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From: someone on 16 May 2010 09:47
I had 4GB physical memoryon the PC. With Windows vista 32 bit,
available memory is shown as 3.3GB. I asked on usenet and was told
that only under 64 bit windows, will the available memory be 4GB.

When I upgraded to windows 7, I chosed 64 bit (I did clean install of
course), but the available memory shown in the system is still 3.3 GB.
This is show in both task manager under performance->Physical
memory->total, and 'property of My Computer'->Installed memory
(4GB/3.3 GB usable)

Why is this and is there a way to make the full 4GB available?

It's possible that my video card is using RAM instead of its own video
RAM. This video card may not have its own memory.

Now I just replaced a new video card with 512 MB of its own memory,
the memory available becomes 2.8GB. Again, this is shown in both
task manager under performance->Physical memory->total, and 'property
of My Computer'->Installed memory (4GB/2.8 GB usable).

The PC is Dell Inpirson 530. The only BIOS setting applicable to this
is:
DVMT Mode: FIXED, DVMT (DVMT by default)
DVMT/FIXED Memory Size: 128 MB, 256 MB, MAX (128 MB by default)

Looked up DVMT on the web, doesn't seem change the setting will help.


Thanks.
From: Charlie Russel - MVP on 16 May 2010 10:20
This is a BIOS setting . It can be called any of several different things,
but look for a setting to re-map or offset memory in the BIOS and change it
to enable the offset. The issue is that peripheral cards and functionality
need memory addresses and normally these are mapped into the range between
3-4 GB since 32-bit OS's needed the addresses for these cards to be below
the 4GB point. With a 64-bit OS, this 4GB limitation is no longer an issue,
and the memory addresses can be above 4GB, but the BIOS needs to know that
and make the change.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel




<someone(a)somewhere.com> wrote in message
news:a9tvu5h8rbddbtdohv9a7am252204cdu09(a)4ax.com...
>I had 4GB physical memoryon the PC. With Windows vista 32 bit,
> available memory is shown as 3.3GB. I asked on usenet and was told
> that only under 64 bit windows, will the available memory be 4GB.
>
> When I upgraded to windows 7, I chosed 64 bit (I did clean install of
> course), but the available memory shown in the system is still 3.3 GB.
> This is show in both task manager under performance->Physical
> memory->total, and 'property of My Computer'->Installed memory
> (4GB/3.3 GB usable)
>
> Why is this and is there a way to make the full 4GB available?
>
> It's possible that my video card is using RAM instead of its own video
> RAM. This video card may not have its own memory.
>
> Now I just replaced a new video card with 512 MB of its own memory,
> the memory available becomes 2.8GB. Again, this is shown in both
> task manager under performance->Physical memory->total, and 'property
> of My Computer'->Installed memory (4GB/2.8 GB usable).
>
> The PC is Dell Inpirson 530. The only BIOS setting applicable to this
> is:
> DVMT Mode: FIXED, DVMT (DVMT by default)
> DVMT/FIXED Memory Size: 128 MB, 256 MB, MAX (128 MB by default)
>
> Looked up DVMT on the web, doesn't seem change the setting will help.
>
>
> Thanks.

From: Stan Starinski on 16 May 2010 14:09
You wouldn't waste money if you install 4GB REGARDLESS of Windows (starting
w/Vista) or hardware (starting w/post-2006) you have, but you can do more,
read my article:
*****

As you know from Electrical Engineering basics, theoretical memory space is
defined by the address bus width. In a binary system it's simply 2^N where
N is the address width.
In plain English:
If your Windows is 32-bit it can theoretically manage 2^32 = 4GB.
If your hardware (e.g. Intel945 chipset?) is 32 bit but Windows is 64 bit,
or hardware is 64bit but Windows is 32 bit it's still 4GB as obviously the
lower address width limits the system, and disregards 64 bit elsewhere.

