Windows 7 64 bit RAM issue?

Topper59 said:

Thats what i thought, just wanted to make sure, thanks for all your help!

after a bit more research what your seeing there is Graphics Memory Reporting through WDDM
read the "GraphicsMemory.doc" on that page for clarification

If I understand it right the memory is allocated for use by your GPU if needed to compliment your available gfx card RAM.

this is a function of Windows Vista™ Display Driver Model (WDDM) now utilised in our gfx card drivers and DX10.

It is dynamic so it isn't lost but simply made available to whatever needs it giving our GUI and games apps priority

Hey, just bumping this thread.

So I have the same "problem" as the OP. While I've read this entire thread, there's something that's still quite strange to me.

I know someone with almost the exact same setup as the OP and me, with the win7 RC 64 bit and 4gigs of RAM. His system properties show that all 4gigs are usable.

Does anyone have any idea as to why?

The "reserved for hardware" answer is the same one I got when running 32 bit Vista with 4GB a year ago. What is the advantage of using a 64 bit OS with 4Gb ram then? And why are there so many references to win32 when you generate a system health report in Windows 7 64 bit? It looks like this:

OS Checks
Operating System Info

Query
root\cimv2:SELECT*FROM Win32_OperatingSystem
root\cimv2:SELECT*FROM Win32_ComputerSystem

--- or this further down the list ---

System Services

Query
root\cimv2:SELECT __Relpath, Name, Caption, Description, DisplayName, PathName, Started, ExitCode, State, ServiceSpecificExitCode FROM Win32_Service

with every available/running windows service listed as a "Win32" service after it.

I upgraded to Windows 7 64 bit (which it reports as OS in other places) from Vista Home Premium 64 bit. Here are machine specs.

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L (latest bios)
Core 2 Duo E6600
4GB G-Skill RAM (2x2GB)
HTO CLARO Sound
Intel Gigabit CT NIC
EVGA Nvidia 260 GTX 216 core Video

Hello, what most of the guys here are saying is correct - aslong as you're BIOS & OS are reporting you have 4GB installed then you're fine.

You have 4GB, all of which is being used, just your OS is being selfish so to speak and taking X amount for itself, which is not a bad thing.

But if you want to get it back, here's how.

If you open your msconfig by going to Start and typing 'msconfig' and go to the boot tab and then click the Advanced Options button, from there you can set the amount of RAM your OS will take for itself, if 'Maximum Memory' is unchecked then it will display all of your RAM as usable and the OS will just use what it needs from the total amount of RAM you have.

Hope this helps and fixes your issue.

Two little words that I am surprised no one has mentioned yet, Memory Remapping,

The system memory that is reported in the System Information dialog box in Windows Vista is less than you expect if 4 GB of RAM is installed

scroll down to "Workaround". Check in your bios and see what if anything there is relating to that (would tell you where to look but the manual for your board is pretty much useless, sort of like Abit has been for a while) and make sure that it is enabled. To give you an idea of what to look for this is from my old A8N-SLI manual,

It's not memory remapping, if you use that then your system displays the new amount as total memory, not usable.

For example, i have 4GB of RAM in my system, if i disable Memory Remapping in my BIOS then i get 3.3GB total memory (also my BIOS & OS show this as total system memory).

That's what i just said, read my first post :P

But yeah, that should fix the issue for most atleast.