Solved Usable RAM - Limitation-

geomazo

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Hello,

Background:
PC: HP Desktop - 32 bit -
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad
Ram: originally 2 Gb, recently added 2 Bb more, i.e 4 Gb total
Mobo: AsusTek Barkeley
Graphic: NVidia GeForce 210 GT218 - 1Gb
Bios: Ami 5.11 (original, not updated since 2007)
OS: Win8​

Recently I upgraded the RAM from 2 to 4 Gb. Control Panel (System page) reads: installed memory (Ram) 4 Gb, (usable 3 Gb)

Tried already the following:
Msconfig: unchecked MAX
Enable DEP mode
Bios (is really very basic) reads all 4Gb, however no MMIO found​

I am using 3 out of 4 Gb Ram.

Any suggestions?

Many thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
There is an inherent x32 bit operating system "addressing limitation" that cannot make use of the full 4GBs so 3GBs (usable) looks about right. However, you may be able to "get close" to using the full 4GBs if you upgrade to an x64 bit system but even x64 systems are subject to BIOS and chipset limitations so there are no definitive guarantees.

Here's my x32 bit OS information for your reference:

View attachment 19093

Also, FYI, I have a BIOS restriction that will not allow me to make use of the full 4GBs (even when using an x64 bit OS) but I also have a very old PC.

Good luck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X 4 965 BE
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-MA790X-DS4
    Memory
    G-Skill 8 GB PC 8500
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD XFX HD Radeon 6790D
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2l Samsung SyncMaster S20B300
    Screen Resolution
    1600 X 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 320 GB w/OS
    Seagate Barracuda 1 TB data storage
    PSU
    Ultra X4 750 watt fully modular
    Case
    Thermaltake OverSeer RX 1 fulltower
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper212 120mm
    Keyboard
    Logitech G510
    Mouse
    Razor DeathAdder 3.5
Here's an explanation that I wrote a couple of years ago: The 4gB Memory Limit

Basically, some hardware reserves address space (but doesn't necessarily use it) below the 4 gB limit - so that pushes the rest of the address space above the 4 gB limit where it's not usable. It has to do with how both physical and virtual memory is managed in the 32 bit OS.

The links to Mark Russinovich's posts will show you how to determine what it is that's using those memory address' (usually it's the video card).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1Pro - Finally!!!
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung/NP780
    CPU
    Came with the laptop (i7 of some sort)
    Motherboard
    Pretty sure that it has one, but haven't checked inside the case!
    Memory
    upgraded to 12 gB from 8 gB
    Graphics Card(s)
    has switchable - Intel/ATI - Used wrong drivers, now ATI card is inop :( Will have to fix it soon!
    Sound Card
    I'm nearly deaf, so this isn't used often
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Touchscreen on laptop/32" Toshiba on HDMI (laid the Sharp TV on a mouse and cracked the screen!)
    Screen Resolution
    800x600
    Hard Drives
    One Samsung 1tB drive - 5400 rpm. Gonna switch to a 7200/10000 rpm or an SSD (if I can find $500 for a 1tB SSD!)
    - Switched to 500 gB Samsung 840 series SSD - WOW!!!
    PSU
    Why do we ask this for laptops?
    Case
    Silver with a neat Samsung logo
    Cooling
    sub-par, gotta get around to working on it soon Worked on it - still sub-par! :(
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural - the same one I've used since it orignally came out around 1995
    Mouse
    no Mouse - Trackball!!!!
    Internet Speed
    too slow when I'm waiting for a download to finish
    Browser
    Yes, I use this (Firefox mostly, w/IE next most)
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Windows Firewall
    Other Info
    I'm handsome and a snappy dresser :0)
I am thankful to all of you that provided explanations and very valuable references.
This is an issue that, better, should have been known to me before upgrading the RAM.
Thanks to the contributors and to the Forum, an asset, really, for the users.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
The real thing to remember is that while the memory isn't available to Windows, it's still being used by the hardware (again, usually video and PCI-E or PCI-X devices) and as such is still a worthy upgrade.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4790K @ 4.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus Hero VII
    Memory
    32GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX970
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung 250GB SSD
    4x WD RE 2TB (RAIDZ)
    PSU
    Corsair AX760i
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15
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