What would you do?

I have a HP Pavilion ZV5160, and its supposed to have 512mb ram, but displays 384MB in system properties. What gives?

 

I would open the computer and manually check how much was there.

 

I agree with this. That's 128mb short, and unless you have a
pretty big shared graphics chip, you need to verify what is actually in there.

 

will open tonight. What do I do if I got ripped? I'm no computer novice. This computer is a year old now. May sound dumb, but don't think I ever checked. Just wanted a laptop to get around, and figured the specs were good on paper, never looked into it before though. (Dumb, I know).

 

When you open up the box, check how many sticks of RAM you have. Sounds to me like you have 4 x 128 = 512, but only 3 x 128 = 384 are working. Remove them carefully. Label them 1, 2, 3 and 4. Try each in turn (one only) in the first slot. As each works, put it in an "OK" pile. Sooner, or later, one will fail to boot, if my assumptions are correct.

If you have 2 x 256 =512, then I am confused.

Download and install EVEREST from MG
www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

This is great for identifying ALL installed stuff in a PC.
Bazza

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My mistake. Didn't know that a HP Pavilion ZV5160 was a laptop. Should have googled it I suppose. Still would run EVEREST, anyhow. Bazza

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Just because one is a major geek, doesn't mean they are "gods" of all things computers. So to speak....in a way.

Personally, if one has 512 megs of ram, but is only showing 384, then the AGP Aperature is probably set for 128. Basically, the video card/board is taking 128 megs of system ram, on top of whatever available video ram (Vram).

If it is possible, within the bios, you could changed this.

But, what is the purpose of this laptop?

 

Ok, opened up ram slot, took whole bottom of computer out. Looks like there is only a 256 stick in there. BUT HP Claims this is supposed to have 512MB ram on their web site

http://computing.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/ps_12031340/113501.html

http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/HP_Pav...___15__TFT/4507-3121_16-30883671.html?tag=tab

As far as VRAM, DOES say 128MB.

 

Obviously you can't have a 256 in there and have it showing 384
And your vram is showing 128.... soooooo
It's like XP said. You have a 512 stick with 128 shared.

 

oh well id say bump your video mem down to 64 or even 32 if you can i realy dont think you need 128 if even 64...and that will free up some memory for the system ...and thefool AGP apature and shared vido ram are compleatly dif. whitch brings another question ...if the video mem is already in system ram then what is the point in caching it to system ram using the AGP apature .. will your at it it prolly whouldent hurt to bump the AGP apature down to like 16 if not 0 if that herts performance bump it back up to ware it was ...again if you have control of these settings in an HP .....

 

Doesn't make sense. I pulled the stick of ram out, and the little sticker label says 256mb. That is the only slot under there I saw.

 

256 is built in.

The max memory size for the laptop is 1.25gb.

1gb stick, and the built in 256mb.

 

Its simple thares 256MB on the motherboard and you have a 256B stick installed too..( 512MB ) now your onboard video is using 128MB
of that ( 512 -128 = 384 ) I reccomend going into the bios ( prolly F10 at startup ) and setting the video memory to 64 or 32 ...

....come to think of it AGP apature is memory that is used only if its needed....and the video memor is used no matter if its needed or not....so i was thinking if you set the video ram to 32 and the AGP apature to 256 or better it whould save you memory and give you performance ( agp apature and video ram are both in system ram )....just a thought...

 

I said several times I DID and says 256MB on chip.

 

Easy there.

problemswithvaio posted that suggestion before you checked.

That was post number 2, and you checked on post number 12.