5GB of RAM installed, 3 available.

[MGArcher007]

Hi guys. New register-er of the SevenForums. Great site, been coming here for a while, just decided to register.

I know this is one of those blown-up topics, sorry to add to all the clutter. I'll try to keep it pretty concise and detailed.

I used to have Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit installed on this machine. It has always had 5GB of RAM installed. Windows Vista was able to use all 5GB of the installed RAM.

I recently upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit, and noticed that my RainMeter RAM occupation gauge was always leaning towards the 65%+ zone, and I went into my system properties and noticed that it said "5.00 GB (3.00 GB usable)".

[I've included a screenshot containing the system properties window, task manager on the "performance" pane, and the 'msinfo32' system summary pane.]

I've also checked for a "memory remap" setting in my BIOS, and it does not exist. I am running the most recent BIOS revision as well. Also, checking "maximum memory" in msconfig and setting my memory value to "5120" does not do anything; when I reboot, and open msconfig again, the value is reset to "1024". If I uncheck "maximum memory", Windows still only uses 3GB.

Hopefully I can get this issue squared away.
I know some people have an issue when they have 4GB of RAM installed, I feel like the only person who has 5GB installed and nothing is working to fix this. :/

 

[richc46]

Welcome
Try a memory test to be sure that it is not a problem with ram or MB
Download memtest86 and test RAM
www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html
Run for 8 passes
If passes try a good stick in each slot for 3 passes
If fails do the same for 8 passes.

If you pass
Download Process Explorer so that we can analyze usage.

This article helps explain proper usage
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/02/behind-the-windows-7-memory-usage-scaremongering.ars

 

[yowanvista]

Hi guys. New register-er of the SevenForums. Great site, been coming here for a while, just decided to register.

I know this is one of those blown-up topics, sorry to add to all the clutter. I'll try to keep it pretty concise and detailed.

I used to have Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit installed on this machine. It has always had 5GB of RAM installed. Windows Vista was able to use all 5GB of the installed RAM.

I recently upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit, and noticed that my RainMeter RAM occupation gauge was always leaning towards the 65%+ zone, and I went into my system properties and noticed that it said "5.00 GB (3.00 GB usable)".

[I've included a screenshot containing the system properties window, task manager on the "performance" pane, and the 'msinfo32' system summary pane.]

I've also checked for a "memory remap" setting in my BIOS, and it does not exist. I am running the most recent BIOS revision as well. Also, checking "maximum memory" in msconfig and setting my memory value to "5120" does not do anything; when I reboot, and open msconfig again, the value is reset to "1024". If I uncheck "maximum memory", Windows still only uses 3GB.

Hopefully I can get this issue squared away.
I know some people have an issue when they have 4GB of RAM installed, I feel like the only person who has 5GB installed and nothing is working to fix this. :/

Your BIOS is outdated, I suggest updating it

 

[roban]

It may just be a reporting error. What does your bios say? Go to crucial.com and do a scan to see how much you are actually reporting.

 

[MGArcher007]

HP has not released any more BIOS updates for my particular computer, and I have not seen anything new from ASUS.

Crucial reports 5GB installed.

I am about to download memtest86 and see if it returns with any news, good, bad, or otherwise.

 

[MGArcher007]

Well, I am in the Memtest86 program right now (booted from CD).

Athlon 64 X2 2511 MHz
L1 Cache: 64K 19620 MB/s
L2 Cache: 512K 3805 MB/s
L3 Cache: None

(And this is where I get concerned):
Memory: 3071 MB 1886 MHz

Is this program only registering 3GB out of my 5 as well?

[Edit:]
Also, I boot camped my MacBook Pro with the same exact copy of Windows 7 Ultimate, 64-bit as well. It has 4GB of RAM, but only 3.74GB are usable, according to the system properties window.

 

[LEWke]

Hi,


I was looking up some issues like this one on Google... It seems to me there are many causes... Some links:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/performa...-ram-much-less-than-actually-installed-3.html
• [Solved] 8GB Installed, 4GB usable on Windows 7 64 bit [Solved] - Memory - Motherboards-Memory
• 8gb installed, showing as 4gb usable! - GSKILL TECH FORUM
• (Solved) - 4GB installed (2.99GB useable) « How-To Geek Forums

What i did not read is an issue about ESD (Electro-Static Discharge). This high-tech devices are very vulnerable (sensitive) to ESD... I'm sure some of this problems are caused by ESD.
So, when changing/adding hardware (especially RAM) to your computer, ground yourself and the case to the same grounding (don't forget to unplug your device(s) from the mains!).
Futhermore, as far I can read, BIOS, motherboard, frequence, type, manufacturer, ... can cause this weird behaviour...
Good luck!

 

[MGArcher007]

Thank you for finding all of those threads for me.
Unfortunately, none of 'em did the trick.

I hate that I can't remap the memory, that seems like it has fixed this problem for a lot of people. I can try reseating the RAM. The HP BIOS is very limited, unlike the BIOSes of motherboards that people buy individually.

