4 GB Ram Intalled but only 2.75 Reported by Windows?

[BMoffa]

I've asked this question before on other forums, but I'm still not satisfied with the answers. I have 4Gb of RAM installed in my 680l LT SLT Mobo. I also have an 8800 GT 512MB. I have two identical systems to that point. One uses the on-board SATA and on-board sound. The other, mine, uses an Adaptec SCSI RAID and also has an X-Fi XTreme Gamer installed.

Both systems are running Windows XP (SP2) with all current updates installed. Both systems report only 2.75 GB of RAM. I know WIndows 32 can't handle more than about 3.6 GB, but why don't I see at least 3.5 GB reported? Is something in the firmware using that RAM?

I have a friend running a with a SuperMicro MoBo with an old P4 CPU (0ne of several sytems). He has 3 GB of RAM installed on that board and his Windows XP reports a full 3 GB of RAM. He thinks that something is going on in my BIOS. He used to work form me and has probably built 30+ sytems and managed our netword during the 15+ years he worked for me so I have some confidence it what he's telling me.

[sushrukh]

Your other devices (onboard graphics,sound etc) are using memories from your total installed ram.Use vista x64 to see all 4GBs of memory.

[CoolZone]

how much ram does the bios show?

[BMoffa]

Sorry I should have mentioned that stuff. Just installed the P06 BIOS about 2 weeks ago. There is a P07 (Support for Wolfdale range of CPU`s) version on the XFX site now but I don't thnk it has anything to do with this.

The BIOS has always tested and reported 4GB.

[Methious]

In order to see and use all 4 gigs you would have to use Windows 64 bit, XP or Vista.

Windows can only recognize 3.5 3.6 gig of memory because it's built that way, the total amount you can use also includes video memory, and the memory on the Fatality sound card, in other words 3.5-3.6 total, so any devices that have built in memory subtract from the total.

Then there's the space from 640k to 1 meg (384k of space) that is reserved for legacy hardware calls. It's left there from the old DOS and initial windows days, it's used by hardware. Though it's small some BIOS have memory hole remapping, which can move or reallocate that space. I don't recommend using that option as often it causes problems if the device trying to use that space doesn't support remapping you get A BSOD.

Even Vista 32 sees the same amount of memory, it's so machines without 64 bit support can use Vista. Going to X64 Windows carries it's own set of problems, drivers are harder to find, support for it hasn't gained momentum, expense of upgrading to it, in Vista's case the extra memory you get to see is already allocated so while you can see it you don't get direct use of it as the operating system is using it.

You can see the change as hardware with memory is added by checking the memory total, shut down and remove the sound card, the Fatility version has memory built in, the total available after removal should be slightly larger.

[Scott]

YEP, you need a 64bit OS to see it all.

[BMoffa]

No I wasn't expecting to see all 4 GB, just 3.5 or so. The other system here does not have a sound card in it. It is using the on-board sound.

So, are you saying that the 512MB from the 8800 is subtracted from the 3.6 that Windows can use? That would get it a lot closer to the 2.75 that's reported by windows.

As for my friend wiht the 3GB installed and reported, I believe he is running an old Matrox Milleniumn video card that uses shared memory.

[Miker]

Ok, you start out with
3.5g
-.5 Graphics
= 3.0
- .25 for sound, and other add-on cards gives
= 2.75

[slugbug]

As Miker mentioned, the total ram a 32bit OS will see includes video ram.

[BMoffa]

So if I only had 2 GB installed, I would still see 2 GB reported by Window, because that and the memory in other devices are still within the 3.6 GB window. Right?

[werty316]

Yes, if you want to see more than the 2.75GB you'll have to use a x64 OS.

[tyle6]

Thats all there is too it man. Your going to need a 64bit OS. I do believe M$ will allow you to do an upgrade with a new copy of 32bit vista for a price though.

there also this... Not the best x64 OS but it will let you see all 4gbs of ram.
windows xp pro x64 trail.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/facts/trial.mspx

[BMoffa]

Thanks all. I was just trying to understand the fuzzy math. Got it now! Probably going Vista 64, but not for a while.

