Would appreciate someones help here as I don't quite understand what's going on with my notebook's RAM. I have a Toshiba Tecra A-8, 1.83 GHZ. I had 2.5 GB of RAM in the notebook & when I took out the 512 Ram and replaced it with a 2.0 stick, even though the notebook reads that 2 2GB sticks of RAM (both 667 bought at separate times from the Memory Store) are in the memory slots, its only reading that 3.24 GB of memory is installed not 4. I tested the memory of each individual stick, taking the other out and they both seperately read 1.99 GB. So why isn't 4.0 or a similar number showing up as installed RAM instead of
3.24? I should note the 2 sticks of 2GB each, is still making the computer run faster then the 2.5 GB combo. Thanks for any answers. Oh, all the RAM I buy from the Memory Store is manufactured by them, so its not like the 2 sticks are from different sources.
The main reason that the pair of 2gb dimms is seeing a faster running notebook there is that you are running identical sized dimms in the dual channel mode over running a mismatch of a 512 with a 2gb dimm. Plus the overall increase in available ram seen when adding more physical memory sees that benefit
. The 3.24gb is being seen mainly due to the architecture of the 32bit version of Windows you are running. Windows takes the remaining memory and mapps those addresses out to hardwares. Unfortunately this is referred to as the 3gb barrier in the 32bit structure. A good article going into this further is seen at http://www.dansdata.com/askdan00015.htm
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get a replacement 64bit os. is only 10 bucks with a legit cd key.
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even a 64-bit windows won't help in this case, only 4GB of physical address space is supported by the chipset
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I just read the article. Thanks it was a great help. It's amazing that they really don't seem to publicize this to people.
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The 64bit bit OSs also run into similar problems with the new boards seeing 8gb and 16gb capacities. tyttebovs is quite correct about the current chipsets being limited. But that has more to do with going over 4gb like only seeing 7gb when 8gb of memory is installed.
The chipsets used on those boards are too often the same made for 2-4gb capacity boards. Initially I was considering 4gb on a new build here until the high cost and board selection limited that option. Then I ran right into the article seen there. So I ended still seeing a 2gb setup while waiting for the next build when maybe? We'll have to wait and see on that when everyone starts going 64bit in a few years or so.
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