How to Set the Maximum Memory to be Used by Windows 7
Information
This will show you how to specify the maximum amount of physical memory (RAM) to be used by Windows 7 to simulate a low memory configuration by using less RAM, or to make sure that you are using all of your installed RAM.
Windows 7 uses all of your installed RAM memory by default.
You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.
Note
32-bit (x86) Windows 7 Maximium RAM Limit
All editions: 4GB
64-bit (x64) Windows 7 Maximium RAM Limit per Edition
Home Basic: 8GB
Home Premium: 16GB
Professional: 192GB
Enterprise: 192GB
Ultimate: 192GB
Warning
If you have a integrated/onboard graphics chip on your motherboard and are using a graphics card instead, then double check your BIOS settings to make sure that you do not have any memory allocated to the integrated/onboard graphics chip (ex:hardware reserved) so that it will be used by Windows 7 instead.
If you are using a integrated/onboard graphics chip on your motherboard to display your monitor from, then part of your memory (RAM) will be allocated to it as set in the BIOS.
Double check to see if you have a memory mapping option in your BIOS settings. If you do, enable it.
Here's How:
1. Open the Start Menu, then type msconfig and press enter.
3. Under the Boot tab in System Configuration, click on the Advanced options button. (see screenshot below)
4. To Have Windows 7 Use All Installed Memory
A) Uncheck the Maximum memory box, and click on OK. (see screenshot below) NOTE:If the box is not checked, then it does not matter what the selected number is since Windows 7 will use all available RAM by default and ignore whatever value is in the box underneath.
B) Go to step 6.
5. To Have Windows 7 Use a Specified Maximum Amount of Memory NOTE:Only when the box is checked, can you specify how much installed RAM you want to allow Windows 7 to be able to use in the drop down box.
A) Check the Maximum memory box, then type in how many MB of your installed Memory that you want Windows 7 to only be able to use up to and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
6. Check the Make all boot settings permanent box, and click on OK. (see screenshot below) NOTE:You will still be able to come back and make changes again if you like.
7. Click on Yes. (see screenshot below) NOTE:You will still be able to come back and make changes again if you like.
8. Click on the Restart button. (see screenshot below) WARNING:This will restart the computer immediately. Make sure you save and close anything open that you do not want to lose first.
9. When Windows 7 is finished restarting, it will now be using only the maximum amount of memory that you specified. NOTE:You can look in Task Manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC) to confirm this amount of memory.
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Hi Brink. Have you done any benchmarking after changing this setting? The reason I ask is because some RAM is allotted to your GFX card by default. For instance, I have 4Gigs of OCZ dual channel RAM installed, but my NVIDIA GeForce GFX card is a 512MB crad. So the available memory is around 3.5Gigs by default, because the GFX card is alotted the 512MB. Now I'm not posative, but changing that setting might mess with your GFX card...say if your doing something that is both data, and GFX intensive. You might want to do some benchmarking if you haven't already to see if this is a safe setting. In the meantime, I'll do a little research myself.
Any RAM allocated towards a onboard graphics chip would be handled by the BIOS. The setting in this tutorial is only for how much RAM is available at the OS (Windows 7) level instead. If any memory is allocated by the OS for graphics, then this will affect that.
I have not done any benchmarking for exact figures on how much performance is affected though.
Hi Brink. Have you done any benchmarking after changing this setting? The reason I ask is because some RAM is allotted to your GFX card by default. For instance, I have 4Gigs of OCZ dual channel RAM installed, but my NVIDIA GeForce GFX card is a 512MB crad. So the available memory is around 3.5Gigs by default, because the GFX card is alotted the 512MB. Now I'm not posative, but changing that setting might mess with your GFX card...say if your doing something that is both data, and GFX intensive. You might want to do some benchmarking if you haven't already to see if this is a safe setting. In the meantime, I'll do a little research myself.
Max
I assume you are working with a 32bit system. So the 512MBs for the graphics is not really "memory=RAM" but "address space" that is used for the graphcs card. If that was an on-board graphics with "shared memory", it would be real RAM though.
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I assume you are working with a 32bit system. So the 512MBs for the graphics is not really "memory=RAM" but "address space" that is used for the graphcs card. If that was an on-board graphics with "shared memory", it would be real RAM though.
Nope, I have an NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT GFX card. Every time I install an OS [currently 7 Ultimate x64], it alots half a Gig to the GFX card by default. You mean changing this setting isn't going to rob my GFX card of memeory in the event it really needs it? That's not what I've read about it.
Also, I already have 4Gigs of dual channel RAM installed. Will this make any difference in performance?
Since you have a graphics card instead of a onboard graphics chip, it has it's own memory on the graphics card it uses instead of system RAM. Now with that said, this setting will affect any memory that Windows 7 and the CPU decides to use to process anything for graphics that the graphics card does not handle itself.
4GB of RAM is about the sweet spot. Unless you run memory intensive apps, you normally would need more than 4GB, but more is always better to a point before it's just not being used. The better the MHz speed of the RAM, the better performance you will get.
Now with that said, this setting will affect any memory that Windows 7 and the CPU decides to use to process anything for graphics that the graphics card does not handle itself.
That's what I thought. I'll just leave it be. I'm not complaining about performance anyway, this rig FLIES!
By the way, I added you as a friend. I'm not sure if it sent an invitation back to you when I accepted yours or not. I'm not used to this forum's software at all. I usually join ProBoard style forums, or VBulletin.
I just joined here a few days ago, and so far I'm loving it. I'm having a hard time logging out...LOL
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Warning
Tip
Quote: Originally Posted by MadMaxData 
Windows 7 64 bit only uses a small amount of the memory available 
