RAM problems

Hello all, this is my first post here on the forums.

Ok, I am having some problems with upgrading my ram. My laptop is a new Toshiba a135-s2386. It originally came with 512mb ram but the first thing I did was bought a 1gb stick to add to the 512mb. As soon as I got the 1gb stick i put it in the second slot, as the 512mb was only one stick. Booted up and nothing, the memory does not register the 1gb only the 512mb. I then reversed the sticks and then it would show up as only 1 gb.

So, I then bought another 1gb stick from the same place under the same part number. It arrived and in it went. The system will still only show 1gb no matter what position they are in. Now, with the new 1gb stick in and the 512mb, they both show up.

The most confusing thing for me is that the new 1gb has 8 black chips on both sides while the 512mb only has 4. And the first 1gb also only has 4 on each side. This is very confusing as I was just reading about this on this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=129359

Shouldn´t they be working the other way around? What could be the problem I am having? I would really like to use 2gb of ram rather than having a 1 gb stick just sitting around. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks...

 

So...could you post links to the two 1GB RAM sticks you bought? Or tell us their specs?

 

^^^^ Do first then we will see.

Ignore for a sec:
Put in the two 1GB sticks and then look at the BIOS. See if the BIOS is grabbing the right number (2048MB), if not, see if they allow you to select/change the memory settings. If you can, change it to 2GB (2048MB).

 

Well, here is the link to the ones that I bought...

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=BA21461

If anything, I can take some pics of the 2 1gb modules to better show you.

Ok, sorry again..I was just in the BIOS but it wouldn´t let me change anything. I also put the 2 1gb sticks in and still only showing up as 896, due to the shared video memory.

 

When you restart your computer it says (right at the beginning) press F1 (or F10 or something) to get into the setup. This is the BIOS.

I really dont know about Toshiba I'll see if i can find it.

 

Thanks LiveDesign, I figured it out...it´s F2...

 

Ok you figured it out.

What does it say for memory?

Edit: Did you mean that it is fixed?

 

No! I am sorry for not being more precise with my reply...I was only talking about the BIOS. With the 2 1gb sticks it only shows up as 896mb, but with the newer 1gb and the original 512mb it shows up as 1.37gb.

 

Huh, I am going to have to admit that I am stumped. Anyone else have an idea?

 

Me too...and to mention another thing is that i used the same modules in a friends new laptop (also new toshiba, although a bit more expensive model) and there were no problems at all. But thanks for your help so far!

 

Some thoughts:

1. The amount of RAM being allocated to the graphics will increase as you add more RAM, so you will not see the full amount of RAM in Windows.

2. You can use a program such as SiSoftware Sandra to report the details of the modules it can see (hardware, mainboard).

3. I found that the ATI 1250M chipset can be fussy about which RAM module is put in which slot. The same could apply to the 200M.

John

 

The fact that the newer 1GB RAM has 8 chips on each side, and the older 1GB RAM has 4 means that they are different. You purchased some Crucial RAM, which means they should have a lable on them with their respective part number. Hoping that you did not peel them off and discard them, could you post the part numbers of both the newer and older 1GB RAM sticks?

And the fact that the newer single sided 1GB module worked alonside the double sided 512MB module means that your motherboard supports the mixing of double/single sided RAM modules.

 

that's quite a werid problem u have there.

I would suggest seeing if there is a bios update for your computer, and if there is, Flash the BIOS.

the only other thing I could think of is since the two 1GB modules are different, when you plug them both in the computer doesnt want to accept both.


I want to say I have had this problem before, in fact Im almost certain, but I cant put my finger on when and why.

 

Hi guys, and thanks for your suggestions.

@ John Ratsey - i am aware of the shared memory, but the problem is that the amount of available ram is the same with only 1gb and with both 1gb sticks (896mb).

@ Budding - this is what is really confusing as the 1gb with 4 chips does NOT work along side the 512mb that also only has 4 chips on each side, whereas the 1gb with 8 chips on each side does work with the 512mb. I will attach some pics of the modules.

Also, just for more info, the two 1gb modules were bought only about a week or 2 apart.

Poseign, I have checked for updates but did not find anything as to the BIOS. i will check again though, just incase.

Thanks again!! here are the pics....sorry for the poor quality of them, i was kinda in a rush....

The original 512mb (front and back)



The older 1gb (front and back)



The newer 1gb (front and back)

 

Did you try switching which slot you put the new and old ram into. Might make a difference.

 

Yes, i have tried every possible combination yet nothing....All of the modules work by themselves, but only the newer 1gb works with the 512mb, with the 1gb in the first slot.

 

well, then judging by what u just said and the pictures you posted, it looks as if your motherboard does not support the mixture of single and double sided memory.

When you mix the single and double sided memory, the only stick that shows up is the stick in slot 1, which is the point you posted initially. Im about 98% sure this is your problem now.

If you were to go out, return your single sided 1gb module, and replace it with another double sided 1gb module, it will work for you, and will show 2gb.

 

Well, i hope that just might be the problem or at least i'd know for sure what the problem is...but, could you explain the difference between single and double sided? I would imagine that it just means chips on one or both sides. But this is what is really stumping me. The first 1gb has the same amount of chips as the original 512mb, 4 chips front and back. So, if this were the case shouldn't these be the ones that are compatible, and not the newer 1gb with 8 chips on each side?

 

physically, you're right, the only difference between single and double sided RAM modules is the fact that double sided have chips on both sides, but technically, the difference goes a little deeper.

Take your 512 stick of RAM, for instance. There are 8 total chips on the stick. Between those 8 chips there are 512 megs of ram, meaning each one of those individual chips contain 64mb.

512 / 8 = 64 mb per chip



Now take your newest 1 bg stick. there are 16 total chips on that module. a 1gb stick contains 1024mb of ram.

1024 / 16 = 64mb per chip. see the pattern?



NOW, take the other 1gb module, it only has 4 chips on it.

1024 / 4 = 256mb per chip* wrong calculation before, same thoery though


your incapatability is due to the fact that the chips on the older 1gb module are higher density chips than the ones on the 512 and the newer 1gig, and for whatever reason, your motherboard does not like to mix different RAM chip densities. This was somewhat of a prevalent problem with older motherboards, but has also been the case with a few newer ones as well.

I hope this clears that up for you


~Poseign

 

Poseign, i believe you have just figured it out for me!! After that explanation i now remember reading something a while back about high and low density chips. yes, it makes absolute sense now...thank you so much for your help and for all the rest who have given their help as well!!!

 

haha well dont thank me yet, give another stick a try, and then we will sing our victory tune

 

I was able to find the where i had read about the high density an low density chips. Here is the link...

http://www.slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=0&p=6609682

As for me getting another stick, the problem i have is that as soon as i received the second 1gb (the one that works) i had to travel out of the country and will probably not be back for several months at least. Thats why i didn't return the first 1gb. Not too sure on the prices down here but i am sure that they are a little more expensive. So for now, i guess i'm stuck with 1.5gb.

Thanks again for all of you help!