Upgrading RAM question.

[Iwantcable]

Alright, I currently have 1.25GB of ram (one 1GB and one 256MB), 256MB is being used by my gfx card. I want to upgrade to 2GB of ram, but SI Software's Sandra tells me my motherboard can only have 1.5GB. If I put another gig in there, will only half of it be used? If so, then how much will replacing the 256 with a 512 help performance on BF2? I run on all medium (shadows and dynamic lighting on low) with 2xAA.

I hope you guys say no :cry:


note: new gfx card is out of the question btw.

[FLIPINOM4D]

Re: Upgrading RAM question.

well if it says it can only support 1.5 GIG (usually mobos support 2 gigs or higher) so I recommend just getting a 512MB ram stick in there. You will see some difference, just some.

[Iwantcable]

Re: Upgrading RAM question.

Is there another program I can use to check?

btw crucialmemory.com said I can support 2GB but I don't think that's as accurate.

[Stormy{CAN}]

Re: Upgrading RAM question.

What is the make and model number of your motherboard? What video card do you have as well?

[Iwantcable]

Re: Upgrading RAM question.

What is the make and model number of your motherboard? What video card do you have as well?

idk mobo, I'll have to check tomorrow, but my video card is an ATI Radeon X700 Pro 256MB (it takes from regular RAM)

[Stormy{CAN}]

Re: Upgrading RAM question.

my video card is an ATI Radeon X700 Pro 256MB (it takes from regular RAM)

Only if it is the mobility/laptop version.

[Iwantcable]

Re: Upgrading RAM question.

Only if it is the mobility/laptop version.

OMG you're right!!! I just checked because I swore it took from system, it says 256MB video, 54MB system.

Alright, here's my mobo:



If you need more information about it, please tell me how to get it.

[Stormy{CAN}]

Re: Upgrading RAM question.

Looks like that is an HP/Compaq computer. If so what is the computer model number?

I can find at least two different Asus motherboards (both modified courtest of HP/Compaq) with the model name Explorer4 (ASUS A7N8V-LA and A7N8X-LA (Explorer 4)), and both have different specs.

[Iwantcable]

Re: Upgrading RAM question.

It's an HP Pavilion a520n

[Stormy{CAN}]

Re: Upgrading RAM question.

According to this,

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&cc=us&docname=c00067795&product=404643&dlc=en&lang=en

the max supported ram is 1 gb, and the max speed of the ram is PC2700. Which if that is indeed true, makes HP/Compaq even bigger idiots than I already took them for, esprcially if your computer comes with the cpu listed (3200+ running at 2.2 ghz with a FSB of 400 mhz, and a ram speed of 333 mhz).

[Iwantcable]

Re: Upgrading RAM question.

OMFG....so freaking gay. Now if I ever want to upgrade I'm gonna need a new mobo....STUPID!!!

Wait a second, look at http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...#c00072236_doc

It says "Maximum 2 GB (PC manufacturer maximum memory may differ)". What does that mean? How can the PC maufacturer govern the amount of RAM possible?

[abtomat74]

Re: Upgrading RAM question.

OMFG....so freaking gay. Now if I ever want to upgrade I'm gonna need a new mobo....STUPID!!!

Wait a second, look at http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...#c00072236_doc

It says "Maximum 2 GB (PC manufacturer maximum memory may differ)". What does that mean? How can the PC maufacturer govern the amount of RAM possible?

Because what the mobo manufacturer sets for max ram isn't always the same when the comp is built by a 3rd party(Compaq, eMachines etc). Common practice actually.

You linked to the mobos ORIGINAL specs, the guy above you linked to the specs after Compaq got to it...most likely using an ancient BIOS, which also explains why the ram can only be 2100 or 2700 even though the mobo does 3200 also.

Compaq probably made the change in the BIOS...permanently, as well as disabling lots of other features that mobo was capable of doing had it been bought seperately for a home build.

There is nothing you can do to change this other than finding a specially made modified BIOS, which is NOT recommended.

I had an eMachines 2800+ w/333fsb w/333mhz ram. A year later got the 3200+ w/400fsb w/400mhz ram version for my parents. The ram only ran at 333mhz just like yours. Apparently they used the same BIOS from my much older model, screwing my parents out of the full fsb and full speed ram.

The way to avoid this from happening in the future is to carefully read the details beforehand...or build your own.

But make sure to read the actual completed comp details, NOT the individual mobo details!

[Iwantcable]

Re: Upgrading RAM question.

Because what the mobo manufacturer sets for max ram isn't always the same when the comp is built by a 3rd party(Compaq, eMachines etc). Common practice actually.

You linked to the mobos ORIGINAL specs, the guy above you linked to the specs after Compaq got to it...most likely using an ancient BIOS, which also explains why the ram can only be 2100 or 2700 even though the mobo does 3200 also.

Compaq probably made the change in the BIOS...permanently, as well as disabling lots of other features that mobo was capable of doing had it been bought seperately for a home build.

There is nothing you can do to change this other than finding a specially made modified BIOS, which is NOT recommended.

I had an eMachines 2800+ w/333fsb w/333mhz ram. A year later got the 3200+ w/400fsb w/400mhz ram version for my parents. The ram only ran at 333mhz just like yours. Apparently they used the same BIOS from my much older model, screwing my parents out of the full fsb and full speed ram.

The way to avoid this from happening in the future is to carefully read the details beforehand...or build your own.

But make sure to read the actual completed comp details, NOT the individual mobo details!

Those bastards!

Can somebody give me info on upgrading my mobo? (If it's even worth it)