6GB DDR3 Ram Installed BUT only 2.75 USABLE?!

[SoLoR]

As everyone else has said, you are using a 32 bit operating system, which means that you will NEVER see more than 3.5 gigs.

~Lordbob

actualy no, that majorly depends on amount of memory your graphic card is having this "myth" started when more people started to get 4gb of ram in days when graphic cards had 384-512MB of ram.

32bit system can address maximium 4gb of memory, before you can figure out how much memory you have maximum usable, you need to take in to account all graphic card memory, soundcard memory(xram for example) and everything else that system needs to have access to. So in 32bit system:

phsyical memory usable = 4GB - graphic card memory - all the other things

since he have gtx280 that means graphic card already is having 1GB of memory system needs to address, so 4gb - 1gb = 3gb, other 0.25GB is probably used on random stuff he also have in his computer and as far as i know windows is rounding this in computer screen down in steps of 0.25GB.

but ye only real solution for you is go to 64bit system.

 

[QuackPot]

Installing a x64 bit version of Windows 7 is the only way I'm afraid. Other ways of getting 6GB of RAM to work on a 32bit OS will solve on problem and create two more.

 

[Mbbest]

I am noob at this tech stuff but i can see at least several totally out-off-mind posts here

My advice, don't use nay kind of hack/non MS patch.
Backup > fresh install x64 > everybody happy

Enabling PAE can and likely will cause far greater issues with your system's drivers and stability. It really isn't a hard concept for people to understand, but there's no software trick to break the memory limit that exists in 32 bit OSes. This topic has literally been beaten to death on several other forum boards, and it is sad that there are still some who won't accept the findings. If you want to use 4 GB or more memory, you run an x64 OS. That's the only way.

PAE is meant for server OSes to enable 36 bit usage in some cases. It is not meant for a desktop, client PC, and likely will cause serious issues. if you want to use all your memory, do it the right way.

Can you point me to that discussion or sum it in really simple - noob words, what problems comes after enabling PAE?
I am curious

Why PAE don't cause problems on servers and it does on desktop PC? One more question...if Microsoft wants, can they enable 32-bit W7 to use +4GB memory (without PAE) ?

 

[SoLoR]

Can you point me to that discussion or sum it in really simple - noob words, what problems comes after enabling PAE?
I am curious

most likely none, however PAE is just sort of "emulation", system can access all memory but applications cant, except if system does it for application.

if Microsoft wants, can they enable 32-bit W7 to use +4GB memory (without PAE) ?

no they cant, this is limited by CPU arhitecture and not OS it self.

if anyone wants any technical stuff, check wikipedia or something.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Can you point me to that discussion or sum it in really simple - noob words, what problems comes after enabling PAE?
I am curious

The main thing that's always mentioned, is that many drivers can or will have compability issues with it. I've also seen quite a few people mention that some of their major apps have issues running stable as well. As SoLoR mentioned, a quick trip to google will turn up more info than any one person would have have time to read through. If it was me, I wouldn't bother, because it isn't a supported option, so if I knew enough not to use it, I'd leave it at that.

 

[logicearth]

PAE is on regardless, as long as hardware DEP is activated PAE is on. But the problems with PAE is not to do with it, but to do with going over 4GB. That is why even with PAE the client versions of Windows are limited to 4GB. On servers, drivers are made to a higher standard.

FYI, I'm referring to x86-64 processors running in the legacy x86 mode.

 

[tbernstein]

I can put it pretty simply.
A 32bit operating system can use its 32 bits ( i.e. binary numbers 0/1 in a set of 32) to refer to memory locations that are also addressed in 32 bits. All the memory on your system, ram or video, has to be mapped to that.
It's like counting on your fingers. A 32 bit system can address 2^32 locations, about 3Gb.
A 64 bit operating system 2^64 locations. Which is a very big number indeed.

 

[Lordbob75]

I really don't want to reinstall Windows 7 x64bit version because i have soo much data that i need to back up in order to do that.

That's why you do the proper planning and research ahead of time. The memory limits of x86 OSes have been considered common knowledge in the computing field for about 5 years now, since the debate was raging on between XP and XP x64. I'm surprised someone would know enough to build a nice, top end system, and not understand they'd need an x64 OS to handle it all.....which acts as a segway to...

The fact is, if you want to use all of your memory, you need to run a 64 bit OS. Backing up your data, reinstalling the OS, and restoring your data is a very simple straightforward process that is FAR less painful than people make it out to be. Besides...wouldn't it be worth it, to be able to take full advantage of your system?

Your current setup is akin to put skateboard wheels on a new BMW M3. It's capable of so much more, but one simple incorrect decision is holding back the entire system.

+1 and +rep.

I can put it pretty simply.
A 32bit operating system can use its 32 bits ( i.e. binary numbers 0/1 in a set of 32) to refer to memory locations that are also addressed in 32 bits. All the memory on your system, ram or video, has to be mapped to that.
It's like counting on your fingers. A 32 bit system can address 2^32 locations, about 3Gb.
A 64 bit operating system 2^64 locations. Which is a very big number indeed.

Very well said, that helped me understand how it works as well. Thanks. +rep

I will back up what everyone else has said: Just back up your computer and install x64. There is no other way. Or you can choose to keep it as is with you <4gigs.

~Lordbob

 

[Frostmourne]

Windows has to map memory spaces for all installed hardware - graphics included. WIth x64, the limit on Windows processes is removed, although your graphics hardware is still mapped.

 

[pryskna]

Hi all
I have almost the same problem.
I used Windows 7 64bit
No memory remap in bios

 

[Dwarf]

Have you checked the option as described here? http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/59743-ram-issue.html?highlight=msconfig#post541044

 

[pryskna]

yop , i try
there was 0
so i put max i can 5120,then ok, i check that again, and there is only 1024

 

[Dwarf]

NO, I think you've got confused. What I meant was to check my post and ensure that the option in msconfig was unchecked. Unchecking this option should allow your system to use all of the available memory. Checking this option will restrict your system to the amount of memory listed below the box.

 

[pryskna]

I understand what you mean, i try both.
Unchecked-restart=nothing change
Check-5120-restart= nothing change

 

[pacinitaly]

BCDEdit /set PAE forceenable


this may work to see all the ram

 

[pryskna]

Nothing happend, just some window pop up and i can even read it, its too fast