only 2.5 gigs ram in 64 bit?

[mooseman99]

Hey Guys,
I was going to buy Windows 7 anyway, so i decided to get 64bit so i could use all of the ram on my computer (4gigs, plus my SLi video cards have 500mb or 1gig each, can't remember)
Since vista 32bit could only use 3.5 gigs

but now to my dismay it seems like i can still only use 2.5 gigs of ram

Imageshack - 66298765
Imageshack - 86877221

Anyone know how to fix this?
I read something about remapping ram or something but how do you do that or how can you tell if it is possible?
Thanks for any help

 

[Lebon14]

Do your BIOS see all 4 GB of RAM? If not, I may suggest you a BIOS update.

 

[Uber Philf]

Have you changed anything in MSConfig?

 

[mpcrsc562]

open task manager, click resource monitor, click memory tab to see exactly how your ram is being used.

you have 4 installed, and can use 2.5... the operating system is going to use part of that 4 right off the bat--more or less depending upon what you have starting automatically (services / programs).

 

[richc46]

If you can get into bios, there may be a setting for max cpu or max ram, uncheck the box.

Before you attempt anything like this, make a system image.

 

[mooseman99]

@mpcrsc562:
The second picture is of the task manager
the resource manager shows the same thing
4 gigs installed, total ram is 2.5gigs

@Uber Philf
Nope, just installed it about an hour ago havent messed with anything really

@Lebon14
Gonna check right now

 

[mooseman99]

Just checked bios-
it says total recognized ram is 4000
but total usable ram is 2500
and there are no options about ram anywhere

EDIT:
also, i have not changed anything in msconfig (i just installed windows 7 about an hour ago, i havent changed any system settings really)
and the second picture in my first post IS of task manager

 

[richc46]

Just a guess, but you did not install additional ram, did you?

 

[mpcrsc562]

open task manager, click resource monitor, click memory tab to see exactly how your ram is being used.

you have 4 installed, and can use 2.5... the operating system is going to use part of that 4 right off the bat--more or less depending upon what you have starting automatically (services / programs).

it's a matter of math...
you have 4 installed...
you have a certain amount in use...
you have a certain amount modified...
you have a certain amount in stand by...
and you have a certain amount free...
not knowing what is running on your system at any specific time, it seems o.k. to me that you'd have 2.5 ready and available to be used.
(snapshot of my system running -- and according to the pic, i have 8 installed, but only 5.9 available. that doesn't mean i'm not using my "whole 8." it's just out of my eight, i have access to 5.9)

 

[mooseman99]

@richc46:
did not install? what do you mean?
i have 2x2gb ram cards
@mpcrsc562
I know, but both your total and installed are 8000
my installed is 4000 but my total is 2500
heres another pic for clarification

http://img138.imageshack.us/i/79250935.png/

 

[richc46]

I looked into my usage 6077 total 4781 available.

 

[richc46]

@richc46:
did not install? what do you mean?
i have 2x2gb ram cards
@mpcrsc562
I know, but both your total and installed are 8000
my installed is 4000 but my total is 2500
heres another pic for clarification

Imageshack - 79250935

Sorry getting late. I meant to say Did you install additional ram?

 

[mpcrsc562]

gotcha, didn't look at the pic previously.
i'm not sure if this will work, but check this out: The Microsoft System Information (Msinfo32.exe) tool reports the incorrect amount of physical memory in a Windows Server 2008-based computer that has more than 4 GB of physical memory installed
it is a hotfix from microsoft that is supposed to correct a problem with memory recognition for 64-bit systems. i found this out when my 64-bit vista install was reporting incorrect ram. (http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/215047-installed-total-physical-memory-discrepancies.html)

 

[mooseman99]

@richc46
My computer came fitted with 2gb of ram (2x1gb)
About a year ago i switched the two sticks for 2gb ones and they worked fine but vista32 bit could only use 2.5gb

i thought the problem would be fixed by switching to 64 bit

 

[richc46]

@richc46
My computer came fitted with 2gb of ram (2x1gb)
About a year ago i switched the two sticks for 2gb ones and they worked fine but vista32 bit could only use 2.5gb

i thought the problem would be fixed by switching to 64 bit

Thats fine, as long as you buy in sets. Its hard to mix and match.

 

[mooseman99]

Yup

Trying the hotfix now, thank you guys for the help so far

damn, there's no windows 7 version of the fix and the vista 64 bit one "isn't applicable to my system"

 

[seekermeister]

Since you haven't filled in your system specs, it's not possible for anyone but you to check, but if in the BIOS you find a setting for Memory Hole, enable it.

 

[mpcrsc562]

ok...
4096mb installed...
2559mb available...
the lesser subtracted from the greater = 1537mb -- exactly the amount that is reserved for your hardware. so...
out of your 4gb installed, the operating system is setting aside 1.5+ immediately for hardware. what's left over, the 2559mb is what you have left to work with, and 619mb (according to the pic) cached, leaving 1679mb totally available

 

[mooseman99]

I don't remember there being any options about ram in the bios, but i can check again
not sure what version of bios i have, but im running an Alienware m9750 laptop with intel core 2 cpu @ 2.0ghz
dxdiag says my bios is "default system bios"

@mpcrsc562
Oooooohhhhh... I didn't even see that, i didnt count it up i thought the hardware was included in the 2.5

So does this mean my video cards are drawing 1.5 gigs?

 

[mpcrsc562]

yeah, i suppose you can say that.