Thanks again.

[PP Mguire]

Actualy if you use just 3gig of ram by itself it will see it. It just adresses the ram differently when you try to use 3.5gig on a 32bit OS.

[cvasquez]

I have 4 gigs and using Windows XP 32, my system shows 3 gigs not 2.75 that BMOFFA's computer is showing.

This entails that is a motheboard issue...which is normal.
If you want to see all 4 gigs install Vista 64.

[Dragon]

ummm i never heard of that . i use 4 gigs and windows seees 3.25 gigs as it is the os itself . u can however get 32 bit windows to see 3.5 gigs but it requires tweaking ....

[Exilon]

I've heard that it's a virtual addressing space allocation issue ala Miker. There should be more than 2.75gb reported even with a 32bit OS. Try looking in the Microsoft knowledge base.

[DemonicDerek]

Make sure you are using a 64 bit OS. Otherwise it will recognize only about 3 GB of RAM Rather than 4 or more.:-D

[cvasquez]

ummm i never heard of that . i use 4 gigs and windows seees 3.25 gigs as it is the os itself . u can however get 32 bit windows to see 3.5 gigs but it requires tweaking ....

You are right my ad...3.25 Gigs.
By now MS should come with a fix for this problem?
Shouldn't SP3 fix this ???

[werty316]

using a 64x OS is a fix...

[cvasquez]

Yeah...but not everyone is confident about the 64bits since there are barely any apps written to take advantage of it.
Heck I purchase Vista32 bits...but now since I know this still aproblem, my next purchase will be 64 bits.

[srpeters18]

It is not a problem or a mistake. A 32 bit OS is limited to using 32 bit integers. Which means it can only use ~3 GB of memory. It can't address anything higher than that because it runs out of addresses. Its kinda like phone numbers, each phone number works for a different line (address) and there is a finite number of combinations. With a 32 bit integer there is also a finite number of addresses, but its a lot higher than a 7 digit phone number, obviously. 64 bit OS's use 64 bit integers, its that simple. There is a limit to how much memory they can use as well.

[PP Mguire]

Yeah...but not everyone is confident about the 64bits since there are barely any apps written to take advantage of it.THe point is you can use all your 32bit apps with the full 4-16gig of ram addressed. x64 stops at 16gig i believe.

[huggies]

I'm not a computer guru or nothing, but I think the statements that you have to subtract your video mem and sound card mem from the 3.5 gig is wrong, or I'm just stupid. I have a hd3870 vid card with 512m memory and 4gig memory installed. Windows reports 3.5gig of memory. I've done no tweaking to the Windows install, xp32. Maybe I'm reading the memory report from the wrong spot, how are you guys getting what Windows is reporting? I'm just looking at the General tab on System Properties.

[PP Mguire]

You just proved our point bud.

I have a hd3870 vid card with 512m memory and 4gig memory installed. Windows reports 3.5gig of memory.

[Ranzear]

facepalm.jpg, etc.

Video RAM and Sound Card RAM are completely seperate from system RAM, unless you have one of those 'TurboTrash' cards/onboard video that 50/50 with the system RAM.

32bit can only handle ~3.4 gig of ram, it runs out of numbers for each block. 64bit, on the other hand, can address 64 'digits' of the phone number example already given instead of only 32. The amount of addressable RAM goes up exponentially. There will not be a 'fix' except to go to 64bit.

And again with this **** that there are no applications to use 64bit. Get the **** out of the Itanium age. Every FOSS project i use now has 64bit compilings and recodes, most graphics software went 64bit years ago, and I can name three or four top game titles that have 64bit executables right alongside the 32bit if you'd just look.

[Hussein]

I've asked this question before on other forums, but I'm still not satisfied with the answers. I have 4Gb of RAM installed in my 680l LT SLT Mobo. I also have an 8800 GT 512MB. I have two identical systems to that point. One uses the on-board SATA and on-board sound. The other, mine, uses an Adaptec SCSI RAID and also has an X-Fi XTreme Gamer installed.

