ritpg said:
I have a D975XBX motherboard. I'm increasing the memory from 2 gig
to 4. The Intel Spec. says to remove the PCI-Express video card
before installing the 2 additional memory modules "to avoid
interference with memory retention mechanism". Does this mean I have
to:
1) remove the video card
2) install the memory
3) boot the PC
4) shut the PC down
5) re-install the video card
6) re-boot
If so, I guess I have to shut the PC down with the power switch since
I won't be able to see anything on the monitor to shut it down using
Windows.
Does this sound right? In the Intel Product Guide it says to remove
the video card before installing the memory but only if it physically
interferes with the memory install. But it says you can re-install
the video card before booting the PC. There's no mention of a "memory
retention system".
Thanks for your help.
Terry
It means Intel is worried about the mechanical clearance between the
video card, and the snaps on each RAM slot. Sometimes, when a
motherboard is designed, the RAM slots are placed too close to
the video card. When you go to open the snaps on the end of the
RAM slot, they bump into the video card.
Intel is suggesting, that you remove the video card, so you have
more room to work inside the computer.
Another potential issue, can be the nature of the CPU cooler. Some
aftermarket CPU coolers are so big, that they hang over the
first two RAM slots. This can make it hard for the user to add
or remove RAM sticks, from those slots. So that is a similar
mechanical issue, to the Intel warning.
Your six step recipe is unnecessary. The issue is mechanical,
not a problem with the BIOS. A well written BIOS -
1) Reads how many slots have memory installed.
2) Compares the new inventory of RAM, against the old inventory.
Records the new inventory in DMI and ESCD areas inside the BIOS chip.
3) Picks settings which will make all the RAM work. The slowest
RAM product, determines the automatic settings used. A user
can adjust manually, to correct for non-optimal automatic choices.
3) Prepares an address map, making room for the maximum amount of usable
RAM, as well as making room for PCI, PCI Express, or AGP busses.
Depending on the OS being used (32 or 64 bit), whether remapping
is needed or used, the size of memory on video cards and the like,
those issues will all have an impact on the "memory available" as
seen in Windows. For example, if I were to install 4GB on my computer,
it would say "3.2GB available", and I would lose about 800MB.
Some people with two video cards, see "2.5GB available", when
4GB is installed.
You might still enter the BIOS, to verify that the RAM settings look
reasonable. Sometimes Vdimm needs to be adjusted, or clock speeds
for memory, or the like. If you are mixing wildly disparate RAM
types (1.8V DDR2-533 and 2.2V DDR2-1066), then you may have some
fun finding settings which will keep all the RAM happy. For that
reason, it is easier if the RAM is all of similar specification.
Some high performance RAM can be cranky, and may not play well
with vanilla RAM.
I like to run memtest86+, before booting Windows (memtest.org).
RAM should at least receive a cursory test, before booting to Windows.
The registry in Windows can be corrupted, if the RAM does not have a
clean bill of health. I've had one poster, who ran memtest86+ and
the memory was error free, and Windows got corrupted anyways, and
would no longer boot properly. So memtest86+ is not a guarantee
of good health. But it is better than nothing.
Paul
