Installed 256MB RAM..only shows up as 232MB in system profile

[PrineFan]

hi... everytime i installed RAM, i would check system properties, and sure enough, it would show the appropriate amount of RAM....

but in most recent build, I installed 256 MB of ram, but it says something like 232 MB or thereabouts....

seems kinda odd... the clips are locked in place on the RAM so i assume it's seated OK-- system runs fine, but may wish to sell the system and it sure would be nice to show the potential buyer that there's 256 MB of RAM installed.

any suggestions?? thanks

 

[bozo1]

You don't happen to have a motherboard with built-in video do you?

 

[Dan]

Hi, we need more info.

Are you using one stick of RAM?
Have you tried your RAM in different slots?
Which motherboard are you working with?
Do you have onboard video?
Are you using the latest bios?
Which OS?
Is this a new problem in a new build or a new problem in a system that once correctly reported 256MB?

 

[PrineFan]

addl. info:

windows XP home OS

onboard video

msi 6524 MB

pentium 4 1.6 ghz

one stick of ram (have tried in two different slots)

new build --never did report 256 ram

not sure if i am using latest bios-- not sure how to get the latest bios, i'm a novice....this RAM thing has me scratching my head tho..

thanks for any help

 

[Dan]

I'll lay even money the "missing" RAM is actually being used by the onboard video.

 

[ZZZZZZ]

Gotta agree with Dan, How much memory is dedicated to the onboard video?

 

[PrineFan]

ah-- thanks-- i usually used an AGP card for video-- but went the cheap route this time with onboard video....

how would i go about checking how much RAM is dedicated to the onboard video-- is there a way?

 

[ZZZZZZ]

It is usually selectable in the BIOS. The MB manual should tell you how to get to it.