Maximum RAM command

So I have been reading about hardware info commands and came across this ones

# dmidecode -t memory | grep -i size
	Maximum Memory Module Size: 2048 MB
	Maximum Total Memory Size: 4096 MB
	Installed Size: 1024 MB (Double-bank Connection)
	Enabled Size: 1024 MB (Double-bank Connection)
	Installed Size: 2048 MB (Double-bank Connection)
	Enabled Size: 2048 MB (Double-bank Connection)
	Size: 1024 MB
	Size: 2048 MB
# lshw -short -C memory
H/W path         Device           Class       Description
=========================================================
/0/0                              memory      64KiB BIOS
/0/4/5                            memory      32KiB L1 cache
/0/4/6                            memory      1MiB L2 cache
/0/1a                             memory      3GiB System Memory
/0/1a/0                           memory      1GiB SODIMM DDR2 Synchronous
/0/1a/1                           memory      2GiB SODIMM DDR2 Synchronous
# dmidecode -t memory | grep -i max
	Maximum Memory Module Size: 2048 MB
	Maximum Total Memory Size: 4096 MB
	Maximum Capacity: 8 GB

Now on the last line it shows 8GB the above line shows 4096MB.
I thought this ancient could only use 3GB. 1GB+2GB.
Which one is right?
The Maximum Total Memory Size: 4096 MB
or Maximum Capacity: 8 GB

Thanks


Moderator edit: Separated command output for readability

Hello @JesusLinux :wink:

That is confusing because it is not clear if it is the array or the device. Show us the full output:

dmidecode -t memory

[quote=“megavolt, post:2, topic:141700”
dmidecode -t memory
[/quote]

I have 3GB at the moment. I thought it was the max. Toshiba site specs said it. Originally it came iwht 1GB RAM.

root@jesuslinux:/home/jesuslinux# dmidecode -t memory
# dmidecode 3.2
Getting SMBIOS data from sysfs.
SMBIOS 2.4 present.

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
		70 ns
		60 ns
		50 ns
	Supported Memory Types:
		Standard
		DIMM
		SDRAM
	Memory Module Voltage: 3.3 V
	Associated Memory Slots: 2
		0x0008
		0x0009
	Enabled Error Correcting Capabilities:
		None

Handle 0x0008, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
	Socket Designation: DIMM0
	Bank Connections: 0 1
	Current Speed: Unknown
	Type: Standard DIMM SDRAM
	Installed Size: 1024 MB (Double-bank Connection)
	Enabled Size: 1024 MB (Double-bank Connection)
	Error Status: OK

Handle 0x0009, DMI type 6, 12 bytes
Memory Module Information
	Socket Designation: DIMM1
	Bank Connections: 2 3
	Current Speed: Unknown
	Type: Standard DIMM SDRAM
	Installed Size: 2048 MB (Double-bank Connection)
	Enabled Size: 2048 MB (Double-bank Connection)
	Error Status: OK

Handle 0x001A, DMI type 16, 15 bytes
Physical Memory Array
	Location: System Board Or Motherboard
	Use: System Memory
	Error Correction Type: None
	Maximum Capacity: 8 GB
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Number Of Devices: 2

Handle 0x001C, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x001A
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Total Width: 64 bits
	Data Width: 64 bits
	Size: 1024 MB
	Form Factor: SODIMM
	Set: None
	Locator: SODIMM0
	Bank Locator: BANK0
	Type: DDR2
	Type Detail: Synchronous
	Speed: Unknown
	Manufacturer: Manufacturer0
	Serial Number: AssetTagNum0
	Asset Tag: N/A                           
	Part Number: N/A                           

Handle 0x001E, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
Memory Device
	Array Handle: 0x001A
	Error Information Handle: Not Provided
	Total Width: 64 bits
	Data Width: 64 bits
	Size: 2048 MB
	Form Factor: SODIMM
	Set: None
	Locator: SODIMM1
	Bank Locator: BANK1
	Type: DDR2
	Type Detail: Synchronous
	Speed: Unknown
	Manufacturer: Manufacturer1
	Serial Number: AssetTagNum1
	Asset Tag: N/A                           
	Part Number: N/A                        

Thanks

That seems to be the thing.

To be a bit more explanatory … it would appear that the ‘port’ you plug the memory into can technically handle 8gb … but the motherboard still wont be exceeding 4096 MB of maximum memory.

