Usable RAM -Windows 7 64bit

[bethy1234]

Hello,

My query is: Why does my Vaio with 4gb ram say only "3:00 GB usable"?


Thanks in advance?

 

[bethy1234]

Sorry , I forgot to mention that this is seen via the system panel of the windows control panel.

 

[cmd187]

The other 1GB is being hardware reserved by your GPU - do you have integrated graphics?

 

[bethy1234]

Hi cmd187,

That was a quick response.

My gpu details are as follows: Graphics adapter
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 - 256 MB, Core: 680 MHz, Memory: 800 MHz, GDDR3, 7.14.10.0567.

I'll accept what you say, but a full 1GB ring-fenced for the gpu sounds excessive. Would you say this is the case for most pc's and laptops?


Thanks
Andy

 

[cmd187]

If its integrated that is correct. On my work system I have an integrated 4250 which takes 256MB out of 4GB and on my gaming system I have a 6870 with a dedicated 1GB. It can take memory if required, but not generally when you boot up. The 1GB sounds about right, especially when you play games. Then the usage will rise.

 

[fseal]

You're title says windows 64 bit. Are you sure that's what your running?

THe video ram blocking installed ram is extremely common... for 32 bit windows. Any modern laptop with Windows 7-64 bit should not have any hardware reserved (Or just a tiny bit, a few K). My last two Windows 7 64 bit laptops had 4 and 8 gig of ram and virtyally nothing hardware reserved even though they had 1 gig video cards.

Also with a 256 meg graphics adapter, even if it were taking up system ram, it shouldn;t be 1 gig, should only be 256 meg plus some for the other hardware meaning you should still have like 3.5 gig free...

[Edit] In fact my newest laptop is a vaio too... How old is the laptop? What is the model? [\edit]

 

[cmd187]

Judging by the GPU, that laptop looks to be around 2007 vintage.

 

[fseal]

Hmm, well if it really is an old laptop then that might be stuck that way even in win 64 bit. Old BOISes don't know how to remap the hardware to outside the 4 GB range even with a 64 bit OS. Some people on the forums have desktops that show that problem, ususaly pretty old hardware.

When buying a new computer, one of the first things I do is go to the resource monitor and look at the memory tab to make sure that there is no hardware reserved memory

 

[bethy1234]

Hi Cmd187,
I don,t play games but i do run Cubase 5 with some heavy duty vst's - if that means anything to you. But you have got me thinking, you have taught me that ram reservation usage increases when you run games/graphic intensive stuff (which i don't). I have just finished a session using my music apps, and thought i would just check the ram usage. I will do a reboot in the mornng and see if the pc boots with the same value with no apps running.

Hi fseal,
Yes indeed this is 64 bit win 7 ultimate. Indeed, I too expected to see closer to 3.5gb free ram. Do you know of any method by which I can view exactly how the reserved ram is being used? Is there a way to manually modify the qty of reserved ram?

Thanks hombres

 

[cmd187]

Type resmon in the start menu, then look at the memory tab to see what is reserved.

 

[bethy1234]

Hi all,

Yes this is about 4yrs old,

Here is a pic showing usable ram, and also a pic from the Resource monitor Memory page showing how the ram is being used(sorted by the 'Private' column).

Seriously, I have no major complaints, except when i'm running heavy duty cpu-intensive vst's.

Andy B.

 

[fseal]

Sadly that shows how much is reserved but not who is reserving it.

Usually the only way to free up that space is to disable hardware. Like if it were a desktop with an integrated video card that was enabled along with your aftermarket one, disabling the integrated would ususaly get you more free ram.

Also, if this were a desktop, your mention of cubase would have me asking about any hardware acellerators for it you may have installed internally which might be using ram, but.. not for the laptop

Might also look in the laptop BIOS for a memory remap option. May be off when it should be on. No idea where it might be located, but maybe a little googling with reference to your laptop model might bring something up.