Computer question / did I get ripped off?

[xray s]

I bought a new laptop last month at a large electronics retailer. It is supposed to have 512mb RAM. I was checking the system properties today and I noticed is says the chip is 384mb. WTF!

Is it possible the system properties info is wrong? Or did I get ripped off? Needless to say, the store is getting a call from me tomorrow...I just want to be prepared for any excuses they offer.

[BigMcLargehuge]

1. sounds like 128 soldered to the board, and 256 in one of the slots

call them. System properties shouldn't be wrong.

[bluestateguy]

2. Are you sure they didn't mean upgradable to 512mb?

I know my last machine was 256mb, upgradeable to 512mb.

[xray s]

5. No. Not "upgradable"

It is supposed to be 512mb out of the box. Luckily, I still have the box.

[nose pin]

3. The laptop

probably comes with 128mb on the motherboard, with a 384mb add-on chip in the auxiliary slot.

[TrogL]

6. There's no such thing as a memory 385mb chip

At least I've never heard of one.

Go to start, programs, accessories, system tools, system information and it will tell you what you've got for RAM

[lanparty]

9. Windows doesn't behave that way ...

NO, Windows doesn't work that way. It reports the TOTAL RAM in system properties. Windows doesn't manage physical RAM configuration. Thats the job of the BIOS. If you want to check whats where, you need to bootup and check the BIOS to see whats plugged in where.

Sounds like he has two memory slots, one is filled with 128MB, the other is filled with 512MB.

I wouldn't be surprised if some miscreant didn't pop open your box and swap DIMMS. Unfortunately for you, the retailer will never believe you.

[amber dog democrat]

4. There may be a problem with the memory module

which can be replaced or it is not installed properly or, maybe its not compatable with you laptop. Have them look at it and verify the correct module was installed correctly.

memory modules do fail or there are bad ones in each lot . Have the store do some tests. sounds like you have 2 256s in there.

[SoDesuKa]

7. Don't Be Unpleasant With Them

Just state your case. It appears you were supposed to get two 256's but you got a 256 and a 128 instead. Ask them to replace the 128 with a 256.

[ET Awful]

8. What you are probably seeing . . . .

is that the memory stated on the box does NOT tell you that some of the memory is pre-allocated as video RAM. If you were to look in the BIOS settings, you would probably see your full 512 with an adjustable amount allocated to on board video as video RAM. This is probably set at 128 by default.

[lanparty]

10. 128MB of video RAM on a laptop ?????

Come on.

[ET Awful]

11. I've seen stranger things.

Check the BIOS.

[DS1]

13. AGP aperture doesn't affect onboard RAM specs in Windows or

the BIOS.

He paid of a V6 and got an inline 4.

[ET Awful]

14. I'm not referring to AGP aperture, that is entirely different.

On board video adapters have no RAM of their own, video requires RAM, thus on board video adapters are forced to use system RAM. This number is configurable via BIOS for motherboards with integrated video.

[xray s]

15. That is what the HP people told me today

The computer has 512mb RAM, but 128mb is shared video RAM. That is why the System Properties screen only shows 384mb RAM.

A friend of mine who knows computers says this sounds right. I went into Help and Support, found the My Computer tab and went through a number of System Information screens that say the computer has two 256mb RAM chips. One also said I have a video adapter with 128mb RAM.

So I guess everything is cool :shrug:

[ET Awful]

16. Yup, it's an accurate label, but misleading.

I've seen it before. I've built systems from the ground up and seen the effect of onboard video without it's own RAM.

If you aren't doing any heavy gaming or video encoding, that should be enough RAM to do everything pretty well though.

[BlueJazz]

12. What's the Brand, model etc...? N/T