Both systems are running Windows XP (SP2) with all current updates installed. Both systems report only 2.75 GB of RAM. I know WIndows 32 can't handle more than about 3.6 GB, but why don't I see at least 3.5 GB reported? Is something in the firmware using that RAM?

I have a friend running a with a SuperMicro MoBo with an old P4 CPU (0ne of several sytems). He has 3 GB of RAM installed on that board and his Windows XP reports a full 3 GB of RAM. He thinks that something is going on in my BIOS. He used to work form me and has probably built 30+ sytems and managed our netword during the 15+ years he worked for me so I have some confidence it what he's telling me.
-
Windows Vista 32 bit with sp1 will support 4GB of RAM.
i uploaded screenshots of my computer and check it out
http://pchelpsd.com/images1/4G... (http://pchelpsd.com/images1/4GB32bit.JPG)
http://pchelpsd.com/images1/4g... (http://pchelpsd.com/images1/4gb32bitvista.JPG)
My system: Motherboard: EVGA 680I SLI, Geforce 8800 GTS, DDR 4GB PC8500,intel core2duo E6600,

[Miker]

-
Windows Vista 32 bit with sp1 will support 4GB of RAM.
i uploaded screenshots of my computer and check it out
http://pchelpsd.com/images1/4G... (http://pchelpsd.com/images1/4GB32bit.JPG)
http://pchelpsd.com/images1/4g... (http://pchelpsd.com/images1/4gb32bitvista.JPG)
My system: Motherboard: EVGA 680I SLI, Geforce 8800 GTS, DDR 4GB PC8500,intel core2duo E6600,

It will display 4GB, but not use it all.

[srpeters18]

If I remember correctly Microsoft released a patch a while back that made it possible to see all 4 GB's. Vista still won't address or use all 4 GB's though.

[Methious]

Yes they released a Vista 32 Bit patch so it will report but not use all 4 Gigs of ram.

[tywashere]

yea

Mine shows 3.2 gigs, but Ive got a audigy SE and a 1gb HD4850.

I to have heard this "It's combined ram" theory... Seems to be BS

[Methious]

It might be BS that they do it that way but that is the way it is. It's been with us during the entire evolution of PC's.

Originally machines were 8 Bit, then about the time 286 machines came out it went 16 bit, it held at 16 for quite a while, then went 32, now you can get 64 bit machines.

If you don't want to take the word of a guy that's been doing it for a living for 25 years here's another explanation.

Disbelievers may click here (http://www.vistaclues.com/reader-question-32-bit-vista-memory-limits/)

[tywashere]

It might be BS that they do it that way but that is the way it is. It's been with us during the entire evolution of PC's.

Originally machines were 8 Bit, then about the time 286 machines came out it went 16 bit, it held at 16 for quite a while, then went 32, now you can get 64 bit machines.

If you don't want to take the word of a guy that's been doing it for a living for 25 years here's another explanation.

Disbelievers may click here (http://www.vistaclues.com/reader-question-32-bit-vista-memory-limits/)

theoretically, it should only be showing me 2 gigs of actual memory =P
3.25 - 1.0 -(however much is on the sound card XD) =2.0-2.25 <_<

[Methious]

Theoretically it's gonna lump it all into one number and show you that.

Take the 3.whatever, subtract the 1 Gig from it and the soundcard memory and that's addressable for the system.

Add it back in and that's the total you see.

Read up on it there's a thousand or so articles out there about it. Or not if believing different floats your boat go for it.

[typh4u]

64 bit OS has a limit of something like 18billion terabytes. I don't see us hitting that limit anytime soon.

[Goliath182]

64 bit OS has a limit of something like 18billion terabytes. I don't see us hitting that limit anytime soon.
Actually its 16.8 million Terabytes, 17.2 billion gigabytes for us who still use gigabytes to measure our ram. :lol: We probably wont use that much in our lifetime, but you never know how fast technology will grow.

[typh4u]

oops my bad :ahhhhh: