4 GB of Physical Memory but 1.74 GB Usable

Oh shoot I'm sorry guys... I wasn't getting emails telling me that anyone had replied... I'll start looking through these replies now and get back with you

carwiz said:

When the demand increases, the discrete graphics card takes over and GPU memory is copied to RAM to feed the display(s) connected via the integrated graphics.

Yes, it copies its output to the integrated graphics' framebuffer. The only thing I'm not sure is where the single, normal, unswitchable discrete graphics keep their framebuffer - in RAM or in their video memory?

Video memory. A discrete card will only take from/use system ram when it fills the available VRAM and needs more.

No. Max memory is not ticked

"Good point too Sygnus21. What happens if you check max memory box and set it to 4096?"

Will try this soon.

"Chipset > Northbridge Configuration > Memory Configuration > DCT Ungangned Mode=?
It wasn't clear what options were available but "AUTO" seemed to be for Unganged mode (split controllers). AMD's logic on this seems to be bass-ackwards. Appearently, they like to bury things deep in menus too."

I have no idea on how to get to this to do what you're asking... is this in the BIOS?

owever I am curious as to what’s switchable GPU memory?

"Is there a switch or button that enables you to change the amount of memory used by the GPU? If so has the OP played around with the switch to see if the reserved memory decreases?"

Switchable graphics pretty much just seems to be a power saving feature when you unplug the laptop you can set the performance level for the graphics card down so you won't run through so much power. That is the cosmetic aspect of it. As for what its actually doing underneath, I have no idea. I don't really use that option because I usually have my laptop plugged in.


"There is one quick way to check if that is what it is. deepeyes I assume when you got it it has 2x2 GB sticks in it and you replaced those with 2x4 GB sticks. If that is the ase try running it with 1x2 and 1x4, and see if the 6 GB total is available."

No I'm still using the sticks that it came with. 2x 2GB stick

stormy13 said:

It could be that cyclic is correct. Just went back and double checked and that laptop only supports up to 8 GB. Makes me wonder if it isn't running into this,

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

which would/should only happen on an AMD system when the max amount of memory is installed, and for whatever reason the motherboard/computer manufacturer limits it in the bios as well. Wouldn't be the first time I have seen HP computers with unexplainable/stupid restrictions in the bios.

There is one quick way to check if that is what it is. deepeyes I assume when you got it it has 2x2 GB sticks in it and you replaced those with 2x4 GB sticks. If that is the ase try running it with 1x2 and 1x4, and see if the 6 GB total is available..

Hmmm.... I don't see where the OP mentions he has 8gig of memory installed?

deepeyes said:

Some specs:
Windows 7 Home Premium x64
Hp Pavilion DV6 3160us laptop
Quad Core AMD CPU
4 GB of installed RAM. Showing 1.74 GB usable. The performance monitor shows that over 2GB is being held for hardware.

Even his CPU-Z here says he only has 4gig installed - 4 GB of Physical Memory but 1.74 GB Usable. This is also confirmed in the Process Monitor screenshot he provides in his original post.

Anyway I still don't understand why there's 2gig of memory reserved for hardware and still feel this isn't normal. But on the other hand this is an HP laptop with an AMD board, neither of which I know nothing about so.....

Edit I see the OP confirmed he only has 4gig installed.

@ deepeyes, yeah it seems the switchable graphics may be AMD's powerplay for their power saving feature on their graphics cards. OK.

Yeah sorry about that. Was reading a thread that had that problem and got them mixed up. Not enough coffee at the time.

Now with that out of the way, what happens if you run it with one stick at a time? If you haven't tried that, also run it with each stick individually as well as each stick by itself in each memory slot.

Alright did the max memory setting. First picture is BEFORE I turned on the setting. The second is AFTER I turned on the setting. Not much difference.

"Now with that out of the way, what happens if you run it with one stick at a time? If you haven't tried that, also run it with each stick individually as well as each stick by itself in each memory slot."

I have not done all those configurations, but I will try them. It gets freaking slow is what happens !)

I have one stick in slot 2 I think
Here is perf mon

SO we all know that is can run on 256 MB of RAM... the question is why does it need to just suck all that up to 2 GB.

Edit - sorry 262 MB

deepeyes said:

Alright did the max memory setting. First picture is BEFORE I turned on the setting. The second is AFTER I turned on the setting. Not much difference.

Yeah I basically makes no difference. Anyway I'd leave it off.

The only thing I can think of is that it's an issue with the way the motherboard and BIOS is configured. It may be a memory mapping issue with the board, and or BIOS.

BTW I doubt your video card uses 2gig of memory so again, I see no reason why that much memory needs to be reserved.