1 Like

Incorrect. 32bit system can only address ~4GB, but with PAE (Physical Address Extension) it can address up to 64GB. Your CPU must have the PAE flag. Check it:

cat /proc/cpuinfo

So the array is able to address a maximum of 8GB in theory, but it is limited by the memory controller (BIOS):

So in fact: Your hardware can theoretically use 8GB, but limited by controller, which only allows a maximium of 4GB and 2GB for each module.

It’s like you have an 8 lane highway, but since not enough traffic lights have been installed, 4 of them are closed to avoid accidents.

Probably you can increase the possible memory by switching some options in the BIOS (slower RAM, but more capacity?), but if that is not possible, then you are hard limited to 4 GB maximum by the BIOS.

1 Like
root@jesuslinux:/home/jesuslinux# cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor	: 0
vendor_id	: GenuineIntel
cpu family	: 6
model		: 15
model name	: Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual  CPU  T2310  @ 1.46GHz
stepping	: 13
microcode	: 0xa4
cpu MHz		: 996.491
cache size	: 1024 KB
physical id	: 0
siblings	: 2
core id		: 0
cpu cores	: 2
apicid		: 0
initial apicid	: 0
fpu		: yes
fpu_exception	: yes
cpuid level	: 10
wp		: yes
flags		: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht tm pbe syscall nx lm constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good nopl cpuid aperfmperf pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm lahf_lm pti dtherm
bugs		: cpu_meltdown spectre_v1 spectre_v2 spec_store_bypass l1tf mds swapgs itlb_multihit mmio_unknown
bogomips	: 2925.92
clflush size	: 64
cache_alignment	: 64
address sizes	: 36 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
power management:

processor	: 1
vendor_id	: GenuineIntel
cpu family	: 6
model		: 15
model name	: Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual  CPU  T2310  @ 1.46GHz
stepping	: 13
microcode	: 0xa4
cpu MHz		: 1067.000
cache size	: 1024 KB
physical id	: 0
siblings	: 2
core id		: 1
cpu cores	: 2
apicid		: 1
initial apicid	: 1
fpu		: yes
fpu_exception	: yes
cpuid level	: 10
wp		: yes
flags		: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht tm pbe syscall nx lm constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good nopl cpuid aperfmperf pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm lahf_lm pti dtherm
bugs		: cpu_meltdown spectre_v1 spectre_v2 spec_store_bypass l1tf mds swapgs itlb_multihit mmio_unknown
bogomips	: 2925.92
clflush size	: 64
cache_alignment	: 64
address sizes	: 36 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
power management:

root@jesuslinux:/home/jesuslinux# dmidecode -t bios
# dmidecode 3.2
Getting SMBIOS data from sysfs.
SMBIOS 2.4 present.

Handle 0x0000, DMI type 0, 24 bytes
BIOS Information
	Vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
	Version: V1.50  
	Release Date: 08/21/2007
	Address: 0xF0000
	Runtime Size: 64 kB
	ROM Size: 1024 kB
	Characteristics:
		ISA is supported
		PCI is supported
		PNP is supported
		BIOS is upgradeable
		BIOS shadowing is allowed
		ESCD support is available
		Boot from CD is supported
		Selectable boot is supported
		BIOS ROM is socketed
		EDD is supported
		5.25"/1.2 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
		3.5"/720 kB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
		3.5"/2.88 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h)
		Print screen service is supported (int 5h)
		8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h)
		Serial services are supported (int 14h)
		Printer services are supported (int 17h)
		CGA/mono video services are supported (int 10h)
		ACPI is supported
		USB legacy is supported
		LS-120 boot is supported
		ATAPI Zip drive boot is supported
		BIOS boot specification is supported
		Targeted content distribution is supported
	BIOS Revision: 6.24
	Firmware Revision: 188.11

Handle 0x0018, DMI type 13, 22 bytes
BIOS Language Information
	Language Description Format: Abbreviated
	Installable Languages: 3
		en|US|iso8859-1
		fr|FR|iso8859-1
		ja|JP|unicode-1
	Currently Installed Language: en|US|iso8859-1

My system is 64bits. It came with Win Vista 32bits back in 2007/2008.
I tried to check if there’s BIOS updat but to no avail.
Toshiba sites no longer have info about BIOS on this product.

So I can upgrade to 2x 2GB DDR2 with no issues?
There was always this doubt. But it makes sense since one slot has a 2GB stick.

