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 The 3GB-not-4GB RAM problem

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ejaldgreat
post Oct 5 2010, 12:47 PM

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The /PAE switch won't help. Windows XP can't see memory that is moved above 4 GB boundary, so however much "address space" (from 0.5 GB to 1.25 GB) is needed for peripherals is taken from that 4 GB range, and there is nothing to be done about it (except upgrade to a 64-bit operating system). Your motherboard, BIOS, and installed cards - especially video cards - determine how much of the "address space" is used up. If you see 2.99 GB now, that is all you are going to see.
SUStlts
post Oct 6 2010, 09:19 AM

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QUOTE(fariz @ Aug 11 2008, 09:09 AM)
Problem statement:
I just bought a system with 4GB of physical RAM in it. The BIOS posts 4GB, but Windows tells me that I have anywhere from 2.75 - 3.5GB of RAM. Where is the rest of my RAM?

Summary:
If you are running 32-bit Windows, you must live with it. You will not ever see all 4GB of RAM you've paid for.

If you are running 64-bit Windows, you may have to live with it. Depending on your motherboard's chipset, your system may support memory remapping. If so, you will be able to use all 4GB of RAM.

Detailed:
Due to an architectural decision made long ago, if you have 4GB of physical RAM installed, Windows is only able to report a portion of the physical 4GB of RAM (ranges from ~2.75GB to 3.5GB depending on the devices installed, motherboard's chipset & BIOS).

This behavior is due to "memory mapped IO reservations". Those reservations overlay the physical address space and mask out those physical addresses so that they cannot be used for working memory. This is independent of the OS running on the machine.

Significant chunks of address space below 4GB (the highest address accessible via 32-bit) get reserved for use by system hardware:

  • BIOS – including ACPI and legacy video support
  • PCI bus including bridges etc.
  • PCI Express support will reserve at least 256MB, up to 768MB depending on graphics card installed memory
More detail and source: http://blogs.msdn.com/hiltonl/archive/2007...am-problem.aspx
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no wonder la i 4gb but it show 3.25gb useable only ...winxp32bit user here well is enuf for gaming tongue.gif
Kilohertz
post Oct 15 2010, 02:30 PM

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QUOTE(tlts @ Oct 6 2010, 09:19 AM)
no wonder la i 4gb but it show 3.25gb useable only ...winxp32bit user here well is enuf for gaming  tongue.gif
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I think I'm going to upgrate to 4gb soon too smile.gif Should be sufficient. heh
ysc
post Dec 15 2010, 12:18 AM

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I'm currently using XFX Geforce 8300 mobo (click LINK), it has onboard 8200 gpu and allows Hybrid SLi...

However, when i enable that, i will lose around HALF GB of RAM..

Im using Win7 32bit... As we all know, 32bit os only reads/utilizes 3.5 GB ram (or 3.25, lets assume 3.5)

i currently have 2GB ram in one slot...
if i threw in another 2GB RAM... i would have a total of 4.0 GB ram, then enabling Hybrid SLi uses 512mb of my RAM, i would still SEE AND UTILIZE 3.5 GB of ram right ?


smile.gif IN OTHER WORDS, i would have NO loss of RAM if i added another 2GB of ram and enabled Hybrid SLi right AND
instead i should have a performance gain from H.SLi and ram dual-channeling right ??
nikessj4
post Dec 16 2010, 10:35 PM

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just go 64bit no need to waste time on 32bit
djronzai
post Dec 25 2010, 01:04 PM

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how to increase my system rating...mine only 4.9 now..
gailfriz
post Feb 7 2011, 02:50 PM

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Yeah how do we increase it?
wanna be hi-tech
post Feb 13 2011, 09:14 PM

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QUOTE(gailfriz @ Feb 7 2011, 02:50 PM)
Yeah how do we increase it?
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with all respcet due ...can someone tell me what's the system rating is about and how do i check it...thx
lengchai86
post Mar 21 2011, 01:50 AM

