Hi all,

I've been upgrading my Gigabyte GA-7VT600(L) motherboard from the original 512MB. The problem is that memory scanners, such as the Crucial one and the hardware scanner on this forum, show an extra 32MB of RAM in one of the RAM slots and won't let me use that slot.

With just 512MB in one slot, the scanner shows slot 0 512MB and slot 1 32MB.

If I add a iGB DIMM, I get slot 0 52MB, slot 1 1GB and slot 2 32MB.

If I put a DIMM in the third slot, the computer won't get past the memory check on POST - in fact it doesn't even check the memory and the screen goes blank.

At the moment I have a 1GB DIMM in slots 0 and 1 with 2 empty.

The motherboard takes up to 1GB in each of the three slots.

The hardware scan gives the following:

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OS Information:
PropertyValue
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional|C:\WINDOWS|\Device\Harddisk0\Partitio n1
Service Pack 2.0
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS


Processor:
PropertyValue
Current Clock Speed 1919
Description x86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 0
Manufacturer AuthenticAMD
Name AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2600+


Memory (RAM):
PropertyValue
Bank Label Bank0/1
Capacity 1073741824

Bank Label Bank2/3
Capacity 1073741824

Bank Label Bank4/5
Capacity 33554432

Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~2080 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 2047MB

Disk Drives:
PropertyValue
Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Maxtor 6Y120L0
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 122935034880 (~114 GB)
Number of Partitions 1

Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model SAMSUNG SP1604N
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 160039272960 (~149 GB)
Number of Partitions 1


Installed Printers:
PropertyValue
Name ScanSoft PDF Create!
Port Name LPT1:
Default False
Driver Name ScanSoft PDF Create!

Name Kyocera FS-800 KX
Port Name LPT1:
Default False
Driver Name Kyocera FS-800 KX

Name Kyocera FS-800 DL
Port Name LPT1:
Default False
Driver Name Kyocera FS-800 (KPDL-2)

Name IndexO
Port Name IP_192.168.0.4
Default False
Driver Name Generic / Text Only

Name Index
Port Name IP_192.168.0.4
Default False
Driver Name Generic / Text Only

Name HP Color LaserJet 2605 PCL 6 (Labels)
Port Name USB002
Default False
Driver Name HP Color LaserJet 2605 PCL 6

Name HP Color LaserJet 2605 PCL 6
Port Name USB002
Default True
Driver Name HP Color LaserJet 2605 PCL 6

Name EverestUSB
Port Name USB001
Default False
Driver Name Everest

Name EverestNet
Port Name IP_192.168.0.4
Default False
Driver Name Everest

Name Everest V3
Port Name IP_192.168.0.4
Default False
Driver Name Everest V3

Name EPSON Stylus Photo 900 Envelope
Port Name USB001
Default False
Driver Name EPSON Stylus Photo 900

Name EPSON Stylus Photo 900 (Net)
Port Name LPT1:
Default False
Driver Name EPSON Stylus Photo 900

Name EPSON Stylus Photo 900
Port Name USB001
Default False
Driver Name EPSON Stylus Photo 900

Name Bookkeeper PDF Printer
Port Name LPT1:
Default False
Driver Name Amyuni Document Converter 2.51


Motherboard:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Model
Name Base Board
Part Number
Product GA-7VT600
Serial Number
Version 1.x


BIOS:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Award Software International, Inc.
Name Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Release Date 20040816000000.000000+000
Version GBT - 42302e31


Monitor:
PropertyValue
Description LG FLATRON L1910B(Digital)
Name LG FLATRON L1910B(Digital)
Screen Height 1024
Screen Width 1280


Keyboard:
PropertyValue
Description Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard


Pointing Device:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Logitech
Name Logitech USB Cordless Mouse


Sound Card:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer (Generic USB Audio)
Description USB Audio Device
Device ID USB\VID_0556&PID_0001&MI_00\6&346B9B47&0&0000

Manufacturer (Generic USB Audio)
Description USB Audio Device
Device ID USB\VID_6993&PID_B001&MI_00\6&24E6CE60&0&0000

Manufacturer (Generic USB Audio)
Description USB Audio Device
Device ID USB\VID_06F8&PID_3003&MI_01\6&2A4F2CE4&0&0001

Manufacturer Realtek
Description Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller
Device ID PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_A0021458&REV_50\3&13C 0B0C5&0&8D


Video Card:
PropertyValue
Adapter Compatibility NVIDIA
Adapter RAM 134217728
Description NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
Installed Display Drivers nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.9371
Driver Date 22/10/2006 12:22:00
Video Mode Description 1280 x 1024 x 4294967296 colors


DirectX Installation:
PropertyValue


Modem:
PropertyValue
Model Sony Ericsson K500 IrDA Modem
Name Sony Ericsson K500 IrDA Modem

Model Sony Ericsson K500 IrDA Modem
Name Sony Ericsson K500 IrDA Modem #2


Network Adapters:
PropertyValue
Description VIA Compatable Fast Ethernet Adapter - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description RAS Async Adapter
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description WAN Miniport (L2TP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPTP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPPOE)
Description Direct Parallel
Description WAN Miniport (IP)
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
Description Microsoft TV/Video Connection
Description Windows Mobile-based Device
Description WAN Miniport (Network Monitor)
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description Infrared Port

External Ports:
PropertyValue
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator Detected
External Reference Designator

Expansion Slots:
PropertyValue
Slot Designation PCI
Slot Designation PCI
Slot Designation PCI
Slot Designation PCI
Slot Designation PCI
Slot Designation AGP
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Although only two slots have DIMMs in, it thinks banks 4/5 (slot 2) has a 32MB chip in it and won't let me put a DIMM in there.

Any ideas why it's there and, more importantly, how I can manage to put my 512MB DIMM in the third slot to use it?

It has to be something simple, so I leave it to the hardware geniuses out there to tell me what it is

Many thanks,

Ray D

I don't see what may be causing this either. What I find odd is the 32Mb seems to be moving around to different slots, depending on what you have installed. I downloaded the manual for both Rev1 and Rev2 of your motherboard and don't see anything in there such as jumpers or other settings for RAM, although there is a jumper to set FSB to either Auto or 100MHz.

Are all three modules the same speed?

The good news is your board does correctly see the 2Gb you have installed, and I can almost guarantee with 100% surety that you would not see any performance gain by adding another 512Mb on top of that. I fact, if the older 512 is slower RAM, you might take a hit.

My mobo is Rev 1, but the only difference between Rev 1 and 2 is the sound driver and network chip.

All the DIMMs involved are PC3200 400Mhz. All, individually or in pairs, show the extra 32MB in the next slot.

I had hoped that with the 512MB DIMM in the third slot it might just add the 32MB to it, but it won't even do a memory check in POST as it thinks I've got four DIMMs in.

It's really got me foxed.

Thanks for your input.

Ray D

Hmmm, your hardware scan shows the BIOS version to be Version GBT - 42302e31, which is different than what's listed on the Gigabyte site. But the date matches the latest F15 release so I suspect they are the same. If the board had integrated graphics, I might think there was something going on there as integrated graphics always steals from system RAM. But your board does not have integrated graphics.

I generally don't recommend upgrading the BIOS unless there is known problem with the existing one, or a new BIOS specifically addresses a problem you are having, or and security issue. Flashing the BIOS is always risky. But if it were me, since all RAM modules work in other configurations, I would backup all critical data, then download the latest BIOS and re-flash.