CPUID reports 256MB/stick, motherboard sees only 128 \ VOGONS

CPUID reports 256MB/stick, motherboard sees only 128

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First post, by PKFreeZZy

Posted on 2021-11-01, 16:20

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Just received three 256MB PC133 non-ECC SDRAM modules, which are supposed to max out the i440BX chipset's limit per DIMM. Apparently either the computer doesn't want to cooperate because it only sees 384MB, or these modules have been modded to be deceptive about their size.

They are Kingston KVR133X64C2/256 RAM sticks.

What seems especially suspicious to me is that they were all supposedly manufactured on week 52 of 2005. Odd that they'd launch them on the final week of the year.

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Reply 1 of 7, by zapbuzz

Posted on 2021-11-01, 16:22

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the little black chip on the dimms corner is prone to forgery.

Reply 2 of 7, by Jasin Natael

Posted on 2021-11-01, 16:58

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Could also just be the BIOS of the board. I've seen that many times where it is either limited with what it can recognize, or only reads half the capacity of the module.
Does your board read any other 256MB modules correctly?

Reply 3 of 7, by Doornkaat

Posted on 2021-11-01, 17:01

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The sticks are fine but the chips aren't compatible with 440bx which can only adress half of each chip.

Reply 4 of 7, by PARKE

Posted on 2021-11-01, 17:27

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Everything you always wanted to know about RAM on 440BX boards you can find here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20180103032407/ht … and_which_256MB

Reply 5 of 7, by red-ray

Posted on 2021-11-01, 17:34

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borgie83 wrote on 2014-10-20, 12:01:

I am using a Gigabyte GA-6BX7+ motherboard but I'm having issues with the ram.

I quickly worked out for myself that this board will not correctly recognise single sided ram. This means that my 256mb sticks are recognised as 128mb sticks.

Ram being used: Kingston KVR133X64C2/256 - Brand New

You have the same issue

Last edited by red-ray on 2021-11-01, 17:38. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 6 of 7, by the3dfxdude

Posted on 2021-11-01, 17:36

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This is a single sided stick. Motherboards of the era cannot support the full memory chip density.

Reply 7 of 7, by PKFreeZZy

Posted on 2021-11-01, 20:06

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PARKE wrote on 2021-11-01, 17:27:

Everything you always wanted to know about RAM on 440BX boards you can find here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20180103032407/ht … and_which_256MB

Well... This explains it. Thanks for the replies, guys!

I never really thought compatibility would be this specific; the manual itself doesn't clarify that only double sided 256MB modules work and I've seen PhilsComputerLab use 256MB sticks on his BX boards so I didn't overthink it.

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