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QUOTE(djronzai @ Dec 25 2010, 01:04 PM)
how to increase my system rating...mine only 4.9 now..
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hack what is your spec. 4Gb ddr3 rating can go 7.5 in windows 7 (32 bit). if you are using HDD, max out is 5.9 unless you are using SSD

QUOTE(wanna be hi-tech @ Feb 13 2011, 09:14 PM)
with all respcet due ...can someone tell me what's the system rating is about and how do i check it...thx
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right click at 'my computer', click 'properties'
» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «


click at 'Windows Experience Index'
» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «


click 'refresh' or 'Re-run the assessment'
» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «


This post has been edited by lengchai86: Mar 21 2011, 02:00 AM
Paradise_Trader
post Apr 8 2011, 11:52 AM

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Good work. Finally a properly documented thread after so many questions and posts about this.
asstoash
post May 10 2011, 07:51 PM

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haha..i just noticed this thread.no wonder when i do a scan test at "system requirement lab", it only show 3.2gb eventhough i got 4gb ram installed.i thought my newly bought ram broken alreadi.
i tried to do PAE switch but nothing change.
fiqir
post May 11 2011, 06:36 PM

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QUOTE(asstoash @ May 10 2011, 07:51 PM)
haha..i just noticed this thread.no wonder when i do a scan test at "system requirement lab", it only show 3.2gb eventhough i got 4gb ram installed.i thought my newly bought ram broken alreadi.
i tried to do PAE switch but nothing change.
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its because windows 32-bit ram limitations
crthompson
post Aug 20 2011, 03:11 PM

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if i installed win 7 on lappy the memory upgrade only 2gb max?
coz ram slot only 1
SkyReVnZ
post Aug 21 2011, 03:43 AM

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so the left 1 GB (4gb-3gb) is unused ? im facing this problem ~
hellwaker
post Sep 9 2011, 04:53 PM

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Will the memory patch improve gaming? I plan to add another 2GB later.
newuserex
post Sep 14 2011, 09:55 AM

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Currently using W7 32bit, I plan to add another 4GB of ram so total is 8GB
if I use this program can I get more than 4GB?
currently got 4GB(3.5Gb usable)
Is there other recomended program for this?
yuhhaur
post Sep 14 2011, 11:02 AM

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QUOTE(newuserex @ Sep 14 2011, 09:55 AM)
Currently using W7 32bit, I plan to add another 4GB of ram so total is 8GB
if I use this program can I get more than 4GB?
currently got 4GB(3.5Gb usable)
Is there other recomended program for this?
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With most of the windows7 licenses, you can use the 64-bit along with 32-bit.
The issue here is what would you do with anything above 4gb? In normal situation even 4gb is more than enough, and in other case where you want excessive ram (rendering), it is always better to switch to 64bit.
So the 8gb work around for 32bit is just stuck in between.
Gmruleme
post Nov 28 2011, 10:51 PM

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thanks for the good info ts!
alanxander
post Jan 1 2012, 05:33 AM

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oso having the same prob when reassembled my pc..

when install win 7 32bit, ram only detect 2.75. then reinstall windows to win 7 64bit... sweat.gif no changes..

after put GC, ram auto detech to 4gb...solved..

if i know, dont hv to reformat n wasting time... laugh.gif
febreze2xxx
post Jan 1 2012, 07:32 AM

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QUOTE(alanxander @ Jan 1 2012, 05:33 AM)
oso having the same prob when reassembled my pc..

when install win 7 32bit, ram only detect 2.75. then reinstall windows to win 7 64bit... sweat.gif  no changes..

after put GC, ram auto detech to 4gb...solved..

if i know, dont hv to reformat n wasting time... laugh.gif
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If you use onboard GC of course it will take some of your ram to dedicate to your onboard GC. Since when you plugin your GC your computer doesn't need the ram since you GC already got the dedicated ram. It makes me ponder, why so much until 1gb sweat.gif
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