers to see just the memory itself at startup?

Thanks Keiichi

Well if I put the 512MB stick and the 4GB stick I get a message: Operating in single channel mode please populate memory in matched sets for normal operation. Setop reports: Installed memory 512 MB memory Channel Mode: Single DIMM 1 512MB and DIMM 2 2GB. Conrol Panel reports: Installed memory 2.50 GB (512 MB usuable). PC Wizard 2010 reports: DIMM 1 512 MB anf DIMM 2 2048 MB The program lists the manufacturers of the memory as well and in that list of contents of the DIMMs it lists DIMM 2 as 4096 MB ( 4 ranks of 8 banks)

If I just try to install the two 4 GB sticks the system reports via a signal lamp no memory installed. I've given up on this and will return the memory for a replacement or a refund. I have also posted a query on the Dell forum and will share any information I get that sheds light on the issue.

Thanks everyone for helping