Compaq Presario SR5510F - Decreased video RAM after BIOS update!

[TrashCompaqtor]

What I currently have:

Phoenix - Award BIOS

Core 6.0

Revision 5.27  6-10-2008

ECS MCP61PM-HM  Iris8-GL6

Revision 1.0B

Windows Vista 32-bit

What I did:

Went to the software/driver download section for my PC model and downloaded sp40911.exe (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=pv-66757-1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3740354&os=2093&lang=en).

I don't remember which revision of BIOS I had prior to update, I just wanted to make sure everything was as up to date as possible, I've even updated all other components to the latest driver versions - which the only problem I had was that my network adapter would not work with new drivers and painfully but eventually was able to roll back that one - but that's not the issue I have now.

What happened:

BIOS update finished without any errors or problems.  I restarted and took a look at my BIOS settings to make sure everything was set up right, but I notice one HUGE problem:  instead of 128 MB dedicated video RAM it now says I have only 64 MB!

I contacted live support and was told that this is normal and nothing can be done to fix it or downgrade to a previous BIOS version;  the detailed explanation I got was that the new BIOS is somehow "reserving" half of my video RAM for some unknown reason.  THIS MAKES NO SENSE and I've never heard of such a thing for memory that is already dedicated for video - because it has its own 128 MB to play with.

The person I communicated with obviously didn't know much english except for the cut-and-paste responses I received.

Every software program I've used that can report to me the size of my onboard video tells me I have 64 MB of RAM for it too.

But... I haven't noticed any drop in performace, though this is not a super fast high-end system to begin with.

I want my BIOS to recognize all of my video RAM.  PLEASE HELP!

[old_geekster]

TC, basically when you use the Integrated Video, you are sharing memory with the system.  It says in the specs that with 512MB or more of memory, that 'up to 256MB' will be shared with the video.  Here is the actual section:

Video graphics

• Integrated graphics using nVidia GeForce 6150SE
• Up to 256MB (with 512MB or more system memory)
• Also supports PCI Express x16 graphics cards

  NOTE: Either integrated graphics or the PCI Express x16 slot are usable at one time; they are not usable concurrently.

The way to get around this is upgrade to a standalone PCIE video card.  You get a double benefit from this upgrade.  It will free-up the system memory that is being shared with the video and it adds the video memory on the card.  This will give you a nice performance boost.

We would be glad to give you recommendations for a good video card, if you would like to try it. 

[TrashCompaqtor]

---

old_geekster wrote:

It says in the specs that with 512MB or more of memory, that 'up to 256MB' will be shared with the video.  Here is the actual section:

Video graphics

• Integrated graphics using nVidia GeForce 6150SE
• Up to 256MB (with 512MB or more system memory)
• Also supports PCI Express x16 graphics cards

---

Ok, so then if that is true, then I still need a reason why the newest BIOS update decreases the initial amount of set-aside RAM from 128 MB to 64 MB.

Running dxdiag.exe reports that my Approx. Total Memory is 793 MB;  that's a lot more than the top limit of 256 MB.  I assume this is taking into account the Virtual Memory?  NVIDIA Control Panel tells me I have a maximum of 799 MB total video memory.

NVIDIA Control Panel still says that only 64 MB of RAM is set for Dedicated video memory.

We bought a computer that started out with a minimum reserve of 128 MB of physical dedicated video RAM, not 64!!!

I want as much physical RAM dedicated to video memory as possible without my machine having to rely on the slower Virtual Memory.  I have 2 GB of physical memory and it's still more than enough for what I need so I know I've got extra to spare for more dedicated to the video.

If indeed my computer is using more than 64 MB of physical RAM dedicated to the video, then please tell me how I can find this information on my computer.   I need real proof that HP/Compaq is not trying to cheat me. 

Lastly why are there no warnings to let others know about the BIOS update decreasing the default reserved RAM for video?  Am I the only person to have noticed this?  wow.

Message Edited by TrashCompaqtor on 11-24-2009 05:50 AM

[TrashCompaqtor]

Have I stumped the experts on this issue?  I want my base reserve of Dedicated Video Memory back up to 128 MB!

Or please someone help me find a previous version of this computer's BIOS!

see it used to be 128 MB and it decreased after the motherboard BIOS update (not the video's Bios which is in the pic)

Maybe I should also mention that this particular mobo is slightly different than the specs stated at:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01237538&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3740354&lang=en

 My computer came with the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ cpu, and the specs say it can only go up to 4800+

Message Edited by TrashCompaqtor on 11-29-2009 08:59 PM

[TrashCompaqtor]

Please someone help me!

I'm looking for the original BIOS that came with my Presario SR5510F - the version previous to revision 5.27

I don't remember exactly which revision number it was, sorry, just as long as it predates what I currently have:

My current BIOS and motherboard:

Phoenix - Award BIOS

Core 6.0

Revision 5.27  6-10-2008

KQ513AA-ABA

Build: 83NAv3PrA1

ECS MCP61PM-HM  Iris8-GL6 Revision 1.0B

Message Edited by TrashCompaqtor on 12-01-2009 05:51 PM

[Dartan]

Try updating the nVidia graphics driver.  If that doesn't help, you may have to flash back

[TrashCompaqtor]

I gave  up on this problem for a while, but now I'm back - and with more problems...

I'd love to flash my BIOS back to the version that came with this computer BUT GUESS WHAT?!  It is not available anywhere.

I even tried talking to customer support and they couldn't even find any previous versions in their own archive.

I'd really love it if someone could please send me a copy of any BIOS earlier than 5.27...  I think what originally came with the PC is version 5.26

Ok, and here's the rest of my problems:

Booting into Windows XP SP3 every single time will give me an error saying the network cable has been unplugged.  The only way I can remedy this is to uninstall the NIC from the device manager and then install it - only to have it tell me that I need to reboot for it to work (or else it might not work right).  Well guess what now????  It works flawlessly until I eventually restart.  I can sit and watch the green and amber network lights go dead as the computer boots.

I've tried every other available network driver, XP and Vista, and the only one that will half work is one designed for Vista.

A long time ago I somehow managed to trick the computer into keeping the network alive, but now it's just not working.

Ok and here's one more MAJOR problem:  I can't reinstall Vista anymore either.  It says it can't find a system disk that meets the requirements.

So now I'm totally stuck with a computer that will run only XP with a totally messed up network.  I've tried everything!!!  I should file a BBB complaint for being sold such garbage... 

It'll teach me to never upgrade my drivers/BIOS again.  Thanks a lot.