Windows 7: Crossfire and disappearing RAM

Running HP 32bit on an MSI 790fx-gd70, AMD 965, and just added an identical video card (MSI 5770 Hawk). Have 2x2 GB RAM installed. Prior to adding the second card, I had 3326MB of system RAM, and a WEI of 7.5. Second card reduced system RAM to 2816 and 5.5 WEI. In order to have stability in gaming, I had to increase the page file to 5.5GB, and the hard drive never takes a break. My plan was to add RAM to see if that helped. I'm now at 4x2 GB, and still at 2816MB of system RAM. My next step is to install a 64bit OS to at least give my hard drive a break, since all of the installed RAM will be recognized. Does anyone know what causes this? Will it resolve my lower WEI for RAM?

The ram on the video cards is counted first then the system ram...so the system ram went down with the second card....you are long overdue a 64 bit OS

You doing crossfire or just two graphics cards (if you are, why?) If you're doing crossfire, try downloading and enabling the software for crossfire.

you are wondering why your card takes so much ram you are using 4 gigs all together correct if so and you crossfired two hd5770's in that case the cards are taking 1gig plus a piece shared ram

the more ram you add the more the pci devices will use if you look in the wei you will see how much but also as well you know 64 bit reconizes more ram and 32 bit is stuck at 4 gigs 3.5 usable so it would be a good idea to move on to x64 and add another few gigs just for the sake of having enough gump for what you are trying to do

Hungry Hungry GPUs. They are in CrossfireX, and it is enabled in CCC. Next order of business is 64bit. I got Win 7 right away because a new build was long overdue (skipped Vista). Heard the 64bit hardware drivers were buggy. Thanks to everyone for the quick replies!!

no, this can apply to a brand new os, but Windows 7 has been up and running for a while now