[lezlies]

My newly built computer was being really sluggish playing Caesar IV. I was thinking of upgrading from 512 to a gig when I noticed that the 512 was showing up as 256 during the boot.

The MB is an ECS P4M800-M7. I have a 512 stick of PC3200(400) in it from Fry's. Corsair Value, I think, is the brand.

When this happens is it usually the memory, the motherboard, or none of the above?

Thanks!

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It shouldn't be a memory problem, but I would upgrade to a gig anyways. 512 mb has become the mininum

good luck

[MaverickSidewinder]

It shouldn't be a memory problem, but I would upgrade to a gig anyways. 512 mb has become the mininum

good luck

[dospoy]

What does it say exactly during boot-up? When i start my pc I get the 256 message too, but thats spec of my graphics card. Could that be what it is?

[kidnova]

Yes, more than likely the 256 is referring to your graphic card. If you go to My Computer>View System Information, it will show you how much RAM you have installed.

[nabeans]

[b]Yes, I have a similar problem. I bought a viao sometime ago that was 512mb only to boot today afterchanging to new battery and found my system config to be 256mb. I checked system info all the ways and the result was still the same, 256mb physical memory.What do I do? I don't think its the battery thats the cause, since there is no link btw the two.

[dospoy]

When you click on properties of "My Computer", It only says you have 256mb RAM, or it says 256 during startup? To see the amount of ram...look at the properties tab of "My Computer"

[nabeans]

[b]I checked thru System Information and it read 256mb. I just yesterday checked the compartment where the memory chips are in the laptop and I saw written on it 256mb. That now suggests to me that the system specs were manipulated to read 512mb instead of the true 256mb. Can you confirm if thats possible? What could have happened to return it to the truthful figure? Nevertheless, I will check the properties section of My Computer as you suggested.

[Neil Jones]

This motherboad has onboard graphics. Where do you plug your monitor in on the back of the computer - next to the USB ports or halfway down the back of the case?

There's no mention in the manual just how far you can up the onboard graphics to, but it may be possible to set it to 256Mb, which would explain where the missing memory has gone.

[nabeans]

Well, I'm pleased to announce that I've got the problem of the reducing memory solved, kind of. I found that one of the two 256mb memory chips seems to lose contact. So when I readjusted it, it read 512mb. Though this morning I checked again and its back to 256mb. I will soon return to the back to shift the chips. If symptoms persist then I guess I will have to see a techie. Or could it be a chip acting up preparatory to zonking?