PCLOS LXDE does not tell me how much memory I realy have :D (Solved)

[Loles]

Hi again!

When in pcc->Hardware->Search and configure hardware->Memory
this is what i get:

Name: ‎Not Specified

size installed: ‎32 kB

Type: ‎Cache

Name: ‎Not Specified


size installed: ‎8192 kB

Type: ‎Cache

When on motherboard i have really installed about 4GB memory.

When in console:

Code: [Select]

[user@localhost ~]$ free -m
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:          3039        786       2253          0         24        334
-/+ buffers/cache:        427       2612
Swap:         1192          0       1192
[user@localhost ~]$
[user@localhost ~]$ free -g
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:             2          0          2          0          0          0
-/+ buffers/cache:          0          2
Swap:            1          0          1
[user@localhost ~]$

Is it that it only sees 2 of my 4 GB? I appreciate someone can explain me this tech talk. thanks a million

[jaydot]

i know that to get 8gb recognised one  needs to install a .pae kernel.  not sure about other sizes.  have you checked using pclinuxos control centre/hardware?

[JohnW_57]

1st quote is the cpu cache (‎8192 kB) (cache build in the processor)

[user@localhost ~]$ free -m
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:          3039        786       2253          0         24        334
-/+ buffers/cache:        427       2612

If you have indeed 4 gig ram installed  but a PAE kernel is needed to see it all.

Code: [Select]

[wim@localhost ~]$ free -m
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:          3959       3362        596          0        532       1735
-/+ buffers/cache:       1094       2864
Swap:         7984          3       7981

JohnW

[Just17]

Standard PCLOS kernels have Himem enabled and can use most of 4GB memory if installed.
I say 'most' because it will not use it all .....  dependent on hardware and also if a graphics card is using some of it.

To use more than that requires a 'pae' kernel, available from the repo.

It looks to my untrained eye as if Loles machine is showing 3GB ram installed.

In that case I would first check the BIOS to see what it is reporting.

If it reports 4GB then I would try a pae kernel to see if more of it could be used by the OS.

If not and you are certain that 4GB is installed then I would look for a hardware problem .......  maybe a bad contact or the memory stick not properly inserted.
Power off, take out all memory sticks and re-seat them, power on and check the BIOS again.

[Loles]

Thank you!

It looks to my untrained eye as if Loles machine is showing 3GB ram installed.

In that case I would first check the BIOS to see what it is reporting.

If it reports 4GB then I would try a pae kernel to see if more of it could be used by the OS.

The BIOS reports:

slot 1..... empty
slot 2.....  1GB
slot 3.....  1GB
slot 4.....  2GB

I will follow the instructions to  disconnect from power source, open the box, remove the slots, clean the dust and reinsert the memory slots in place.

Thank you very much.

[Just17]

You might also consider running 'memtest' from a liveCD ....  which will check the memory for functionality ....  if it shows errors then you likely have a memory stick problem.

Don't forget the pae kernel to see if that will increase the amount of memory seen.

Does your graphics card share memory with the OS?

If so how much have you allocated?  That will be subtracted from the memory available to the OS.

[Loles]

My graphics card has about 32MB memory, but I always thought it was build up inside the graphics card it self.  

[djohnston]

My graphics card has about 32MB memory, but I always thought it was build up inside the graphics card it self.  

Some (if not most) motherboards have a graphics circuit and chips on the motherboard itself. In most cases, part of the main RAM on the motherboard can be dedicated to the graphics display, rather than to your main memory. If your motherboard has 1GB (1024MB) of RAM and 128MB of RAM is allocated to the motherboard graphics, you have 896MB of RAM left for computing. If you have a plugin card, one that is external to the motherboard and plugs into a slot on the motherboard, the video card will have its own dedicated memory chips, separate from the memory on the motherboard.

[JohnW_57]

slot 1..... empty
slot 2.....  1GB
slot 3.....  1GB
slot 4.....  2GB

Try slot1 -> 1GB
      slot2 -> 2GB or empty
      slot3 -> 1GB
      slot4 -> 2GB or empty

Slot 1 and 3 are used for dual channel memory (I guess) and the same brand/vendor is needed.

When I look to the specs from your videocard it have 512/1024MB on board.

JohnW

[Loles]

Hi! thank you

Try slot1 -> 1GB
      slot2 -> 2GB or empty
      slot3 -> 1GB
      slot4 -> 2GB or empty

Slot 1 and 3 are used for dual channel memory (I guess) and the same brand/vendor is needed.

When I look to the specs from your videocard it have 512/1024MB on board.

you are right JohnW  thanks a lot.

now I need to know how to make a memory check from livecd. Is there a program to do that or is it a command for lxterminal?

lxterminal command gives me this:

[root@localhost guest]# memtest
bash: memtest: command not found
[root@localhost guest]#

 

[Just17]

slot 1..... empty
slot 2.....  1GB
slot 3.....  1GB
slot 4.....  2GB

Try slot1 -> 1GB
      slot2 -> 2GB or empty
      slot3 -> 1GB
      slot4 -> 2GB or empty

Slot 1 and 3 are used for dual channel memory (I guess) and the same brand/vendor is needed.

When I look to the specs from your videocard it have 512/1024MB on board.

JohnW

So that would mean the memory stick in #2 should be moved to #1?

[Loles]

 

Try slot1 -> 1GB
      slot2 -> 2GB or empty
      slot3 -> 1GB
      slot4 -> 2GB or empty

Slot 1 and 3 are used for dual channel memory (I guess) and the same brand/vendor is needed.

When I look to the specs from your videocard it have 512/1024MB on board.

OK now i have set the slots properly thanks to JohnW

and when on root terminal i get this now:

[root@localhost user]# free -m
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:          3039        910       2129          0         35        531
-/+ buffers/cache:        342       2696
Swap:         5498          0       5498
[root@localhost user]#
[root@localhostuser]# free -g
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:             2          0          2          0          0          0
-/+ buffers/cache:          0          2
Swap:            5          0          5
[root@localhost user]#

I have changed partitions and installed PCLOS LXDE 2012  64bit,
so the picture has changed as well
every thing has improved considerably  even sound sounds louder

[JohnW_57]

[root@localhost user]# free -m
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:          3039        910       2129          0         35        531

Still missing 1GB here (if you have a 64bit install).
Could be a bad ram module.

To test it: remove all modules, replace 1GB module (slot1) and test.
Replace then other 1GB module (slot3) and test it (you have see 2GB with # free -m)
Replace the 2GB module (in slot2) and test it (you have to see 4GB with # free -m (plm 3950)).

If not there' s something wrong with 1 ram module I think.

This issue belongs in hardware help section if so.

JohnW

[Just17]

[root@localhost user]# free -m
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:          3039        910       2129          0         35        531

Still missing 1GB here (if you have a 64bit install).
Could be a bad ram module.

To test it: remove all modules, replace 1GB module (slot1) and test.
Replace then other 1GB module (slot3) and test it (you have see 2GB with # free -m)
Replace the 2GB module (in slot2) and test it (you have to see 4GB with # free -m (plm 3950)).

If not there' s something wrong with 1 ram module I think.

This issue belongs in hardware help section if so.

JohnW

Or possibly a limit of 1GB per slot that is not 'paired'?

I haven't looked at the manual so just an idea .....

[JohnW_57]

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xps420/en/OM/HTML/parts.htm#wp1462641

JohnW