Why does my RAM show 4GB (3.84GB unusable)?

[Gmonst]

In Start> Right click 'computer'> Properties, shows that my RAM is 4GB, but it also says 3.84 unusable, why? Does this mean I'm currently only using 16MB of RAM for everything? How can I fix this? Someone help me make sense of this please! I do a lot of gaming but it has to be on very low graphics and I think this is partly the reason I don't have many FPS on games such as Runes of Magic or Allods Online, and games like that.

 

[Petey7]

You more or less answered your question in your own post. Since you are using a low end graphics card, it probably has to share some RAM with the rest of the computer. So basically, the 164 MB (not 16, your conversion factor is off), is being used by your video card. If it wasn't, the FPS would likely be considerably worst.

 

[Night Hawk]

Sounds more like a Windows related problem since Windows can't run on only 16mb! Just lately someone else saw a similar incorrect memory total showing 18gb total installed while only having 4gb like you have there. You may be facing the same solution for seeing that corrected with another clean install of Windows since this seems to be registry related.

Are you running the 32bit or 64bit there by the way? If the 32bit Home Premium you will lose almost 500mb off the top automatically as the remaining memory addresses are simply mapped out to hardwares. For the 64bit that should only take about 700-750mb in that area plus other startups.

 

[Wishmaster]

Most Likely due to intergrated graphics.

Integrated Graphics does not have its own memory, so it uses (or borrows) System memory.

Whatever amount it reserves (a value set in the bios) will be taken from your installed memory and dedicated to graphics use.

The "available" amount you see is whats left afterward that the system can use.

 

[Petey7]

Sounds more like a Windows related problem since Windows can't run on only 16mb! Just lately someone else saw a similar incorrect memory total showing 18gb total installed while only having 4gb like you have there. You may be facing the same solution for seeing that corrected with another clean install of Windows since this seems to be registry related.

Are you running the 32bit or 64bit there by the way? If the 32bit Home Premium you will lose almost 500mb off the top automatically as the remaining memory addresses are simply mapped out to hardwares. For the 64bit that should only take about 700-750mb in that area plus other startups.

Night Hawk, look at the numbers closely. The OP thanks that 1GB = 100MB, when 1GB actually = 1024MB. Also, he thought it said unusable, when it says usable. He also started a second thread on this same issue, which was where I realized he read it wrong.

 

[Night Hawk]

Sounds more like a Windows related problem since Windows can't run on only 16mb! Just lately someone else saw a similar incorrect memory total showing 18gb total installed while only having 4gb like you have there. You may be facing the same solution for seeing that corrected with another clean install of Windows since this seems to be registry related.

Are you running the 32bit or 64bit there by the way? If the 32bit Home Premium you will lose almost 500mb off the top automatically as the remaining memory addresses are simply mapped out to hardwares. For the 64bit that should only take about 700-750mb in that area plus other startups.

Night Hawk, look at the numbers closely. The OP thanks that 1GB = 100MB, when 1GB actually = 1024MB. Also, he thought it said unusable, when it says usable. He also started a second thread on this same issue, which was where I realized he read it wrong.

You missed something!

Sounds more like a Windows related problem since Windows can't run on only 16mb!

There is another thread where Windows was showing the incorrect amount of the total installed. That was a minor issue there however dealing with the registry since no other problems were being seen.

 

[Petey7]

I remember that thread. So you figured it out then?

Not sure what you think I missed, unless you were trying to make a joke I did not get.

 

[Night Hawk]

It sounded like a misread amount but I had to wait for Gmonst to reply back here before making any automatic assumptions until you mentioned the other thread started.

As far as shared memory that is just always seen with any graphics even when a separate card is installed some will still be shared memory to some extent. The 32bit however does far more mapping out to hardwares there.

And to you Gmonst the onboard is simply taking a 256mb amount from the total amount of 4096mb=4gb there being shared memory and nothing to worry about.