Also, Memtest86 returned with absolutely no errors.
It's weird that Windows is detecting that there are in fact 5.00 GB of RAM available to it, but it is saying that it can only use 3.00 GB of that. It really seems like a Windows problem and not so much a hardware problem.

 

[sandeep108]

Most likely a hardware problem - Memtest is also showing only 3GB.

 

[MacGyvr]

Sounds to me like 2GB of your memory is dedicated to something like your video card.

 

[AlexRD]

You should blur out, or remove your key from the screenshot.

 

[MGArcher007]

Is it possible that 2GB of the RAM could be dedicated to a PCI-e video card? I have an Nvidia 9400GT that is (supposed) to have 512MB of memory.

Hmm. That is weird. If it was a hardware error, my Mac couldn't possibly be having that same problem. The Mac OS side detects 4 GB of RAM where Windows detects 4 but will only use 3.75GB.

 

[MGArcher007]

Is there perhaps a boot utility that will allow me to remap my memory since my limited HP BIOS will not allow me to do such a thing?

Unfortunately, HP has since discontinued this model of computer and the last BIOS upgrade was available in 2007.

Having only 3GB of memory isn't draining my system's performance, but it is just irking me since I have 5GB of RAM, 2 of which I am unable to use. When I first installed Windows, 5 GB were available, so it could have also been something I installed.

Perhaps going through and reseating all of the RAM would help.

Is it possible for a PCI-e graphics card to suck on the RAM for it's memory? I thought only onboard graphics shared the RAM for video memory.

 

[DeanP]

I think this tutorial from Brink may solve the problem:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66482-memory-set-maximum-amount-used-windows-7-a.html

 

[MGArcher007]

Thank you for the tutorial.
Unfortunately, it did not solve the problem. I specified "5120", and then checked "Make all boot settings permanent".

Well, I rebooted. It was still only using 3 GB of RAM, and when I went back to msconfig, it had reverted my "5120" to "1024", like it always does, even though I checked 'permanent' this time.

 

[stormy13]

Specs on that HP motherboard (it may have been made by Asus, but it has as much in relation to an Asus retail board as an apple to an orange),

Motherboard Specifications, M2N68-LA (Ivy8) Compaq Presario SR5421F Desktop PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

and the memory support,

• Dual channel memory architecture
  
• Two 240-pin DDR2 DIMM sockets
  
• Supported DIMM types:
  
  • PC2-4200 (533 MHz)
    
  • PC2-5300 (667 MHz)
    
  • PC2-6400 (800 MHz)
    
• Non-ECC memory only, unbuffered
  
• Supports 2GB DDR2 DIMMs
  
• Supports up to 4 GB*
  
  • 32 bit PCs cannot address a full 4.0 GB of memory.
    

Nice that they put the CYA disclaimer in with regards to 32 bit operating systems, but if they have gone and artificially limited the support to only 4 GB as stated then (and I wouldn't put it past them) it could quite possibly be that 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

is why you are not getting the full 4 GB available.

The BIOS must support the memory remapping feature. The memory remapping feature allows for the segment of system memory that was previously overwritten by the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) configuration space to be remapped above the 4 GB address line. This feature must be enabled in the BIOS configuration utility on the computer. View your computer product documentation for instructions that explain how to enable this feature. Many consumer-oriented computers may not support the memory remapping feature. No standard terminology is used in documentation or in BIOS configuration utilities for this feature. Therefore, you may have to read the descriptions of the various BIOS configuration settings that are available to determine whether any of the settings enable the memory remapping feature.

If that is the case not only are you not getting the benefit of 4 GB, but you have 1 GB going to total waste.

 

[GeneO]

You are incorrect stormy.

Look at the spec again - the HP outer one for the whole system - and it says it supports up to 8GB RAM with a 64 bit OS and only 4GB with a 32 bit OS. What you quoted above is just a disclaimer for 32 bit OS. The specifications:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...product=3820313&tmp_track_link=ot_search#N257

Gene

 

[MGArcher007]

Just to get things straight:
I have a 64 bit version of Windows on my computer. I had Windows Vista 64 bit prior to 7. Vista used all 5 GB of RAM. 7 started out using 5 GB and later moved to 3.

 

[MGArcher007]

One thing that concerns me is:
On my desktop PC, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 recognizes 5 GB but will only use 3.
On my MacBook Pro, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 recognizes 4 GB but will only use 3.

My Mac could not possibly be having the same hardware issue as my desktop. I'd hate to re-install Windows and start from scratch, working my way up to see if it is possibly a software issue that could have caused this. :/

 

[FidelCamacho]

I have exactly the same issue.

I have a Dell Latitude E6400 and just upgrade with 1x4GB for a total of 5GB and windiws7 enterprise N is only recognizing 3.45 GB.

I alreeady tried everything and have no results.

Did you find the solution?