faulty memory stick or faulty slot?

Soldato
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installed that piriform speccy and this is what it lists for the memory


Memory slots
Total memory slots 2
Used memory slots 1
Free memory slots 1
Memory
Type DDR2
Size 3072 MBytes
Channels # Dual
DRAM Frequency 332.5 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL) 5 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 5 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 5 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 15 clocks
Command Rate (CR) 2T
Physical Memory
Memory Usage 51 %
Total Physical 3.00 GB
Available Physical 1.45 GB
Total Virtual 5.99 GB
Available Virtual 3.30 GB
SPD
Number Of SPD Modules 1
Slot #1

basically from my other thread, this board of mine supports 4gb max via 2 sticks and over the last couple weeks my system has only been reading 3gb installed when it used to read 4, however i have 2gb + 1gb sticks in now so i do infact have 3gb, however that info application along with Cpu-Z reads i have 3gb installed, but via a single ram stick :confused::confused::confused:, so its not detecting both , but still detecting the correct quantity.


dont have a speaker for any beeps to listen for, but when ive had faulty ram before it never even loaded the post screen nevermind anything else, so this is new one for me, my system is running fine still.

due to my graphic card type having a metal plate on the back it can get in the way when installing the one end of the ram, but they dont feel not seated correctly and as i said its working.
 
Have you tried the two 2GB sticks individually?

By a simple process of elimination it shouldn't take long to work out whether you have a bad stick of memory or a dodgy slot.
 
i tried a single stick, but kept getting blank screen and even when both 2gb sticks in it only detects 3gb, but bios says i have no memory what so ever, i think for the blank screen it was down to my graphics card more than the ram, i ended up re-seating everything even connections and it all started working fine, no blanks or even crashing, just the issue above.


i need to keep using my computer right now so i will go over the ram testing soon, im hoping its not the slot as ive seen a 4gb kit for £8 which im quite tempted by.
 
just a quick update, i tried both 2gb sticks on their own in both slots and even tried one of my 1gb in both slots and can run off each, however when i put the 2x2 back together they run, but saying only 3gb installed on dual channel? i did noticed when swapping that both were same brand and near identical model numbers, but the one was 666 and the other was 800 to to me the ram was faulty, but i few hours ago i purchased an £8 Geil Black Dragon 4gb kit and while they work im still getting the same thing, 3gb only over dual channel and still get no reading in bios. although lately prior to the purchase speccy wasnt showing the mount of slots used and free like above info i posted.

this is the details of my motherboard and if i need a bios update if available its a nightmare finding any and ones that support 64bit windows

Motherboard
Manufacturer Foxconn
Model G31MX Series (Socket 775)
Chipset Vendor Intel
Chipset Model P35/G33/G31
Chipset Revision 10
Southbridge Vendor Intel
Southbridge Model 82801GB (ICH7/R)
Southbridge Revision A1
System Temperature 40 °C
BIOS
Brand Phoenix Technologies LTD
Version 6.00 PG
Date 05/05/2009
Voltage
CPU CORE 1.184 V
MEMORY CONTROLLER 1.792 V
+3.3V 3.344 V
+5V 5.027 V
+12V 12.160 V
-5V -4.864 V
+5V HIGH THRESHOLD 5.053 V
PCI Data
Slot PCI
Slot Type PCI
Slot Usage Available
Data lanes x16
Slot Designation PCI1
Characteristics 5V, PME
Slot Number 0
Slot PCI
Slot Type PCI
Slot Usage Available
Data lanes x1
Slot Designation PCI2
Characteristics 5V, PME
Slot Number 1
Slot PCI
Slot Type PCI
Slot Usage Available
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PCI3
Characteristics 5V, PME
Slot Number 2
Slot PCI
Slot Type PCI
Slot Usage Available
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PCI4
Characteristics 5V, PME
Slot Number 3
 
Yes I did and like the one below it or maybe couple below it in the list came up with the error of needing 64bit windows version?


I did a chipset driver update I think it was prior to the issue as well as change my power supply to what I have now, so maybe I messed up or simply something isn't right and not of my doing.
 
Yes I did and like the one below it or maybe couple below it in the list came up with the error of needing 64bit windows version?


I did a chipset driver update I think it was prior to the issue as well as change my power supply to what I have now, so maybe I messed up or simply something isn't right and not of my doing.

32 bit windows will only recognize 3GB of ram.
It is a limit of windows and the way the memory is addressed, nothing you can do about it other than install a 64 bit windows version.
 
I've never flashed a bios before, but probably just leave it not as I purchased this Verizon M290 I keep mentioning, so I'll just make it a proper 3gb to sell on, mean I can still look at it if I can actually sort it.


No your misunderstanding me, I have 64bit windows 7, I have posted the speccy sheet on another thread, I had 4gb running for a week when I installed windows though only 3.25 was available yet the system and bio detected 4gb installed where as the last few days it reads as though that 1gb is not existent, but it's in dual channel mode? Bios still reads zero installed.

Seems like all the swapping stuff round in this case has done something, but who knows, I've only ever had an optilex g260 SFF that refused to have 4x1gb sticks in a 4gb max system other than then I've never had this issue.
 
Ok my bad, I miss understood.

Check system properties to make sure you haven't installed the 32 bit variant instead.

Other than that try one stick at a time under mem test to see if any show errors.
Updating the boos as suggested above might help if you still have problems after trying everything else.
 
Well isn't this interesting, as I purchased the Veriton I have put the 250w liteon power supply that was fitted in to the case with the quad, put 3gb ram in both saying 666 on the label, connected up another hard drive that windows(though having to reinstall as we speak) and bios is reading the ram?

Once I've installed windows I will check things over, but I put the ram as 1gb left 2gb right, so don't know if it was the lack of matching(had mix ram before without fault) ram or removing the graphics card which tends to get in the way of the bottom clips, so ounces windows is installed I will swap out the ram for the geil dragon kit and see if they work together this time.
 
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