Kernel Linux 3.2.0-4-686-pae unable to recognise 8GB RAM

[spambot]

Hello, i just bought new 6GB RAM for my PC, which runs the latest stable release of Debian 7.6 (wheezy) with PAE support but unfortunately it doesn't support more then 4GB RAM. I read in internet with PAE kernel is possible but for some reasons my computer stills read only 4GB. Does anybody know how can i fix this?

Below are some outputs:

Code: Select all

lshw -C memory
  *-firmware              
       description: BIOS
       vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
       physical id: 0
       version: 080015
       date: 04/07/2010
       size: 64KiB
       capacity: 960KiB
       capabilities: isa pci pnp apm upgrade shadowing escd cdboot bootselect socketedrom edd int13floppy1200 int13floppy720 int13floppy2880 int5printscreen int9keyboard int14serial int17printer int10video acpi usb ls120boot zipboot biosbootspecification
  *-cache:0
       description: L1 cache
       physical id: 5
       slot: L1-Cache
       size: 64KiB
       capacity: 64KiB
       capabilities: internal write-back data
  *-cache:1
       description: L2 cache
       physical id: 6
       slot: L2-Cache
       size: 2MiB
       capacity: 2MiB
       capabilities: internal write-back unified
  *-memory
       description: System Memory
       physical id: a
       slot: System board or motherboard
       size: 4GiB
     *-bank:0
          description: DIMM DDR2 Synchronous
          product: ModulePartNumber00
          vendor: Manufacturer00
          physical id: 0
          serial: SerNum00
          slot: DIMM0
          size: 2GiB
          width: 64 bits
     *-bank:1
          description: DIMM DDR2 Synchronous
          product: ModulePartNumber01
          vendor: Manufacturer01
          physical id: 1
          serial: SerNum01
          slot: DIMM1
          size: 2GiB
          width: 64 bits

Here is the output of the user memory

Code: Select all

free -m
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:          4053       2027       2026          0         73       1051
-/+ buffers/cache:        902       3150
Swap:         3956          0       3956

Maximum Capacity

Code: Select all

dmidecode -t 16
# dmidecode 2.11
SMBIOS 2.5 present.

Handle 0x000A, DMI type 16, 15 bytes
Physical Memory Array
	Location: System Board Or Motherboard
	Use: System Memory
	Error Correction Type: None
	Maximum Capacity: 16 GB
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Number Of Devices: 2

I really don't want to re-install my 32bit machine to 64bit because is stable and work fine! I hope i didn't waste my money for this 6GB RAM and will find solution in this Forum.

[dasein]

This RAM is recognized by your BIOS? POSTs and everything?

[spambot]

This RAM is recognized by your BIOS? POSTs and everything?

Hi dasein, the ram is not recognized at all on the PC. I have 2 slots on the PC and when i put the x2 rams i have 4Gb, when i put the one of 6GB my machine recognise just 2GB. It seems my PC recognise maximum of 4GB for the 2 slots, not more.

Regards,

[edbarx]

If you want to save yourself unncessary worries, make sure the RAM you purhcased is supported by your motherboard. You have also to pay attention to what RAM limit your motherboard supports.

As told already, unrecognized RAM sizes are usually attributed to hardware issues rather than software. The physical address extension kernels have been with for us at least a couple of years now, implying your problem is not kernel related.