im trying to setup an older computer to run linux. im not exactly sure the motherboard (i havent looked for the label, maybe QDI?). the cpu is an intel celeron 766mhz. it has 3 slots for ram.

im trying to fill all 3 slots with any extra ram i have so it can run as fast as i can make it. i have 2x256mb and 1x128mb sticks in the computer right now. however, the free command (and actually the bios settings) are reporting ~385mb installed.

i have tested all ram slots and they work. i have tested all ram sticks and they work (the computer boots). however, when i just isntall 1x256mb stick, and look in bios, it says ~128mb.. same with my other 256mb stick. so, as it seems, each slot can only hold 128mb (which makes sense, 3x128 ~= 385mb).

i looked in the bios and couldnt really find any information/setting for this. is there something i can do to stop this, or do you think the motherboard is actually made to work like this?

i have a pci video card, so there shouldnt be any memory shared for that.

Thanks for the help

edit: emphasis when i mention BIOS earlier. this implies it is not a linux problem but hardware problem/setting

update: i checked the motherboard (it IS a QDI, 'Advance9' its called)'s website, and found information about the memory.
the ram slots im trying, are double-sided sdram and 133mhz (256mb, as mentioned)... however, im unaware the pin count--if it wasnt 168, would it not even fit? if it would still fit, then my guess is im using the wrong pin count of ram.

seems to me like you have installed newer memory chipsets than your bios supports (it's independent of timing and capacity).
The same thing had happened to me (on the exact same machine you mentioned) when i was fixing a friend's pc and i couldn't figure why the bios "sees" only half the capacity of the chipset. I asked quite a lot and i found that i had to use the old technology SD-Rams (which also look different cuz they have chips on both sides and are a bit hard to find in stores).
But once i found one, the BIOS was able to identify it as 256Mb and everything was OK

k thanks

so i have indeed been trying the wrong/incompatible type of ram on the machine? is it the pin count? i looked at a local shop's website and can get 256stick of 168pin, as needed, for 60-70$, i believe... should i get some and try it out?

would you happen to remember what kind of ram you got?

Thanks again

What exact RAM (make and model) are you using?

It seems to me that in addition to perfect_circle's comments, there may be two other possibilities:

1. The "256" sticks actually aren't, but instead are mislabelled 128's (which is unlikely but possible)
2. One of the mobo's RAM slots is non-functional, and any stick placed into it won't be recognized.

Anyway knowing the particular RAM you're using would be helpful. Good luck with it

k thanks.

i think i thought about the 2nd point you made, but not really the 1st.

1-
all of the sticks have a sticker with pen written on it saying what it is... one of the 256mb one also has a typed in sticker that says 256mb, so i dont think it is mislabled. however, hopefully i have another computer down here that i can test that in, to see if the bios reads that one properly.

2-
the mb has 3 slots. i have tested a single ram stick in the computer and booted, to see just what you mentioned--if the slot itself is messed up. i have tried putting 128 and 256 in it to test. every time the bios read ~130Mb. so im pretty sure all the slots are working.

the 2 256 ram sticks are:
azenram PO0132
and
viken 962546 (?)

on one of the 256mb sticks, it says, specifically, pc133 and 168pin sdram.. which is exactly what the motherboard's documentation says that it needs.
i have like 4 computers (besides the one i always use) laying around and ALL of them have something wrong with it! lol.

- a 1.3ghz amd that, once its turned on, you can hear it start up (powersupply), but nothing happens.. monitor flashes. i have tried putting in a new video card but same thing. im thinking the mb is fried? if it was fried though, wouldnt the power supply not turn on when i press power on the case? (since the connection from the power button to the powersupply is made through the mb)

- 1.0ghz intel celeron that freezes randomly, and you have to reboot. i have tried DSL live cd with it to try and narrow down what is wrong with it. the ram seems fine in it.. it seemed that whenever i put in a pci card (nic, video, etc) it would freeze shortly after boot (especially when opening a browser with the nic). i thought i narrowed this problem down, but it still freezes with no pci cards in it.. no clue :S. i also thought it could maybe be faulty ram.. but i have i think 5 ram sticks that im testing in it serperatly.. what are the odds that each stick is faulty?

- this 766mhz computer that this thread is about

- another slower one.. 400mhz or something? dont remember whats wrong with it yet.

sorry for the long and off-topic post.. but i just want to have ONE of these computers not go to waste!

Thanks

No sorry, i don't remember the type of RAM, but it's 99% the same problem we're facing. I couldn't figure it out as well, but i was fortunate to encounter a shop employee who had dealt with this before, so just by mentioning exactly the computer parts you mentioned he gave me this solution. (He referred to them as "old-type" SD-Rams to be precise).
I am not quite sure about the number of pins, but the obvious difference is that they're thicker because they have chips on both sides, while the standard SD-Rams (like the DDR's) have chips on one side only.
I am not aware of the US prices, but i figure they'll be a bit over-priced as they were here, because they're mostly out of stock. Try to exchange your current cartridges if the shop will let you do so, perhaps that will save you some extra money.
Hope this was usefull

alright thanks again.
im in Canada, so i dont need the US prices

anyway.. theres one local computer shop, dont know if they would have any old stuff like this lying around... ill keep trying to troubleshoot it, maybe, or go to the shop. thanks

ok, i hope everything works ok.
sorry about the country messup, i didnt notice your location and i automatically assumed you're from the states when you mentioned dollars as currency.
guess i'll have to start paying attention, i'm getting more and more distracted

HI I had the same problem and while back and I found an half an answer. The bios on my computer would only detect ram sticks with chips on both sides. It would only detect single sided sticks as half the size.

I flashed the bios and that helped in that it would detect a 512 as a 258 were as before it would not detect any stick above 128 ,but that was all I could do so I eventually gave up and spent the money on a newer second hands computer.

I know its not an answer but sometime its worth changing hardware.

Have a nice day.

Richard

yup. thanks for the input.

i have been, and again ill try to fool around with the different hardware i have available

Also some motherboards prefer a particular brand of memory.

in my first post i included the section that deals with the memory specs required. it doesnt mention a max size.. ill check again in other sections of the website though.

it does state that the memory is 'EDO'.. i dont know if that is the kind i am trying to use in it--this might be the problem?

Thanks