problem with bios

bios is the first thing you see than you computer boot up right? anyway just want to make sure, since im no good at computers.

here the thing, i have (G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory) and 2x512mb 400mhz ddr3200 corsair.
after i put all 4 ram in to the motherboard and boot up the bios only say i have 2559mb of ram yet is should be 3gb, 266mhz yet it should be 400mhz.

right now im using window xp home, MAG P4C800-E Deluxe Motherboard, bios is mega something America...not sure how to check what bio you got. so is there better bios for my computer? and how to make the bios showing what it should?

 

You may need to make changes to the bios setup. The bios is actually a chip on the motherboard. When you start up the computer, you are probably seeing POST screen(s). POST stands for Power On Self Test and does things like checking the RAM and showing you the results on your monitor. To be able to change the bios settings, you need to get into the Setup on your computer, and most use one of these keys: Del, F1, F2, or F10 - you should see something on your monitor telling you what to do. You can stuff things up in setup so take it slow and steady and if in doubt, don't and ask back here for more help.

I haven't time for more at the moment but check your motherboard manual, section 2.5 to see if that helps. If you don't have a manual, you can download one from either the Asus link I've given you or the other one (which might just open it on your screen and you can click the floppy disk icon to save a copy to your computer).

http://support.asus.com/download/download_item.aspx?product=1&model=P4C800-E Deluxe

http://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/de/zedv/support/manuals/mainboard/e1347b_p4c800-e_deluxe.pdf

 

I was looking thru the hardware forum for a thread that explained the 3gb memory limit for 32bit operating systems and couldn't find it. Anyway, it explains how RAM is mapped and used by both the hardware and software. If you're running dual channel, be sure the same sticks are in both slots in channel A and channel B... meaning channel A has the 2 x 1gb sticks, and channel B has the 2 x 512mb sticks. You could also try installing them one at time, in a different sequence than you have now but still keeping the channels the same, powering down and unplugging the power cord between installing each stick, and see how that goes....

 

how do i know which 2slot is channel A or B?

 

The 32 bit limit is 4gb, not 3.

 

You should have 4 slots total; channel A will be one color, an channel B is another color.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555223
Ooops.... my bad

 

Your Bios version should be seen on your Boot screen
You can use a utility like Everest to check all kinds of info such as Bios version, memory & cpu timings etc.
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Looking at Asus web site I didn't see any bios updates/fixes for memory issues ( BIOS updates are generally problem specific, if all is working or you don't need it, Don't)
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What was you memory speed before you added extra memory?
What speed is you CPU? by default you memory & cpu will run or should run at the same speed.
What is your complete specs?

Some memory may be shared by your Video card which might explain the 2559 instead of 3gb
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You may be experiencing compatibility issues with your memory (it's usually best to buy the same exact memory when adding additional memory)

It may be possible to manually configure your memory within BIOS
You can use everest to view the SPD ratings/timings of each type of memory your running
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Try running each type of memory by it's self & run a memory test on each, any error will identify a bad memory stick
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for many PC's running 4 stick of memory can be problematic and or stressful on the memory controller
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For most people 2 GB is more than enough
what do you use your PC for?

 

i change the bios setting to default, now everytime i reboot it show the icon of the (ai series p4c 800-e/intel cpu) after that it goes to check IDE drives...which take much longer now..sigh..help? bios show that its 3037mb ram now but still 266mhz. so how to cut the IDE drives check? oh and i saw the bios is 1.00.0.37, i should update to the lastest one from the link on 2nd post? if so which one and how?

 

To cut down on the startup time you want to enable Quick Boot.

From main Post screen >Boot>Boot Settings Configuration and toggle Quick Boot to "enabled".

Page 101 in this manual. http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/sock478/P4C800E-DX/e1347b_p4c800-e_deluxe.pdf

*******
I'll let someone else help with finding and flashing BIOS, I haven't done that in quite a while.

 

If I may throw my two cents in here, Just a cautionary note, Xhui, if you have never flashed a bios it would be highly recommended that you get someone with more experience to do this for you. A bad flash or a power loss during the flashing of the bios can render you mother completely inoperable. Some motherboards have the capability to recover from a failed flash but most don't. Make sure you read through the bios downloads and be absolutely certain you have the right one for your board. And also read through and see what issues the new bios addresses to see if it will even help with your problem....................

