can't tell if new ram is working

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by errorguy, Oct 11, 2008.

  1. errorguy

    errorguy Guest

    http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7859/ramka8.gif

    Screencap of my system panel^^^^

    I just installed 2 new 4 gigs in the slots where my 2 old 1 gig sticks used to sit, and moved the 1 gig sticks to the other parallel slots which were previously unused.

    its reading just over three, which tells me there are a few possibilities as to which ram is being recognized and utilized:

    - two of the two gig sticks are being read, but some ram is lost(I dont understand computers(!)), resulting in roughly 3.4 available gigs of ram
    - one two gig and one one gig stick are recognized(totaling 3 gigs), and i get some more ram from elsewhere(?)
    -all of them are being used, but the way ram is advertised is misleading, so i shouldn't expect to get more than 3.4 gigs out of what is advertised as six gigs of ram


    i would appreciate some help! thanks!
     
  2. cee43ja1

    cee43ja1 Active member

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    all 32bit OS will only recognize up to 3.5gigs; vista 32 can be tweaked to use 4gigs.

    if you want to use more than 4gigs, you will have to switch over to 64bit, most likely vista 64.
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2008
  3. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    that was a waste of money, next time, research before doing something like that again. don't go xp 64bit but vista 64 bit to properly read your 10gigs of ram. why do you want 10 gigs of ram anyway?
     
  4. errorguy

    errorguy Guest

    understood. i got both of the sticks for around 60$ on new egg, so it isnt a big deal. ill just put the older two 1-gig sticks in my other tower, and be thankful that i got an extra 1.5 gigs of ram.

    thanks AD!
     

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