How to tell if RAM is working?

[mjs1973]

I just installed another 512mb of RAM on my laptop, for a total of 1gb, but it doesn't seem to be any faster. Before I added the 512mb, I right clicked on My computer, and went to Properties. There is said I have 448mb of RAM. Then I added the 512mb to the computer, booted it up, and went to the properties under my computer and it still says that I have 448mb of RAM. I have taken out the original chip, and installed just the new chip, and the PC works just fine, so the RAM is compatible with the system, but it doesn't seem to speed things up at all...

A couple weeks ago, they added another 512mb or RAM to my Mac G4 at work, and I noticed a HUGE improvement. I would think that by doubling the amount of RAM on my laptop, I would notice a dif. in it's performance.

[masdog]

Hmm...that's an interesting problem. Perhaps there is a problem with the expansion slot that the memory was installed in.

[dmm96452]

Laptop model?

Try switching the ram chips to test the slots.

[Franglais]

I just installed another 512mb of RAM on my laptop, for a total of 1gb, but it doesn't seem to be any faster. Before I added the 512mb, I right clicked on My computer, and went to Properties. There is said I have 448mb of RAM. Then I added the 512mb to the computer, booted it up, and went to the properties under my computer and it still says that I have 448mb of RAM. I have taken out the original chip, and installed just the new chip, and the PC works just fine, so the RAM is compatible with the system, but it doesn't seem to speed things up at all...

A couple weeks ago, they added another 512mb or RAM to my Mac G4 at work, and I noticed a HUGE improvement. I would think that by doubling the amount of RAM on my laptop, I would notice a dif. in it's performance.

Go into the BIOS at startup time and see how much memory it says you have. Normally it should recognise extra memory automatically. If it doesn't see the extra memory then it may be that you need to get it to recognise the memory manually (unlikely) or it may be that the expansion memory is not sitting properly in the slot.

You will certainly notice a difference in speed - if you didn't have enough memory before. Assuming you're running Windows XP, do Ctrl-Alt-Del and choose the Performance pane. There is a part in there saying Physical memory (I guess - mine is in French). Total should say 523744 (for 512MB). If "Available" says less than 30,000 then your system is running out of memory and is slowed down by paging to disk. If on the other hand it says "Available" and something like 250,000 then you have enough memory for most tasks and you won't recognise any improvement.

Charles

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the input everyone. I have switched chips and rebooted the PC with each chip installed by themselves and they both seemed to work fine. I have both of them in now and it still say and it did seem to speed some things up a bit. For instance, when I open Adobe's Browser and select a folder with a bunch of RAW images in them, the thumbnails load a lot quicker than they use to. That is a good sign I guess.

What is BIOS? Is that what you are describing when you said to hig Ctrl-Alt-Del and go to the performance tab? I am running XP. I did that, and it says my total under Physical Memory (K) is 457708. (This is with both chips installed) Available says that I have 181952. That one keeps changing a bit.

[mjs1973]

Ok, I got it figured out. Turns out I just didn't have the chip pushed in all the way. Now my system recognizes the added RAM! Thanks for the help everyone.

[ken1953]

What is BIOS? Is that what you are describing when you said to hig Ctrl-Alt-Del and go to the performance tab? I am running XP. I did that, and it says my total under Physical Memory (K) is 457708. (This is with both chips installed) Available says that I have 181952. That one keeps changing a bit.

Hi Michael, What size memory did you get?? 256M? Anyway, BIOS is a chip that is read when you first startup your computer that keeps settings separate from your software. This is where your drives, cards, security settings, and other system settings are controlled. To change these settings or view them, you need to press a function key or a series of keys, depending on your manufacturer, right after you turn on your computer, but before Windows or other OS starts. Mine is F1 or F2, can't remember...but usually as your monitor first turns it it will say something like "Press F1 for Setup"...Although easily fixed, you want to be careful changing these settings as you can get things a bit confused...hehe...call me if you need any help. I think you have my number...if not...email me.
Ken

[Franglais]

Ok, I got it figured out. Turns out I just didn't have the chip pushed in all the way. Now my system recognizes the added RAM! Thanks for the help everyone.

Good.

Ken explained about BIOS now about my Ctrl-Alt-Del trick - this sends a high priority interrupt to the system. It causes Windows XP to kick off a program called Task Manager which sits in the foreground on your screen (in front of other windows) and allows you to measure the performance of your system and manage the processes/programs actually running in memory. For instance:

- if you have an application that has crashed and stopped responding, you can use Task Manager to terminate it
- if you suspect that you have a particular virus on your system, you can see the list of programs currently running and check out if the virus executable is among them
- if you want to know which program is using how much RAM or all the CPU power then Task Manager will show you

Note: Task Manager is a powerful tool, to be used with caution..

Charles

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the info Ken and Charles. I have used task manager quite frequently to close out programs that aren't responding or have crashed, just never used it to monitor system performance before.

Ken, I bought a 512mb PNY Technologies chip from CompUSA. I wanted to add at least a full gig of RAM, but the 512mb chip was on sale for $40, and the only 1gb chip they had for my system was $200. I didn't think that twice the memory for 5x the price was that good of a deal and I only had 1 open slot left. I did check www.newegg.com when I got home and found some 1gb chips for less than $100. I may just order one of those and take this one back. I have 21 days to return it so I have some time to think about it.

On a side note, I also picked up a 400gb USB2.0/Firewire external HD on sale for $250. ($100 off). Now I'm trying to figure out the best way to organize it and trying to figure out what types of files I want to store on it. RAW, Tiff or Jpegs... I have already been buring two copies of my RAW files to DVD's so a third set of RAW files almost seems like overkill to me, but converting 8,000 or so RAW files to something else will take a LOT of time.