RAM issue

[Coolness]

Compare this image from my system to that from the first post in this thread. As you can see, they are both 64-bit systems with 4GB of RAM. Mine, however, is showing the full amount as being usable (it only says xGB usable if less than the installed amount).
View attachment 52299
Since you have already checked the settings I mentioned in my earlier post about Maximum memory: (you might like to double check),I can only think that it might be a BIOS setting.

Alright, i double-checked, the settings are cool. So, i'll check out the BIOS settings. brb.

 

[stormy13]

One thing I haven't seen asked or mentioned seeing as you have 64 bit Ubuntu listed in your specs as well, what is it showing?

If it is showing the same sort of thing as in Windows, then it is definitely a bios setting. Fun thing will be that with the computer being an Acer, there is a very good possibility that the setting in question (memory hole re-mapping, or similar) probably won't be there.

 

[Coolness]

NO, LOL I'M SUCH A FAILURE! GOD DAMMIT. I just checked the BIOS, it said i have 3gb of total memory. Thats not possible, i have 2x2gb sticks inside the system. I know, Stormy already told me to check that... Im such an idiot.

Will check Ubuntu. Hold on.

 

[Coolness]

Hey ppl. Just rebooted and went to Ubuntu, and no network access! Ubuntu doesnt have a native tool to check system specs i think, so i cant give you those. Went back to windows, and the same thing! No network access! Posting from my laptop now, with another wireless network. Whats going on? Anyways, why does BIOS only show 3gigs?

 

[stormy13]

No idea what's going on with the wireless, but for the memory have a real god look through all the sections in the bios for anything to do with "memory hole remapping" or something with a similar name and if found set it to enabled.

 

[whs]

As I tried to explain earlier, you have to distinguish between address space and real RAM. What you see discussed in most of these articles dealing with 32bit (like this one) is a mixture of both. And that's where the confusion comes in.

In 32bit, the system definitely needs address space for the various functions described - even for a graphics card with it's own dedicated memory. But if it is an on-board graphics, it also needs real RAM because the graphics chip has no own memory. Thus the available RAM for the OS gets reduced (but it is mainly a matter of address space - where real RAM usage or address space usage have the same effect in 32bit).

In 64 bit, address space is not an issue because the system may have up to 128GB (max. for Win7 Ultimate). However, if the system has an on-board graphics chip that needs real RAM, it will have to "steal" that from the e.g. 4GBs that are installed on the system. Thus even in 64bit you may have only 3.5GBs "usable" - meaning usable by the OS, the rest is used by the graphics chip.

That, of course, is not so if you have a graphics card that has it's own memory - it only needs address space which it gets from high up (e.g. counting down from 128GB) and will not effect the 4GBs of real RAM. And the same goes for all the other system functions that need address space.

 

[stormy13]

whs all of that is a moot point if the bios doesn't support memory hole remapping, either by default (hidden but on), or by option in the bios. Here is mine with it turned off,



and with it on (which on mine is the default setting, and configurable in the bios),



Edit: Looking further into the specs on that Acer,

http://support.acer.com/acerpanam/desktop/0000/Acer/VeritonM261/VeritonM261sp2.shtml

there is a very good possibility that that option isn't going to be in the bios or supported, as from the looks of it that model shipped primarily with 32 bit only CPU's, making it mostly redundant to have/support it.

 

[Coolness]

whs all of that is a moot point if the bios doesn't support memory hole remapping, either by default (hidden but on), or by option in the bios. Here is mine with it turned off,

View attachment 52320

and with it on (which on mine is the default setting, and configurable in the bios),

View attachment 52321

Edit: Looking further into the specs on that Acer,

Acer Support - Veriton M261 Series Specifications

there is a very good possibility that that option isn't going to be in the bios or supported, as from the looks of it that model shipped primarily with 32 bit only CPU's, making it mostly redundant to have/support it.

Yeah, it had some crap processor, i added this one. The model was cheap and supported dual-core so i took it. Anyways, I'll have a look at the BIOS tomorrow, and check out if it has that memory hole mapping thinggy. The internet thinggy is probably just a ISP failure. Thanks for all your help guys!

 

[Coolness]

Yeah, no such function in BIOS. So, no dice? 4gb is useless on this system?

 

[whs]

whs all of that is a moot point if the bios doesn't support memory hole remapping, either by default (hidden but on), or by option in the bios. Here is mine with it turned off,

View attachment 52320

and with it on (which on mine is the default setting, and configurable in the bios),

View attachment 52321

Edit: Looking further into the specs on that Acer,

Acer Support - Veriton M261 Series Specifications

there is a very good possibility that that option isn't going to be in the bios or supported, as from the looks of it that model shipped primarily with 32 bit only CPU's, making it mostly redundant to have/support it.

Good point Stormy. My explanations did assume that you have a proper BIOS. Of course, if you have some old box from a rummage sale, anything can happen - LOL.

 

[stormy13]

Good point Stormy. My explanations did assume that you have a proper BIOS. Of course, if you have some old box from a rummage sale Dell/HP/Acer/etc, anything can happen - LOL.

Fixed it for you.

Yeah, no such function in BIOS. So, no dice? 4gb is useless on this system?

Didn't think there would be. I don't know that I would say 4 GB is useless, just that you can only use 3 of the 4 GB installed. It could be worse, if you go by the service manual for that model,

Aspire M1610/Veriton M261 Service Guide

it is only supposed to support up to 2 GB total (2x1). Guess they uppped it in a bios update for those that got one with those specs.

 

[whs]

Good point Stormy. My explanations did assume that you have a proper BIOS. Of course, if you have some old box from a rummage sale Dell/HP/Acer/etc, anything can happen - LOL.

Fixed it for you.

Hmm, are you sure. I have both Dell and HP and a Gateway (kind of Acer), and none of them have this problem. The Gateway is a 64bit Win7, the Dell is a 32bit Vista and the HP has both Vista and Win7 in 32bit.

 

[stormy13]

Easy answer, do you have that setting in the bios of any of those? And on any of them running with 4 GB of ram (64 bit OS only), what does it show as installed/usable?

 

[Frostmourne]

What is your chipset? It could be it only supports 3GB max.

 

[Coolness]

What is your chipset? It could be it only supports 3GB max.

Dude, my Ubuntu recognizes the 4gb, and uses all of it. Ubuntu FTW. I think Vista SP2 would say i have 4gb,but i'd use 3. Maby i get Vista,to put my mind at ease