Installed memory (RAM): 4.00 GB (3.75 GB usable)

[whs]

If you have a GPU and 64bit (rather than an on-board), it will show nothing. A GPU uses only address space and in a 64bit system there is plenty of that. An on-board uses real RAM. And that's what is missing in the OPs system (or at least he thinks it is missing).
In this organized world of Windows, every byte is accounted for. Sometimes we only lack the understanding of where those bytes are.

Thats the thing. I'm not sure if it would be considered "on board" or not. I have a laptop, but I learned about a year or so ago that the video card isn't built into the motherboard as it normally would be. I could actually upgrade it to a nvidia 8400M GT with 256mb dedicated memory as long as the part came from a Vostro 1500/1700 or I ordered it from Dell. I know it sounds odd, but its how Dell decided to make the particular line of laptops.

Why don't you check in msinfo32 > Components > Display

 

[Dinesh]

I m still curious to know the final solution to OP's problem.

 

[Petey7]

Not really sure what I'm looking for, but under display I don't see the words "integrated" or "on-board" anywhere.

 

[Wishmaster]

As whs said...

Onboard graphics uses shared memory at whatever amount it is set to in the bios.
meaning it will reserve, or take away from the physical amount of RAM you have installed for the onboard graphics chip to use.

If its set at 256Mb in bios, youll have 256MB less than installed useable.

The fact it is a 64bit OS means nothing in this case as it is not a issue of addressing space, but physical memory for graphics use.


An Actual card with its own onboard Memory will not do this. As it has it own RAM, and does not need to borrow from the systems.


If you do not have a graphics card installed, it would be using onboard or integrated.

 

[Zepher]

I've seen this happen on a few machines I have built with 4GB of ram.
Not sure why it does that.
Both of my machines show the full amount as usable, 8GB on my main rig and 4GB on my HTPC.

 

[Solarstarshines]

@whs i wouldnt say wasted i would say not used yet where i have not really utilized my system to full potential

 

[stormy13]

I've seen this happen on a few machines I have built with 4GB of ram.
Not sure why it does that.

This is why probably,

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

When the physical RAM that is installed on a computer equals the address space that is supported by the chipset, the total system memory that is available to the operating system is always less than the physical RAM that is installed. For example, consider a computer that has an Intel 975X chipset that supports 8 GB of address space. If you install 8 GB of RAM, the system memory that is available to the operating system will be reduced by the PCI configuration requirements. In this scenario, PCI configuration requirements reduce the memory that is available to the operating system by an amount that is between approximately 200 MB and approximately 1 GB. The reduction depends on the configuration.

 

[whs]

Not really sure what I'm looking for, but under display I don't see the words "integrated" or "on-board" anywhere

There must be something like "Name" and "Adaptor description". Why don't you post that or make a snip of the window.

@whs i wouldnt say wasted i would say not used yet where i have not really utilized my system to full potential

That's OK if it ever gets used. But with the normal bread and butter applications that is unlikely. Fancy graphics like CAD may use it - depending on the program.

 

[speedy1971]

Okay... let me back this up and run over it again

If you are on x86 Windows and have 4GB RAM installed, you will ALWAYS have some small amount of memory that will go unused. No matter what kind of hardware you have.

If you are on x64 Windows, you *might* not be able to access all your memory in excess of 4GB (I am going to ignore the artificial 64GB limit for simplicity's sake) depending on
- If you have any integrated devices that draw memory from the system's pool (integrated graphics controllers using shared memory are the most common example, but it could be something else)
- If you have older hardware that cannot be mapped above the 4GB address space regardless of address register size. It's not terribly common anymore.

My situation is I have a GT240 board, which has all the memory it needs, and needs no aperture in system RAM. Therefore, 8GB installed, 8 available.

I actually forgot that there are still video systems using shared memory for video. Reminds me of the days when you had to tweak the Video RAM Shadow BIOS settings to get your Monster 3D board to run GLQuake well

So... your mileage may vary.

SS