Overcome 2 GB RAM limit

I have an HP Pavilion dv6325us notebook running 32-bit Vista Home Premium, SP1. The system came with 1 gb RAM, which I upgraded to 2 gb. It still seems starved for memory, so I would like to try 3 gb. However, the system's specs (and Kingston's memory finder) say that its maximum is 2 gb RAM. However, those specs were probably written based on the original configuration, which was the original Vista Home Premium. Would the SP1 update for Vista allow me to use 3 gb of RAM, or is the RAM limited by the chipset or something else other than the operating system?

Related question: assuming I can use 3 gb of RAM, do I need to install the RAM in pairs? Thus, do I need to install two 2 gb chips to get 3 gb useable memory? Kingston's memory finder suggests I have dual channel DDR that must be installed in pairs.

Thanks.

 

Yes, you can use 3GB of ram (as long as 2GB sticks are available for you slot) - Nothin to do with vista or sp1, and no, you don't need to pair them (you will a small amount of performance due to dual channel support)

keep in mind, the max you can use is a little over 3GB, because of your 32bit operating system.

 

Also, I kind of doubt it, but the system *may* be hardware limited to 2GB RAM. However, I have found on more than one occasion a laptop manu. to announce the max RAM at 2gb, yet 3gb+ works fine. As far as pairing, you can utilize 3gb by adding 2gb and 1gb modules, however if you pair with a different brand of memory(or even a drastically different build date within the same brand), you may loose your ability to run in dual channel, but it should still work.

 

Tell us what chipset and processor you have, because it looks like you have an original DV6000. If it is an Intel based one you may have a chipset ram limit, but we need to know what chipset you have. I know that my dad's 3 year old zd8000 used a 915GM chipset with disabled IGP and I think the chipset only supports 2 or 3gb of RAM. Use CPU-Z to identify your chipset.

-J.B.

 

hehe
Thats all I could see when reading that (chipset,chipset,chipset,chipsetchipsetchipset)
Yeah, the chipset could possibly matter, post back with the results, though you should be able to use all the ram.... What you could do is buy from some place with a return policy, and see if it recognizes all the ram.

 

I wonder if the chipset comes into play here?

 

I doubt it will run 3GB. There's a good chance that the BIOS is limited to 2GB.
And the Geforce Go 6150/nForce Go 430 (confirm with CPU-Z) is limited to 2GB memory DDR2-533/667, as I have seen all notebooks with that chipset limited to 2GB.

And if the chipset does support DC, it won't run, as AMDs don't support Asymmetric DC.

(And a chipset/NB may act as a physical barrier when it comes to upgrading the CPU, GPU, RAM....)

 

Andy got it. AMD, all Andy said is what we know at this point. So much more info on Intel's because more members have done the testing. Much less done by AMD guys. I have AMD TL-52 and I do know you want Dual Channel 30% greater bandwidth vs Single Channel. I have not tested unmatched sticks but all documents say won't work.

Yes it could be chipset, MoBo, Bios limited.

 

Here is what I have on my system --
AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-52 1.60 Ghz
Motherboard mfg Quanta 30B7, 65.2B
chipset NVIDIA GeForce 6150 A2

From what I understand from the prior posts, the 2 GB limit is coming from the chipset rather than the operating system.

Thanks for all of your responses.

 

You can try a cheap 2GB module, or buy from a place where the module can be easily exchanged/returned. It may work, as the Geforce 6150 chipset is fairly old (was released about 2 years ago), and 2GB modules were not mainstream upgrades at that time....

 

Im pretty sure it will work Kingston says the max is 2gb of ram because HP says the max is 2gb on all pre dv6500 serries. Now hp says that because 2gb sticks wernt around back then and the intel 945 chipset apperently cant read up to 4gb some where between 3gb to 4gb so hp just says 2gb. At least thats my best explantion for it i know my brothers laptop a dv8000 can read 3gb of ram with 32 bit home premium and a intel 945pm chipset

 

Tippey764 you missed the point he has AMD. Countless threads do show the Intel documents are incorrect. Because people have tested and posted. No one has done with AMD's. One reason is 99% of Intel CPU's use Intel chipsets. AMD's use ATI, Nvidia and God only knows what else? So much harder to say.

 

so it's capped by hardware.
strange you say your system still needs ram. I'm running vista business, and my ram usage normally stays at 33% with firefox and emule running.

 

may be it's just time for you to format the hard drive and start over with a fresh install of Vista. 2 gb are enough for most users.

 

Hi,

Pls check this:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=347808
I overcame the limit - all OK. All detyails in above link.