Windows 7: Memory

Hey all, I have an ASUS G1 laptop running windows 7 build 7600 64bit (just installed it last night) and my problem that I've been pondering is, should I be using 64 bit or 32bit?

My laptop did come with 3gb ram and windows vista home premium 32bit, but I decided to make it 2x2gb rams and changed to 64bit after I got it so I am not too sure about the performance with 32bit of vista and above windows 7. Other than that, I've used xp pro 32bit with this set up and it was fantastic.

I do have 4gb ram and in the resource monitor, it's showing:

Hardware Reserved: 1153mb
In Use: 1115mb
Modified: 48mb
Standby: 1560mb
Free: 220mb

Available: 1782mb
Cached: 1608mb
Total: 2943mb
Installed: 4096mb



I read many topics and people say to remap the memory in the bios, but my bios doesn't have that option. Even after upgrading the bios, I still don't see the option. If it's not going to use all 4gb, would it be better to just stick with 32bit?

Thanks in advance.

so just to confirm ... you have 64bit Windows 7 installed but only 3GB of ram show up?
or do you have 32bit vista/xp/Windows 7 installed?

and from what OS (32 or 64bit) do you have your numbers?

edit: if it is 64bit version maybe this link can help you:
How to make Windows 7 x64 use ALL your Memory!

I am using windows 7 build 7600 64 bit (the one that was just leaked the other day). I have also already checked that topic and when I did that, my box was already unticked.

It says that I have 4gb ram in system properties, but 2943mb seems to be the total I have for this laptop in task manager. If I can't remap my memories through the bios, best bet would be to use 32bit since 64bit is mainly for 4gb ram and above while I'm only able to use about 3gb?

How much memory is your graphics card using if its on board memory and not a dedicated graphics card then that would use a chunk of memory, could be as much as a gig if thats what it requires.

Raz

My graphic card is a dedicated Nvidia Geforce Go 7700 512mb. In dixdiag, it says Approx. Total Memory: 1720mb though, is that right?

Try running memtest and see how much that shows Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool also check to see how much it shows in the BIOS screens. Could be something to do with the motherboard. Some background info 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

I would expect that if you used 32 bit your ram would be significantly less as i suspect your system is using at least 512MB for graphics + whatever else it needs to run, as long as it reports in system properties that you have 4GB then thats what is available for you to use, your system will use as much memory as it needs.
Task manager will show what you are using at that time for whatever purpose is required, be it 1gig or 1MB.
Your pc could be doing 3 tasks and use 2gig or doing 1 task and use 2gig it uses what it thinks it need to run efficiently.

hope that helps

Raz

You are fine. You have the right amount of RAM on the right OS and you are using your RAM to it's full potential. Your particular BIOS automatically detects RAM configuration and sets remap accordingly.

Installed: 4096mb minus
Hardware Reserved: 1153mb equals
Total: 2943mb

If you had only 3 GB, your Total remaining would be approximately 1920mb.

Hardware reserved means your video card + all of your other device drivers. It is not "just" your video that uses your RAM.

Thanks guys, I understand now.