 

I just spent the past 15-20 minutes at the Asus site, looking thru the BIOS updates available. None mention any type of memory fixes other than a change from 16k to 64k for the extended memory size in BIOS version 1014. So it seems that a flash wouldn't fix the problem you're having. Additionally, I must say that I'm in total agreement with lcsmith39. Flashing the BIOS can be a risky venture, especially when performed by someone not experienced in this area. I've never been more frightened than when I flashed a BIOS for the first time. Most of the time, a flash will go perfectly smooth, and all is well. It's that 1 time in 20 or 30 when all hell breaks loose, and you end up with a square high-tech frisbee...
I would follow the advice of ASUS posted above: Try your memory sticks one at a time, and run an extended thourough diagnostic on each stick; and be sure to unplug the power cord from the PC and wait about 15-30 seconds before swapping out parts. Motherboards can take a little while to fully discharge.
Here's a link to a memory diagnostic I've used many times. It creates a bootable floppy or CD. Select "T" for the extended tests and run at least 3 full passes for each stick. It'll take some time, so be patient.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Microsoft_Windows_Memory_Diagnostic_d3955.html

Happy Thanksgiving! :yum

 

Is video RAM stealing some of that memory?

Also, before you flash the BIOS, use a program like Awdflash.exe (DOS) or detect.exe (Windows) to save a copy of what you are running now. Put the extracted file on a floppy or CD so you have a backup in case the BIOS flash goes awry.

VISTA 32 bit version has a 3gb max but VISTA 64 bit will work at 4gb. I haven't seen limitations on XP RAM.

 

OOPS. I think that is VISTA 64 bit has a 8gb limit.

The memory you added should match the voltage on your motherboard, like 1.8v, 1.85v, etc. If the voltages don't match, then the added memory may run slower than the stock memory and cause the whole lot to default to a lower speed. Not to mention random memory errors in the upper 1gb.

 

Vista 32 bit has a 4gb limit.

4...not 3.

4.

Vista Home Basic 64 bit has an 8gb limit.
Home Premium has 16gb limit.
All the others have a 128+gb limit.

Xp has similiar limits.

 

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3.25GB for VISTA 32 bit if you want to argue. The point is 3gb is cheaper than 4gb when updating RAM.

Or is it 3.12gb.

Or is that 2^32 = 4,294,967,296 bytes which would be 4gb if you use the way they rate hard drives. Or is that 4,000mb for a 4gb harddrive.

 

Not 3.25gb.

4gb, physical ram. This includes video ram, as well.

The point of the entire thread has nothing to do with the cost of upgrading ram, by the way. The ram isnt being recognized properly by the BIOS.

 

32-bit operating systems have a 4GB limit. However, they will not report seeing more than 3-3.5GB when you ask them, because the remainder is mapped for non-OS tasks. If you run a 32-bit OS, be it XP or Vista, you will still see the full 4GB in the system BIOS. Vista is supposed to have a patch out in a few months that lets it report 4GB installed RAM. In XP you can go to Start >Programs >Accessories > System Information, and the 4GB will show up in the system summary.

 

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You are correct. I stand corrected. I should have never argued. And the guy who started this thread will not see his total memory reported as what is installed, so someone else is correct on that point.

Windows allocates RAM memory from the top down and starts at 4gb if that is what you have. My 512mb 8600GT graphics card supposidly eats up 512mb of this as a RAM mirror plus whatever RAM is allocated to other PCI slots, etc, etc, etc.

There are countless "if"s and "and"s to this 4GB VISTA limit as in PAE and type of hardware and how much the computer vendor allows to be failsafe. In the end, you won't see VISTA saying it has 4GB, and it is better to buy 4gb of RAM than 3gb. Thanks for the correction.

 

Actually, it starts at 4GB if you have a 32-bit operating system. That's why the XP system properties report the 2GB you have physically installed, the 512MB from your graphics card are still allocated above 3.5GB.