[memory] ram problem/ question

[memory] ram problem/ question
Links: home · search · speed test · login · more ·

Links: Reply New Topic
Forums » Technical » Computer Hardware Help » [memory] ram problem/ question

bobbagels @ 27th Oct 08:17PM:
[memory] ram problem/ question

hello hello,

I just put in 2 sticks of 2 GB Crossair ram

Duel booting XP Pro and Win 7 Pro.

Both OS's tell me 4 Gb is installed but only 2.5 is usable?

I am running 32 bit and from what I read 3.5 should be usable.

Is there something I need to do to enable the rest?

OH, this is a AMD system (donno if that matters or not)
--
Be nice to your enemies. It will confuse them.
reply

VegasMan @ 27th Oct 09:24PM:
Re: [memory] ram problem/ question

Does your system memory get shared with the video card?
--
In need of a Vegas vacation.

reply

bobbagels @ 28th Oct 06:42PM:
Re: [memory] ram problem/ question

I dont know,

My video card is a
Nvidia geforce 7950 gx2 1gb graphics processor
Ageia physics processing unit

How would I find that out?
--
Be nice to your enemies. It will confuse them.
reply

VegasMan @ 28th Oct 06:48PM:
Re: [memory] ram problem/ question

That shouldn't be taking away your RAM.
I was curious if you might have had on board video and it shared the RAM.
--
In need of a Vegas vacation.

reply

Smoove910 @ 28th Oct 07:38PM:
Re: [memory] ram problem/ question

Does your board have onboard video which isn't turned off? My Biostar will eat memory if it's enabled even though I have an HD 4850.

Might wanna look at your paging file as well.
reply

matt5 @ 29th Oct 12:26AM:
Re: [memory] ram problem/ question

said by bobbagels :

Nvidia geforce 7950 gx2 1gb

4gigs - 1gig = 3gigs

So you are only trying to account for 512mb of missing ram. Sounds 100% right to me 2.5gigs seen by windows.

I'm sure the system somewhere is using 512mb.

You can turn on PAE I believe its called, google about it. All I know is it tends to cause more problems.

Edit:To clear up the math the computer can ADDRESS 4gigs, the vid card is already addressing 1 gig, and you have more than the vid card using memory.
reply

koitsu @ 29th Oct 10:00AM:
Re: [memory] ram problem/ question

You should actually have around 3.25GB usable, but it depends greatly on the system (motherboard, chipset, etc.). I have to remind people of this every so often.

PAE is on by default in Windows XP with SP3. You can verify the status of it by going into Control Panel -> System and look under the "Computer" section of the General tab. If "Physical Address Extension" is shown, PAE is enabled.

Regardless, PAE won't help increase addressing space in this specific case; it would only allow him to make use of >4GB RAM. You don't need PAE on systems with 4GB or less of memory.
--
Making life hard for others since 1977.
I speak for myself and not my employer/affiliates of my employer.
reply

bobbagels @ 29th Oct 07:37PM:
Re: [memory] ram problem/ question

So from all the responses here and what I have read elsewhere the only real solution is to go with the 64 Bit OS
--
Be nice to your enemies. It will confuse them.
reply

VegasMan @ 29th Oct 08:04PM:
Re: [memory] ram problem/ question

Does you CPU support x64? What CPU do you have?

How about a full rundown of your system? That would really help us in trying to determine what your problem could be and what course of action you should take.
--
In need of a Vegas vacation.

reply

bobbagels @ 30th Oct 05:38PM:
Re: [memory] ram problem/ question

Machine specs

Full tower blue case/blue lights in and out
Faxconn nforce 590 sli motherboard
Athalon 64 x2 5000+ am2 dc processor duel core
crucial 4 GB pc 6400 aw96 memory
2 samsung spinpoint 250gb sata 3g ncq system drive
raid0 striping 2 drives system drive
2 samsung spinpoint 250gb sata 3g ncq storage drive
lacie 16x duel layer dvd+r/w drive w/ lightscribe rev.2 primary cd rom/dvd rom
lite-on 52/32/52 cd-rw rev.3 secondary cd rom/dvd rom
creative sound blaster x-fi with 64mb sound card
Nvidia geforce 7950 gx2 1gb graphics processor
Ageia physics processing unit
Xp pro
750 watt power spply
gx2 7900/7950 dual slot card keeper processor
cool master cooling with sound dampening
amd fx57 duel core hsf chasis upgrades.
--
Be nice to your enemies. It will confuse them.
reply