dmidecode - which section exactly report maximum amount of supported RAM

2

Manufacturer of my motherboard reports a maximum of 4GB (2GB on each slot, it has two memory slot).

By reading dmidecode output I read:

Memory Controller Information
    Error Detecting Method: 8-bit Parity
    Error Correcting Capabilities:
            None
    Supported Interleave: One-way Interleave
    Current Interleave: One-way Interleave
    Maximum Memory Module Size: 4096 MB
    Maximum Total Memory Size: 8192 MB
    Supported Speeds:
            70 ns
            60 ns
    Supported Memory Types:
            Standard
            EDO
    Memory Module Voltage: 5.0 V
    Associated Memory Slots: 2
            0x0006
            0x0007
    Enabled Error Correcting Capabilities: None

And then:

Physical Memory Array
    Location: System Board Or Motherboard
    Use: System Memory
    Error Correction Type: None
    Maximum Capacity: 4 GB
    Error Information Handle: Not Provided
    Number Of Devices: 2

Which is the right info? 4GB of "Maximum capacity" in "Phisical Memory Array" section, or 8192 MB by reading under "Controller information" "Maximum Total Memory Size" ?

An other question: could dmidecode output be affected by limits of operating system? On my PC is running a 32bit system... So one could suspect that 4GB of maximum capacity are related to OS limit instead of hardware limits.

Anyway, my motherboard is an ASUS P5N-MX (chipset nForce 630i/ Geforce 7050) www.asus.com/Motherboards/P5NMX/

No chances to reach 8 GB of RAM (4GB + 4GB)?

Thanks in advance!

Joe

Posted 2016-02-29T20:52:54.600

Reputation: 121

Clearly? Ok, but then why manufacturer says 4GB is maximum amount? and why dmidecode "Physical Memory Array" section reports "Maximum Capacity: 4 GB"? – Joe – 2016-02-29T21:26:09.317

Yes; You are correct. The controller supports 8 GB, but your system will either not accept he other 4 GB or simply not POST. I failed to look at the specification of the motherboard, because it wasn't included, in the question itself. – Ramhound – 2016-02-29T21:29:39.253

1@Joe Your chipset is actually *NVIDIA GeForce 7050/nForce 610i*. This chipset is so old that I'd be surprised if it (or the BIOS for that matter) knows how to talk to more than 4GB RAM. I have answered your question below but, if I find anything more, I'll update it. – misha256 – 2016-02-29T22:00:51.180

Answers

3

The output from dmidecode is nonsense. 5V for DDR2 RAM? 60/70ns? Are we back in the i486 days?

I would not trust that info. Instead, trust what ASUS says. They created the motherboard, so go with their specs:

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P5NMX/specifications/

As you can see, the maximum supported RAM is 4GB. You can try for 8GB -- it might work, it might not work at all, and in the worst case it may seem to work but the system will be unstable.

I do have to ask the "why" question. I'm curious. Is it worth it? 8GB for something so dated?

UPDATE: According to reputable documentation, dmidecode output cannot be trusted:

Beware that DMI data have proven to be too unreliable to be blindly trusted. Dmidecode does not scan your hardware, it only reports what the BIOS told it to.

misha256

Posted 2016-02-29T20:52:54.600

Reputation: 10 292

Thanks misha, could a single 4GB module be supported in your opinion? or should be better to install 2 x 2GB ? Dual channel technology seems unsopported, so I could try to buy a 4GB module and set it up with one of two old 1GB... And if a 64bit system will see a total of 5GB, then I could try to add an other 4GB (4+4). What do you think about? – Joe – 2016-02-29T23:25:46.837

Asked: 2016-02-29T20:52:54.600

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Active: 2016-02-29T22:22:05.170