1 GB DDR has turned into 256 MB?

[Flitskikker]

Hi all!

Kind of strange happening here.
Today I tried installing a new soundcard (Sweex SC002) into my system.
I placed the card and turned the pc back on. Unfortunately the soundcard was not recognized, so I turned everything off and removed the card.
I just looked at my memory and it was strangely pointing out 1,75 GB instead of 2,5 GB.

I have the following modules:

1024 MB DDR-400 Corsair
256 MB DDR-333 Unknown manufacturer
1024 MB DDR-400 Corsair
256 MB DDR-266 Micron

Usually running at 266 Mhz Dual Channel Enabled.

Appearantly one of my 1 GB sticks is not working correctly. I changed the place of the modules on my motherboard but the problem still exists. When I put only the two 1 GB modules in, it only recognizes 1 of them.

How could the 1 GB be broken suddenly when installing a soundcard. I didn't touch it.

Something I don't understand, if 1 GB blacks out, I should have
1024 + 256 + 256 = 1536
but Windows says 1792 MB, so 256 more.

Strangely enough, CPU-Z detects all the modules and displays 2560 MB.
Everest displays only the first three at the SPD category, but within the memory category, it displays my other 1 GB as 256 MB.
Has some BIOS settings changed that turned the 1GB into 256 MB, or is it just damaged?

Motherboard: NEC Palomar MS-6763
CPU: Pentium 4 HT 2,8 GHz
GPU: Radeon X1650 512 MB AGP 8x
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x86

I hope it is a wrong setting, so I don't have to spend the rest of the day testing each module with memory tests.

Thanks in advance!

Kind regards,
Martijn

 

[Flitskikker]

My BIOS (AwardBIOS v6.00PG, V2.3) also says 1792 MB.

 

[roonj]

It would appear bios may have reset during detection, I suspect the system is seeing (1) 1024 ram chip and the next (3) chips as 256mb each for 1792. You could remove the two 256 chips and reboot to get back to 2048. Then reinsert the additional chips and see if that gets you back to 2.5 mbs. There is a significant clock speed variation in your chips but you know that.

 

[Flitskikker]

When I put only the two 1 GB sticks in, it shows:

1280 MB
400 MHz Dual Mode Disabled

So it's still seeing one as 256 MB. :S

 

[Mongox]

Make notes of any changes you've made to the BIOS, then reset the CMOS. Then boot with the good 1GB only, then add the other 1GB, then the next, etc...

Your manual should tell you how to reset BIOS/CMOS. You do it with power off and system unplugged. And be sure that all your changing of modules is done with system unplugged.

Ask if more questions.

 

[Flitskikker]

I followed the steps you described, but it's still seeing it as 256 MB. I suppose it's broken?

 

[Mongox]

Does it always see the same 1GB module as 256MB?

If so, then that module is bad.

If not, then for some reason, the motherboard won't support 2 - 2GB modules.