GA-945P-s3, really 4gb RAM?

[parlabarato]

3 years ago I boght this motherboard with 2GB RAM DDRII 667 Kingston run on Windows XP 32 Bits.
Recently I update to Windows 7 64Bits due I need more RAM to my advantage audio applications and I've bought one more module 2GB DDRII 667 kingston memory
The problem: Windows 7 only recognize 3.2GB RAM and the BIOS too.
I've been searching any feature at Advances Bios features to remap memory or seem but... nothing
In the manual of motherboard appears "4DDRII DIMM memory slots (supports up to 4GB memory) but I read a post in other forum that indicates this motherboard may supports 4GB but only works with 3.2GB  it's this thrue?

Thank you for your help

[Pottypete]

Hi,
Yes maximum supported memory 4 ggb
due to windows  memory limitation you will only see 3.2gb
cheers

[maxix]

I have Linux OS(CentOS 5.4) and recently increase Mem from 2Gb to 4Gb (all modules are KVR533D2N4/1G). And BIOS reports me only 3Gb and Linux as well. What's wrong? Should I turn on some options in BIOS?

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

If both the BIOS and Linux are reporting only 3 out of the 4 GB I would think it is either a BIOS issue or you have bent pins in the CPU socket. As it is easier to sort the BIOS I would advise that you first check which version you are running on your motherboard and if there is an updated version available. If so use QFlash to run the update and see if it helps.

[maxix]

I've just updated my BIOS to the latest one (F7c) and BIOS still reports 3Gb and linux do the same. 
/proc/meminfo:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
MemTotal:      3349304 kB
MemFree:       2696224 kB
Buffers:         26064 kB
Cached:         407288 kB
SwapCached:          0 kB
Active:         183472 kB
Inactive:       377588 kB
HighTotal:           0 kB
HighFree:            0 kB
LowTotal:      3349304 kB
LowFree:       2696224 kB
SwapTotal:     4095992 kB
SwapFree:      4095992 kB
Dirty:            3304 kB
Writeback:           0 kB
AnonPages:      127688 kB
Mapped:          72832 kB
Slab:            47724 kB
PageTables:      21240 kB
NFS_Unstable:        0 kB
Bounce:              0 kB
CommitLimit:   5770644 kB
Committed_AS:  1001872 kB
VmallocTotal: 34359738367 kB
VmallocUsed:    267952 kB
VmallocChunk: 34359470119 kB
HugePages_Total:     0
HugePages_Free:      0
HugePages_Rsvd:      0
Hugepagesize:     2048 kB
---------------------------------------------------------------------

[Dark Mantis]

In that case I would next check the CPU socket for bent pins.

This is a very delicate operation so extreme care is needed.

Remove the CPU/heatsink/fan and have a close look at the lands(pads) underneath the processor. Each one should have a mark in the centre (maybe more than one if it has been refitted before). If there are any without marks or the marks are far off centre then it could be a problem with bent pins in the socket.

Post back after doing this check.

[Lsdmeasap]

No need to check the CPU socket, bent pins would not affect memory on this system.

Can you test each stick of memory one by one, in the first slot on the motherboard to be sure the sticks are all working.  Then test a stick in each slot on the motherboard to be sure each slot is working as it should.

If all of that passes, did you upgrade from XP or from a 32 Bit system to x64, or was it a clean install?   If it was an upgrade I've seen this issue in the past, and you will need to do a clean install of 64 to correct it.

[tropintropin]

I've got the same issue, my motherboard reports 3.4 gigabytes of RAM.

If it's reported at BIOS time, it's clearly a problem of the motherboard, forget about installing whatever operative system. In fact, I noticed the 600Mb of RAM missing when I installed Windows 7 64bits.

It also shows as 3.4Gb within Ubuntu 64bits and Memtest.

It's not a problem of bended pins at the CPU socket! And even if it was the problem, what are the odds that I bended the same pins in my mb?

[Dark Mantis]

How many memory modules have you got installed ?

[tropintropin]

4 1Gb modules.

[Dark Mantis]

In that case it could be down to settings or that some boards do use some memory themselves.

Have you made all the settings manually or just left them on auto ?

[tropintropin]

Some are modified, some are in auto. I'm not interested in overclocking, so I didn't touch anything about memory timings and the like.

What setting could limit the amount of ram avaliable?

[Dark Mantis]

Well because of your filling the banks with memory modules you are putting an extra load on the memory controller so you will need to compensate for that by increasing the voltage on the Northbridge a touch. If you are lucky then that might do the trick if not you have to look further into it.

[tropintropin]

Thanks for the hints, but to me it's clear that this motherboard is defective, as Parlabarato, Maxix and I have the same problem with different hardware configurations and operative systems.

Let's hope it's solvable with a future firmware update, but until that day, I can't recommend anymore to buy Gigabyte motherboards.

[Dark Mantis]

That of course is your view but just because three users are having similar problems I fail to see that makes for much of a case. I am quite happy to try and help if you want it.