IT BS thread

Depends on how the manufacturer makes it. Some do like you say, others won't boot past making the fans spin a few seconds.


jpneely, did you try removing or re-seating the RAM sticks? If you can, run with less memory or swap for some known good sticks.

 

RAM messes with things easily.

 

They are a certain kind of watch battery. If you pop out the old one, the name and model will be etched into the side. Take the old one with you to Radio Scrap and hand it to the guy, he'll walk over to the wall o batteries and match it. They're usually $3 to $5.

Damaged RAM can also do what you're talking about. Cooked RAM isn't terribly uncommon, either.

 

BINGO bitches. RAM was the culprit. pulled one out and she started right up. +1 to you good sir! shes slower but at least she works again. guess its time to get a new one of those.

and since im going to replace it its a 512MB would i even be ably to tell a difference if i get the next one at 1GB or up? and i have two sticks in there both 512MB can i have one at 512MB and one at a higher memory?

 

what OS are you running?
no it doesn't make a difference if one is 512 and one is 1.
i'd recommend having 2 or more Gb of RAM if you have a dual core or more processor.

 

im running XP and it has Centrino Duo

 

2GB of decent DDR2 800mhz RAM is the 'sweet spot' for 32bit XP Pro...and, thankfully, hella cheap right now.

What's your vid card memory and make/model?

 

32bit XP won't handle more than 4gb of ram, so don't try to go more than that if your system is 32 bit.

 

And don't forget, video card RAM is part of that equation.

If you have 512M on your video card, then only 3.5 GB is available for the system, even if you HAVE 4 GB installed.

 

yea its the 32 bit system. so basically what yall are saying is that dont exceed 3GB on my setup

 

Depends if it's paired sticks. JP also needs to make sure what the system's upper limit is. Some manufacturers impose really low limits.

Depends on if it is shared video RAM or dedicated. Granted, it's most likely shared.

 

Actually, no it does not depend. Hardware RAM, like on a dedicated video card, is counted against the 4GB max up front, before the OS gets a crack at it as 'system memory'.

I have tested this a hundred times (no, literally...I build custom gaming rigs for people as a side job), and it is as such, and has been since day 1. Shared RAM is from the same RAM pool as system memory, yes, so if you dedicate 512 MB of 'system RAM' to the 'video card' you'll have half a gig less on the OS tab.

However, I've done this personally: Put 4 GB of RAM on a motherboard, add in a 1GB nVidia 650GTX, install XP32.

The OS shows 3GB of available RAM, no matter what you do it cannot see more.

 

so basically again keep mine below 4 total and im set. i was fairly happy with this comp before it went out. im not trying to max out my system or anything. i may just go back with the 512MB. just would rather upgrade since im buying some anyways

 

It's only an issue now since relatively cheap video cards are coming with 512MB, 1GB, and even 2GB (relatively, again!) of on-board RAM. Up until the last couple years, that simply wasn't the case...even a 512MB was a 300$+ behemoth that only dedicated powergamers would buy, and have the hardware to run/power it/cool it.

Nowadays, with the 4GB limit in 32 bit OSes, and cheap-as-hell RAM, people are running out of room.

In your case, 2GB of decent 800mhz DDR2 and a middle of the road or even cheap vid card will make that rig fly, provided XP itself isn't fuxxor'd.

 

But like they said also, check on what capacity your laptop will support. XP's limit is 4gb but your computer's limit may be less.

Sometimes, it will be higher than what the manufacturer shows because at the time of manufacture, memory sticks weren't available that would go higher. I have a Dell that stated it's upper limit was 2GB. I put 4GB in and it worked fine (3.5 as stated above).

 

Evil Monkey speaks troof.

*nods

 

And don't argue with an armed sysadmin.

 

ok mine maxes out at 3.5. you guys are awesome. saved me a lot of money and time. neither of which i have much extra of now.

 

should i just go ahead and replace both sticks since theyre the same age and have been through the same abuses?

 

I would.

How much is matched 1GB sticks of 800mhx right now? $20-30 I think. Silly cheap.