Wrong individual ram size but correct total

[nickers]

Hello,

I just installed a pair of new PC2-4300 1gb Samsung memory modules in my Dell GX280 Small mini tower. This system runs XP 32bit. Before I had the original 512mb PC2-3200 modules. The BIOS is the most recent A08.

I'm a bit confused that both the bios and cpu-z says that the module size is 512mb. But that the total memory size is 2048mb.

Chipset
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge Intel i915P/i915G rev. B1
Southbridge Intel 82801FB (ICH6) rev. 03
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x16
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Size 2048 MBytes
Channels Dual
Memory Frequency 266.0 MHz (3:4)
CAS# latency (CL) 4.0
RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD) 4
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 4
Cycle Time (tRAS) 11
MCHBAR I/O Base address 0x0FEDA0000
MCHBAR I/O Size 4096

Memory SPD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM # 1
SMBus address 0x50
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) Samsung (CE00000000000000)
Size 512 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-4300 (266 MHz)
Part number M3 78T2953CZ3-CD5
Serial number FFFFFFFF
Manufacturing date Week 165/Year 165
Number of banks 1
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 3.0-3-3-8-11 @ 200 MHz
JEDEC #2 4.0-4-4-11-15 @ 266 MHz
JEDEC #3 5.0-4-4-11-15 @ 266 MHz

DIMM # 2
SMBus address 0x52
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) Samsung (CE00000000000000)
Size 512 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-4300 (266 MHz)
Part number M3 78T2953CZ3-CD5
Serial number FFFFFFFF
Manufacturing date Week 165/Year 165
Number of banks 1
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 3.0-3-3-8-11 @ 200 MHz
JEDEC #2 4.0-4-4-11-15 @ 266 MHz
JEDEC #3 5.0-4-4-11-15 @ 266 MHz

What is correct, 512mb or 2048mb?

Thank you for helping out

 

[Chainzsaw]

Hello,

Alright so you are sure you have the 1GB dimms installed?

Does it detect all 2GB in your system (besides CPUZ and BIOS) when your computer is running?

If your OS can see all 2GB - I wouldn't worry about it too much.

It may just be that your RAM is much newer than your system and your BIOS (even though it;s the latest one) - therefore cannot properly see the RAM information in CPUz and the BIOS.

As long as your OS sees 2GB - I would say your fine.

 

[nickers]

Hi Chainzsaw,

Yes the small sticker on them said 1gb and that is what I ordered, both task manager and process explorer says that the total memory is 2095mb with about 1400mb available. Looking at the system properties in the control panel it claims 2.0GB.

You are correct the system is old, originally 2004 when dual channel memory was new, the latest bios is from 2006.

With starcraft 2 running I have 400mb available and SC2 using about 1GB. I guess as long as it actually can use 2GB I can ignore the 512mb statement.

Thanks for helping out!

 

[nickers]

I just looked at the memory modules. The chips says HYB18T512 400AF37. There are 8 chips on each side. Although pcwizard identifies them as samsung pc2 4300 I can't read anything about samsung on them.

I also contacted the seller and he says that I can either send them back for new modules or upgrade to 100% compability modules from a major brand at twice the cost. But I really don't want to spend much more money on this system.

I also found this from Intel
http://www.intel.com/technology/memory/ddr/valid/ddr2_dram_results.htm

"This section of x4 DRAM width is intended for use with Fully Buffered DIMM (FBDIMM) for servers."

Qimonda (Infineon)§
HYB18T512400AF-3.7 512Mb 4 4-4-4 - 0550

And this datasheet
http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datasheets2/22/2205563_1.pdf

Can anyone spread some light on this. The supplier says LOW density PC2-4200 1GB.

 

[nickers]

Ok so I read som stuff about high density and low density since I'm a newb at these things. If I understand this correct a 64x4 1GB module with 16 chips is high density?

If so, this means I have been fooled or recived the wrong memory since this was advertised as LOW density. The seller is from ebay but with a lot of sales and good rating.

 

[Chainzsaw]

Odd, sounds like the seller may not exactly know what he actually sold (high or low density).

But yeah - it doesn't really matter if your ram is low or high density - as long as it works. I knew of some older computers previously had problems reading "high" density memory modules - but yours seems to be inbetween - detects all 2GB in OS, but not all 2GB in the BIOS.