Announcement

**HalationEffect** · May 05, 2014, 04:17 AM

Does it use an Intel 945GM or 945PM chipset?

From Lenovo's support page for the T60p:

Intel Chipsets 945GM and 945PM do not support more than 3GB system memory (RAM), even when a 64-bit operating system is installed.

http://support.lenovo.com/en_GB/deta...cID=MIGR-62487

**NickStone** · May 05, 2014, 06:05 AM

Originally posted by HalationEffect View Post

Does it use an Intel 945GM or 945PM chipset?

From Lenovo's support page for the T60p:

http://support.lenovo.com/en_GB/deta...cID=MIGR-62487

If it is a bug in the chipset then surely it would have affected previous versions but the OP says no such problem with previous versions.

**Chopstick** · May 05, 2014, 07:38 AM

Thanks for you comments.

I don't know how to look up the chipset (and google doesn't tell me much), but it would be extremely odd if I had only 3GB out of 4GB and never noticed anything. Especially since I first had 2GB, the upgraded to 3GB and finally to 4GB, a few year ago, and everytime I was very satisfied with the upgrade.

Below is some more diagnostic output from dmidecode that pertains to memory: it says the maximum capacity of the memory controller is 4096 MB.

[CODE]

Handle 0x0007, DMI type 5, 20 bytes
Memory Controller Information
Error Detecting Method: None
Error Correcting Capabilities:
None
Supported Interleave: One-way Interleave
Current Interleave: One-way Interleave
Maximum Memory Module Size: 2048 MB
Maximum Total Memory Size: 4096 MB
Supported Speeds:
Other
Supported Memory Types:
DIMM
SDRAM
Memory Module Voltage: 2.9 V
Associated Memory Slots: 2
0x0008
0x0009
Enabled Error Correcting Capabilities:
Unknown

Handle 0x0008, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
Socket Designation: DIMM Slot 1
Bank Connections: 0 3
Current Speed: Unknown
Type: DIMM SDRAM
Installed Size: 2048 MB (Double-bank Connection)
Enabled Size: 2048 MB (Double-bank Connection)
Error Status: OK

Handle 0x0009, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
Socket Designation: DIMM Slot 2
Bank Connections: 4 7
Current Speed: Unknown
Type: DIMM SDRAM
Installed Size: 2048 MB (Double-bank Connection)
Enabled Size: 2048 MB (Double-bank Connection)
Error Status: OK

[\CODE]

**oshunluvr** · May 05, 2014, 07:52 AM

Try

lspci -v | grep 945

if it's blank, then not the 945 chipset

**Chopstick** · May 05, 2014, 07:55 AM

So, lspci did turn up something (output below), where the Intel chipsets are mentioned, along with some others. I am not sure what that means.
I would guess, since I am pretty sure that I didn't have this problem before, and there are several chipsets mentioned, this just indicates compatibility. (And dmidecode suggests I shouldn't have this problem.)

Here is another observation: I just rebooted the laptop and did the memory test from the Grub2 menu, and there is also only shows 3GB.

Code:

$ lspci -v     

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
        Subsystem: Lenovo ThinkPad T60
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Capabilities: <access denied>

00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express PCI Express Root Port (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
        I/O behind bridge: 00002000-00002fff
        Memory behind bridge: ee100000-ee1fffff
        Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000d0000000-00000000dfffffff
        Capabilities: <access denied>
        Kernel driver in use: pcieport

There is, of course, more ouput, but these are the only entries that appear to be relevant (i.e. have the chipset numbers).

**Chopstick** · May 05, 2014, 09:03 AM

OK, So I booted into an old 12.10 CD I still had around, and to my dismay, I found that it also only sees 3GB... then I ran the memory test from the boot CD and it also only sees 3GB.
In addition, this time I noticed that the memory test actually tells you the chip set: 945GM/PM

So I guess that means my system never actually used more than 3GB. I don't know how I could have missed that, but I guess I only ever looked ad dmidecode -t 17 and never used top very much.
(To monitor memory usage I mostly used System Load Viewer, which only shows you the fractional use.)

Now the question is: Can I do something about this?

**Chopstick** · May 05, 2014, 09:04 AM

And, HalationEffect, thanks for you comment - I don't think I would have found this myself.

**oshunluvr** · May 05, 2014, 09:07 AM

Well no offense intended, but you said "and as far as I can remember" with regards to your available RAM being 4GB in the past. However, the manufacturer of that computer states that only 3GB will be available if you have the 945GM chipset - which it appears you do.

It seems illogical to conclude that your memory is more correct than Lenovo's documentation. Especially since all indicators agree with Lenovo.

Simple enough to disprove - boot to a liveCD or USB of the previous version where you thought you had 4GB available and check.

EDIT: Oops! You beat me to it!

**Chopstick** · May 05, 2014, 09:11 AM

See my previous comment, oshunluvr. ;-)
Obviously my memory was wrong, or rather, I probably only ever looked at dmidecode and not top.

**oshunluvr** · May 05, 2014, 09:28 AM

Yes, we were simultaneously typing and you beat me to the "Post" button! Sorry the answer wasn't what you hoped, but at least you have closure.

**HalationEffect** · May 05, 2014, 09:34 AM

Originally posted by Chopstick View Post

Now the question is: Can I do something about this?

Alas, there isn't really anything you can do about a memory controller chip that only does 32bit memory addressing and doesn't support memory remapping. It has a hard limit of 4GB addressable, and reserves ~25% of that for system use (for things such as graphics memory mapping, etc).

Nothing short of replacing the motherboard will fix such an issue, and on laptops that generally means replacing the entire machine.

**Chopstick** · May 05, 2014, 11:22 AM

Yes, I was afraid that would be the case... maybe I should just get a new laptop... this one has served me well for 7 years, but the memory is not the only thing that's causing problems now.

Thanks for your help guys!

I guess I should open a new thread about laptop recommendations, now ;-)

**Chopstick** · May 05, 2014, 11:29 AM

Now one more thing: how can I add something like [Closed] to the title?

**oshunluvr** · May 05, 2014, 01:33 PM

~~Edit the first post.~~ The pull down at the top has a "mark this post Solved" item in it.

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Only 3GB out of 4GB RAM recognised on 64bit system!?

Only 3GB out of 4GB RAM recognised on 64bit system!?

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