3GB RAM Installed and Detected by BIOS, Windows Vista 32bit Only Sees 2GB
- by Nathan Taylor
I am attempting to install more RAM on a Windows Vista 32bit machine which is using a X6DAL-XG motherboard and the RAM amount reported in the BIOS is 3GB+, but Windows is only reporting 2GB installed. The motherboard has 6 RAM bays which I have populated with various combinations of 4 1GB sticks, and 2 512mb sticks, but no matter how I configure them Windows doesn't see more than 2GB. I realize of course 32-bit Windows has a 3gb cap on memory, but that doesn't explain why it will only report 2GB when there are in fact (currently) 5GB installed. I should think I would be able to see at least 3GB.
According to the spec list for the motherboard the minimum RAM requirements are DDR333/266mhz installed in pairs. I have done this exactly, and the BIOS isn't reporting any problems at POST.
RAM Configuration (according to CPU-Z):
Slot #1: Kingston 128mx72D266C25 - 1024mb PC2100 (133mhz)
Slot #2: Kingston KVR266X72RC25/1024 - 1024mb PC2100 (133mhz)
Slot #3: PQI - 512mb PC2700 (166mhz)
Slot #4: Kingston 128mx72D266C25 - 1024mb PC2100 (133mhz)
Slot #5: Kingston KVR266X72RC25/1024 - 1024mb PC2100 (133mhz)
Slot #6: PQI - 512mb PC2700 (166mhz)
I'm not sure if memory specs above conflict with this statement in the motherboard manual or not:
Memory Support
The X6DAL-XG supports
up to 12GB/24GB of registered ECC
DDR333/266 (PC2700/PC2100) memory. The
motherboard was designed to support
4GB (PC2100) modules in each slot, but
only the 2GB modules have been tested.
When using registered ECC DDR333
(PC2700) memory, installing four
pieces of double-banked memory or six
pieces of single-banked memory is
supported.
So, am I doing something wrong with the RAM I have now, or is there some sort of compatibility problem which I am missing?
Thanks!