3 GB visible of 4 GB Ram on 64-bit Windows

matharoo · 14 Nov 2016

I recently upgraded my 32-bit installation of Windows 7 to a 64-bit one. I changed my RAM setup from 3(2+1)GB to 4(2+2)GB. But, Windows just shows 3 GB Ram. It doesn't say it like "4 GB (3 GB usable)". No. It just shows me 3 GB, as if that's how much RAM I've installed, even dxdiag. However, if I open CPU-Z, it shows me the correct information - that I have 4 GB of RAM in a (2+2) mode.

So, what's going wrong? I'd really appreciate some help.

samuria · 14 Nov 2016

Some may have gone on video or other use often this is a setting in the BIOS

MilesAhead · 14 Nov 2016

I never heard of this before, but according to the page below if the ram is not fully seated when inserted you can get a situation where hw detection software can see it but Windows won't:

windows 7 - How can I get my 64-bit computer to recognize all of my RAM - Super User

But then again I am not a system builder so that could explain not seeing it up until now. :)

Megahertz07 · 14 Nov 2016

Shut down, disconnect the power cord from the power supply, wait 1/2 a minute and take off the two memory stick and clean the contacts.
Run this hardware monitor - https://www.hwinfo.com/
It will give you all hardware information.

mjf · 14 Nov 2016

Another thing to check:
1) Go to start and run msconfig.exe
2) Go to the Boot tab
3) select advanced options
4) uncheck the box for "maximum memory" if it is checked

samuria · 14 Nov 2016

There is nothing wrong with the RAM if it's reporting all 4 gigs it being used by system video or other

MilesAhead · 14 Nov 2016

samuria said:

There is nothing wrong with the RAM if it's reporting all 4 gigs it being used by system video or other

My reading of the OP is that it is not reporting ram being used by the hardware and subtracting that from the total usable by programs. Just the opposite. It states that 3 GB is reported total with no smaller amount designated as "usable." That's why I thought the page germane where the hw utility software detects the ram properly but Windows does not.

Edit: OK I think I see what you mean now. We are dealing with a video interface that borrows main memory rather than just mapping its own dedicated ram into the address space.

AddRAM · 14 Nov 2016

Open Task Manager, then click Resource Monitor, then click the memory tab and post a snip.

Example:

matharoo · 15 Nov 2016

Hey samuria, it's nice to see you again.

Resource Monitor:

HW Monitor:

HW Monitor again:

I did search for some relevant settings in the BIOS, but I don't think I saw anything that could solve this, though I probably could've missed it. I don't know anything about the BIOS settings. I did see something like "DVMT" which had the options "DVMT / Fixed / Both", and DVMT was selected, with its size being 128MB. There were other options too, all under a "VGA" heading. Could this be relevant?

My GPU has 1 GB memory of its own but dxdiag shows me around 2.2 GB.

Hope you guys can help me. Thanks.
Also, what if I take shots of all my BIOS screens and post 'em here, so you can tell me what options will help?

samuria · 15 Nov 2016

If the video is showings extra memory and you add the extra to what Windows is reporting that seems to account for it all