The practical numbers are somewhat different:
a) Windows 32-bit claims a whopping 0.75GB for itself ("untouchable" by
you - the user) due to I/O overhead in a 4GB memory space leaving you with
ONLY 3.25GB of usable memory
Too long to explain but just accept it as a fact - almost a Gigabyte is
eaten by the BIOS, I/O, etc. memory addresses your applications cannot use.
b) On the upside you can go over 4GB EVEN in a 32-bit Windows if this
Windows is a Server, and not a Client version.
There's a 99.9% chance you running a Client and not Server Windows, so your
usable memory is therefore:
3.25GB But I don't know exactly what Win version you run, so you can
calculate by understanding this article, i.e if you're so advanced as to
have Windows SERVER edition, then even in 32-bit configuration it can "page"
more than 4GB.

Now why I say you didn't waste money.
How much did you pay for 4GB and how much WOULD you pay for 3GB? The
$dollar difference as of September2009 is NOT worth any regret.
You'd lose pennies, stop worrying & have at least 4GB. Also better if you
install memory modules "symmetrically" which, as a consequence, also means
you'd have an even number of memory units.
In plain English, it's better to install two modules 2GB+2GB = 4GB, than
2GB+1GB = 3GB which is assymetric, although such may not longer be of any
importance for new computers, in the past it was an issue. Still I
recommend not to play with assymetry for DDR2 memory, I don't know about
DDR3 and this example covers 4GB. You might have 4GB+4GB=8GB for example,
for 64-bit Windows AND 64-bit hardware as a requirement.
Why would anyone need 8GB? Well, I even need MORE - 16GB for
CAD/Engineering & Graphics design work, so I can lots of memory running
heavy-duty engineering simulations.
Plus it stimulates industry (but hurts environment) heheh....

So memory space is defined by 3 factors:
OS bit width
Hardware bitwidth
Whether your Windows addressing is using virtuial/paging/etc to bypass
normal addressing limted to 2^N - i.e. is it a regular Win Client or Server,
and how much your Windows wastes for itself (overhead)
I am not likely to check your further questions, so dont ask :) I am too
busy, maybe others will help more.
Just get 4GB and be done with it.

BUT IF YOU NEED 1GB+1GB MODULES = 2GB of laptop, DDR667 speed memory, let me
know - I can ship for free (you just pay shipping by Post Office in USA or
abroad), I removed them and replaced with 8GB on my laptop. I am too lazy
to write ads and sell it, just take for free. I maybe back here to check
your response for thsi reason only.

From: Peter Foldes on 16 May 2010 13:49
As Charlie posted. This has to do with the setting in your Bios. If your Bios is old
and it does not have that setting for you to change then either find the Update for
your Bios or if not available change to an Updated one

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

<someone(a)somewhere.com> wrote in message
news:a9tvu5h8rbddbtdohv9a7am252204cdu09(a)4ax.com...
>I had 4GB physical memoryon the PC. With Windows vista 32 bit,
> available memory is shown as 3.3GB. I asked on usenet and was told
> that only under 64 bit windows, will the available memory be 4GB.
>
> When I upgraded to windows 7, I chosed 64 bit (I did clean install of
> course), but the available memory shown in the system is still 3.3 GB.
> This is show in both task manager under performance->Physical
> memory->total, and 'property of My Computer'->Installed memory
> (4GB/3.3 GB usable)
>
> Why is this and is there a way to make the full 4GB available?
>
> It's possible that my video card is using RAM instead of its own video
> RAM. This video card may not have its own memory.
>
> Now I just replaced a new video card with 512 MB of its own memory,
> the memory available becomes 2.8GB. Again, this is shown in both
> task manager under performance->Physical memory->total, and 'property
> of My Computer'->Installed memory (4GB/2.8 GB usable).
>
> The PC is Dell Inpirson 530. The only BIOS setting applicable to this
> is:
> DVMT Mode: FIXED, DVMT (DVMT by default)
> DVMT/FIXED Memory Size: 128 MB, 256 MB, MAX (128 MB by default)
>
> Looked up DVMT on the web, doesn't seem change the setting will help.
>
>
> Thanks.

From: Stan Starinski on 16 May 2010 16:00
Peter,

You're excellent. Your expertise continues to help so many Windows users.

May the Lord richly bless you.
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