How can you tell if the OS "sees" all your RAM?
 

Hello,

I am running LINUX for the first time, I work for a non-profit and am trying to save $$$. Using Mandrake 10.0 on an AMD 950 with 512 mb RAM. It seems slow, how can I tell if it is detecting all the ram?

Thanks:confused:

It will be. linux makes good use of all the ram. Type free in a console to check.

It shouldn't be all that slow on that sort of machine, so you may have other issues. Also I advise that if you are using KDE then switch off the KDE sound server as it can cause problems.

a few things you can try:
1. type top (this will tell you how much ram you have and how mush is used
2. http://www.memtest86.com/ (ram test program
3. if your ram amount is wrong then:

Follow the next steps to modify /etc/lilo.conf and add this line:
Using your favorite text editor modify /etc/lilo.conf and add this line:
append = "mem=512M"
then save and exit and run /sbin/lilo to save changes on boot
Reboot and check it out typing: top or free
If you are using loadlin add the parameter: mem=128M on its command line