That should be assured.
Further may or may not be possible with tinkering.

1 Like

Thanks everybody.
I have to look for a 2GB DDR2 stick then!
Once I get to the 4GB RAM do I have to change the swap file from the current 3GB to 4GB?
I recently changed the drive to 120GB SSD and what a difference from 80GD HDD.

I’m amazed with this old Toshibas still running since 2007. It was not in use for some years until I discovered Linux some time ago with Manjaro.
I reminds me of old Mercedes cars lol!

Only if you use hibernation, but commonly only if 3GB is not enough.

1 Like

Might be worth trying the 2x4GB option too.
This official/unofficial max ram support discrepancy was quite common in macs around 2010. My 2009 mbp was sold as 4GB max but does in fact support 8GB.

The ‘old Mercedes’ analogy isn’t even giving full credit to some of those machines. Not only do they keep working like when they were new, they actually will outperform themselves by a huge margin after ssd, ram and battery upgrades.

Yes, I upgraded a couple of those for family members back in the day. With 8GB and a SSD they’re still very usable today for light tasks.

However, those models used DDR3. The previous gen Macbook Pro (pre-Unibody) is a lot closer to what the OP has. Those were DDR2 667Mhz and officially they supported either 3GB (2+1) or 4GB (2+2) depending on exact model. Unofficially it was possible to use 4GB (2+2) in all of them and 6GB (4+2) in the later ones.

On the earlier models 4GB would work no problem but you’d actually only get something like 3.3-3.5 GB. Reason being that some of the 4GB address range had to be reserved for system device I/O. I strongly suspect that this is what the OP will see with 4GB (I’m assuming that his motherboard has some variant of the Intel 945 chipset).

1 Like

This was the original specs it came with, I had a file in Google drive:

Model: Toshiba Satellite L40-15G
Reference: PSL48E-01T00GPT
Technology/Processor: Mobile Technology Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core 2310, (1.46 GHz), 533 Mhz
Front Side Bus, 1 MB level 2 cache, Intel® GL960 chipset
Monitor: 15.4" WXGA panoramic TFT
Internal Video Mode: 16.7 million colours, resolution 1280x800
Hard Disk: S.M.A.R.T. 80 GB, SATA (5400rpm), Enhanced IDE
Memory: 512+512 MB DDR2 (667Mhz) RAM, expandable to 3072 MB/4096 MB
Optical Drive: DVD Super-Multi Double Layer (all recording formats: DVD-R/RW, ±R(DL)/+RW and
DVD-RAM)
Graphics: Adapter Intel® GMA X3100 (up to 256MB shared)
Communications: 10/100 Base-TX, Ethernet LAN, RJ-45, Azalia 56Kbps V.90 built-in Modem, (V.92
ready), 14.4Kbps Fax, RJ-11
Wi-Fi Communications: Realtek 802.11(b/g) 13ch-RTL8187B, (WiFi compatible)
Audio System: 16-bit stereo with built-in stereo speakers
Interfaces: 1x headphones, 1x microphone, 1x DC input, 1x external monitor, 1x RJ-45, 1x RJ-11, 3x
USB 2.0
Expansion: 1x PC Card (Express card), 2x memory slots (0 to configure)
Battery: Lithium ion, maximum stand-by 2.0 hours (Mobile MarkTM)

Only upgrade RAM to 3GB and 120 GB SSD.

I think 2x4GB would be pushing it! Most likely it wouldn’t work.
Now 2x2GB is the safest bet for it to work.

Also note the speed …
The devices are 667hz.
While dmidecode reports the speed as unknown.
ark.intel.com doesnt report a speed spec for the cpu … and the FSB is 533 mhz.

So I’m not even really sure you are getting the 667.
But. Well. I suppose that makes it less likely you can make use of the higher speed DDR2s like 800 or 1066.

That GL960 chipset is weird.

According to Wikipedia it supports 3GB officially and 5GB (4+1 I guess???) unofficially.

There are many reports that 4GB (2+2) doesn’t work. E.g. read through the comments here;

https://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-Intel_(chipsets)/GL960_Express.html

Starting to sound more like a newer mercedes :sweat_smile:

Yeah, nothing like trying the 4GB (2+2). If one slot can read the 2GB probably both slots can. If both RAM sticks have the same specs.

This Mercedes is payed for a long time ago!
:rofl: