Why is only 1/4 of my installed RAM usable?

[tfwcook]

So I'm not terrible with computers, but I'm not that great at all. I did build this computer and it's been working beautifully for 2 years. Recently it started be waayy slower, so after some quick investigation I found out that of my 16GB of RAM installed, only 3.24GB is usable. I've looked all over the internet and tried a bunch of things, but I can't figure it out. Can anyone help?

 

[Berton]

Simply put, the problem is your version of Windows, shows as 32-bit and there is an issue with more than about 3.2GB to 3.5GB or so. If you were to install a 64-bit version you'd get access to all 16GB.

 

[Layback Bear]

It's pretty simple. You have OS Windows 7 Professional 32bit system which will never show more that 4 gigs of ram. Windows 32 bit system is unable to use more ram.

What operating system did you have installed before Windows 7 Professional 32bit was installed. Where did you get Windows 7 Professional 32bi?

 

[tfwcook]

Simply put, the problem is your version of Windows, shows as 32-bit and there is an issue with more than about 3.2GB to 3.5GB or so. If you were to install a 64-bit version you'd get access to all 16GB.

Thanks! I'll try that and let you know.

 

[tfwcook]

It's pretty simple. You have OS Windows 7 Professional 32bit system which will never show more that 4 gigs of ram. Windows 32 bit system is unable to use more ram.

What operating system did you have installed before Windows 7 Professional 32bit was installed. Where did you get Windows 7 Professional 32bi?

This is the only OS I've ever had on the machine. I'm pretty sure my friend gave it to me when I built it a couple years ago.

 

[Boozad]

The amount of useable RAM will not be the cause of your PC slowing down then.

 

[tfwcook]

The amount of useable RAM will not be the cause of your PC slowing down then.

Really? What do you think the most likely problems would be? Every time I have a program crash (a game for example) my task manager always shows that my Physical Memory is running close to 100% (which according to the task manager is ~4GB). Therefore I guess I assumed it was a RAM issue.

 

[Berton]

Simply put, the problem is your version of Windows, shows as 32-bit and there is an issue with more than about 3.2GB to 3.5GB or so. If you were to install a 64-bit version you'd get access to all 16GB.

Thanks! I'll try that and let you know.

You're welcome.

 

[Boozad]

The amount of useable RAM will not be the cause of your PC slowing down then.

Really? What do you think the most likely problems would be? Every time I have a program crash (a game for example) my task manager always shows that my Physical Memory is running close to 100% (which according to the task manager is ~4GB). Therefore I guess I assumed it was a RAM issue.

The amount of useable RAM hasn't changed if you've always had a 32-bit OS. You need to find ou what's hogging all of your RAM.

 

[Berton]

The amount of useable RAM will not be the cause of your PC slowing down then.

Really? What do you think the most likely problems would be? Every time I have a program crash (a game for example) my task manager always shows that my Physical Memory is running close to 100% (which according to the task manager is ~4GB). Therefore I guess I assumed it was a RAM issue.

Physical Memory can run up to 100% and if that happens regularly you might check into what your Virtual Memory/paging file is set at, may be good to make it larger, say twice the size of the RAM. I set mine at 1.5 times the RAM and the same number for Maximum and Minimum but games, video editing, large spreadsheets, etc., do need more than the minimum requirements. Running more programs at the same time exacerbates the problem. Windows loves as much RAM as it can get.

 

[tfwcook]

The amount of useable RAM will not be the cause of your PC slowing down then.

Really? What do you think the most likely problems would be? Every time I have a program crash (a game for example) my task manager always shows that my Physical Memory is running close to 100% (which according to the task manager is ~4GB). Therefore I guess I assumed it was a RAM issue.

Physical Memory can run up to 100% and if that happens regularly you might check into what your Virtual Memory/paging file is set at, may be good to make it larger, say twice the size of the RAM. I set mine at 1.5 times the RAM and the same number for Maximum and Minimum but games, video editing, large spreadsheets, etc., do need more than the minimum requirements. Running more programs at the same time exacerbates the problem. Windows loves as much RAM as it can get.

Yeah I found the paging file editor earlier, but got scared of changing it, so I didn't. So you're saying I should set the minimum at like 32768 MB (2x)? Or should I go with 24576 MB (1.5x)?

 

[Berton]

Your limit of RAM for 32-bit Windows is 4GB, use that number.

 

[AddRAM]

Please, just clean install Windows 7 Professional 64 bit, and all your problems will disappear

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[Layback Bear]

I agree with AddRAM; just do a clean install of Windows 7/64.
A proper COA key will work for either 32 bit or 64 bit but it must be a Clean Install.