Live Chat & Podcast at 1:00PM Eastern on Sunday!
There's no such thing as a stupid question, but they're the easiest to answer.
JoinTour
Login
Search
Tag Cloud
access acer asus batch bios bsod computer crash desktop driver drivers error ethernet excel freeze gaming gpu hard drive hardware hdmi internet laptop malware memory modem monitor motherboard network printer problem ram registry router slow software sound trojan ubuntu 11.10 uninstall usb video virus vista wifi windows windows 7 windows 7 32 bit windows 7 64 bit windows xp wireless
Search
Search for:
Tech Support Guy Forums > Software & Hardware > Hardware >
Toshiba laptop Ram read error, win XP

Reply  
Thread Tools
blazesport's Avatar
Junior Member with 1 posts.
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
28-Feb-2009, 12:04 PM #1
Toshiba laptop Ram read error, win XP
I have just loaded a Tosh Sat Pro A300 with Windows XP recovery disk that came with machine. It states this machine is updateable to 4 gig ram. The machine has 2 sticks of 2gig DDR 2 Ram. In Bios it shows as 4 gig but in windows system it reads as 3gig. I have tried sticks singularly and it reads 2 gig in bios and 2 gig in Windows system. I even then tried 2 sticks from a mates laptop, both 2 gig sticks and back to 4 gig Bios with 3 gig readout in system. Any Ideas?
pinntech's Avatar
Senior Member with 895 posts.
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Indiana
Experience: Professional Technician
28-Feb-2009, 12:43 PM #2
Hi and welcome…

You have basically ran into the limitations of a 32-bit Operating System and the system’s chipsets. Essentially, you are not going to achieve the actual 4GB due to this and the only way to actually run 4GB upwards is to have a 64-bit OS.

If you installed total 4GB memory, the system will detect less than 4GB of total memory because of address space allocation for other critical functions, such as:

- System BIOS (including motherboard, add-on cards, etc..)
- Motherboards resources
- Memory mapped I/O
- configuration for AGP/PCI-Ex/PCI
- Other memory allocations for PCI devices

Different onboard devices and different add-on cards (devices) will result of different total memory size. e.g. more PCI cards installed will require more memory resources, resulting of less memory free for other uses.

On a SLI system, since PCI-Ex graphic cards will occupy around 256MB, another 256MB will be occupied after you install a 2nd PCI-Ex graphic card. Hence, 2.75GB memory left only if two SLI cards are installed while 3.0GB memory left with one graphic card without other add-on devices.

This limitation applies to most chipsets & Microsoft Windows 32-bit version operating systems.

If you install Windows 32-bit version operating system, it is recommended that you install less than 3GB of total memory. If more than 3GB memory is required for your system, then below two conditions must be met:

1. The memory controller which supports memory swap functionality is used. Chipsets later than Intel 975X, 955X, Nvidia NF4 SLI Intel Edition, Nvidia NF4 SLI X16, and AMD K8 CPU architecture support memory swap function.

2. Windows 64-bit OS which can address more than 4GB memory.

Thanks!

Shane
__________________
Unanswered threads will be dropped from my subscription after 4 days!
If you need help after they become stale, please send me a private message.
Remember to mark your threads SOLVED (by going to 'Thread Tools' after you have opened your Thread) once your issue has been resolved.
If we have helped you solve your issue, please consider donating to the site!
Reply

Tags
ram, read error, system, toshiba, windows xp

THIS THREAD HAS EXPIRED.
Are you having the same problem? We have volunteers ready to answer your question, but first you'll have to join for free. Need help getting started? Check out our Welcome Guide.

Search Tech Support Guy

Find the solution to your
computer problem!




Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
WELCOME TO TECH SUPPORT GUY! Are you looking for the solution to your computer problem? Join our site today to ask your question -- for free! Our site is run completely by volunteers who want to help you solve your computer problems. See our Welcome Guide to get started.
Thread Tools



Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter TechGuy.tv TechGuy.tv Mobile TSG Mobile
You Are Using:
Server ID
Advertisements do not imply our endorsement of that product or service.
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:45 AM.
Copyright © 1996 - 2011 TechGuy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Powered by Cermak Technologies, Inc.