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e1705 Upgradeable Bios to Support 4GB Ram?

post #1 of 15
11/26/08 at 1:52am
Thread Starter 
Hello folks,

I have been looking in this forum for the answer but I've yet to find it. I was wondering if anyone knows of a way to get the BIOS to use the entire 4GB of ram that is installed when putting 2 x 2gb RAM? Is there a BIOS hack that will work? I currently have BIOS ver. A09. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,

gr.
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post #2 of 15
11/26/08 at 5:32am
I am pretty sure; You'll need to use a 64bit operating system to make use of 4GB of memory. Your laptop can hold 4Gb just fine, unless the OS is 64 bit, it'll only see it as a little over 3gb.
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post #3 of 15
11/26/08 at 6:00am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skillz View Post
I am pretty sure; You'll need to use a 64bit operating system to make use of 4GB of memory. Your laptop can hold 4Gb just fine, unless the OS is 64 bit, it'll only see it as a little over 3gb.
Yea, I'm running Vista-64 bit. I can see that it detects a "total" of 3325MB of RAM on the CPU Usage Gadget. Interestingly enough, it does register 4.00 GB of RAM in the Computer/Properties settings. Just wish I could use the entire RAM...

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post #4 of 15
11/26/08 at 3:11pm
with the E1705 you can only access 3.25 (Approx) of the 4 Gb memory.

This is due to the chipset limitation in that the memory above the 3.25 Gb is mapped for I/O device etc and cannot be accessed.

What you do gain all be it a minor one is Dual Channel operation with the 2 x 2Gb sticks.
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post #5 of 15
11/27/08 at 4:31am
Just to sum everything up for you the reason you can't use 4 GB isn't really due to the OS or BIOS. As Dave-P said, the chipset is 32-bit and thus can only address 4 GB. Thing is, you need the upper addresses for Memory mapped I/0.
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post #6 of 15
12/7/08 at 6:19pm
I just upgraded to 4GB. Before that, I was running 2GB. Prior to installing the new RAM, I observed how much memory my computer used just to run without any extra applications open. It moved around between 615 and 660 megabytes.

I installed the new RAM, and rebooted after checking to be sure the system recognized 3.25GB (it did).

After waiting for a few minutes after the reboot, I loaded the performance monitor again and noticed that my computer now uses 740-790 megabytes of RAM, in the EXACT SAME configuration as before I switched out the RAM.

Why would my computer start using MORE RAM when all I did was upgrade the modules from 2GB to 4GB? Doesn't seem logical.


ALSO - just refreshed my Windows Experience Score and the one for memory dropped from 4.9 to 4.5. I thought this score would increase when I doubled my RAM. What gives? Did I just waste money? It sounds like it would be better to go back to 2GB.
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post #7 of 15
12/7/08 at 9:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erickson00 View Post
I just upgraded to 4GB. Before that, I was running 2GB. Prior to installing the new RAM, I observed how much memory my computer used just to run without any extra applications open. It moved around between 615 and 660 megabytes.

I installed the new RAM, and rebooted after checking to be sure the system recognized 3.25GB (it did).

After waiting for a few minutes after the reboot, I loaded the performance monitor again and noticed that my computer now uses 740-790 megabytes of RAM, in the EXACT SAME configuration as before I switched out the RAM.

Why would my computer start using MORE RAM when all I did was upgrade the modules from 2GB to 4GB? Doesn't seem logical.


ALSO - just refreshed my Windows Experience Score and the one for memory dropped from 4.9 to 4.5. I thought this score would increase when I doubled my RAM. What gives? Did I just waste money? It sounds like it would be better to go back to 2GB.

Windows will adjust the allocation of system memory automatically based on the amount of ram installed. So it would make sense that the increaded memory nstalled = increased memory allocation for system resources.

To address the second question what was the CAS timing and speed of the memory before and after the upgrade ?

I would run CPUZ and see what your memory timings were /are

it should have improved your score BTW.

Verify your running in Dual Channel operation

If your using two different memory speeds your system will down clock to the slowest memory as well.
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post #8 of 15
12/7/08 at 11:00pm
Hmmm...i believe the new RAM is supposed to be faster. The old sticks were 555 (I think, i am reading the numbers on the old sticks), the new ones 667. they are a matched pair, and i am running in dual channel. Any ideas?

BEFORE: DDR2 PC2-5300S-555
NOW: DDR2 PC2-5300S-667
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post #9 of 15
12/27/08 at 11:35pm
THis is interesting. I have an e1705 and wanted to upgrade RAM. Crucial's scanner indicates that the max RAM for this system is 2 gigs.
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post #10 of 15
12/28/08 at 1:20am
you can install 2 x 2GB sticks no problem

but only 3.25 GB will be usuable, but you will have Dual Channel with the 2 sticks
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post #11 of 15
12/28/08 at 2:52pm
figure i'll ask here in this than make a new thread, what's the news on using 800mhz RAM, I know it will downclock it to 667mhz, but of course being 800 some of the timings will still be faster and have a higher bandwidth, or does.. everything no matter what slow down to 667.

Or.. does it just not allow the use of 800mhz ram, I've heard stories from all sides but still have no idea if it works.

I plan on upgrading to 4gb within a month or so.
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post #12 of 15
12/28/08 at 3:45pm
from what i understand the memory will down clock to 667 but the 800 mhz ram will have faster CAS timings, so if you can get the 800 Mhz ram for around the same price then go for it, otherwise go for the RAM with the best price
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post #13 of 15
12/28/08 at 4:22pm
I mean the transcend 2gb sticks are looking good at both 800mhz and 667mhz (which I just realized 5 minutes ago looking at CPUZ that I have freakin 533mhz ram modules in here wtf...) anyways, I can get the 667 @ $32, or I can spend a whole $4 more and get the 800mhz

However.. both have a CAS latency of 5 clocks
But i'm not worried about that anymore, I just realized i'm using 533mhz ram lol, the only thing is that my 533 sticks have a CAS latency of 4 clocks, i just can't imagine that will have a big enough difference to matter though.

I was just curious because going around forums and stuff people are like no the e1705 can't take 800mhz ram.. well.. thanks but does it mean i can't use it at 800mhz or does it just not work, so..

I think in about 2 weeks or so I'm gonna get the 800mhz ram, we'll see, depends on how frugal i'm feeling.
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post #14 of 15
12/28/08 at 5:43pm
if I have it right, that 800 Mhz ram has a CAS of 5 at 800, so at 667 it should be even better, and faster than the 667 Mhz CAS 5 memory.

What CPU are your running ?
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post #15 of 15
12/28/08 at 11:38pm
A T7200 (the 2.0ghz)
FSB on the T7200 is 667mhz so..

After upgrading RAM what I need to upgrade to is a 7200rpm HD, just gotta wait for those prices to go down and for me to fill up my 160gb HD (it's on it's way though)
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