FN-GM Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 Hi, I have 4GB of Ram in my workstation. I am running Windows 7 Enterprise x64. When i view how much memory i have it says only 3.86 is usable. Why? Thanks
DAckroyd Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 does the computer have onboard graphics? if so that will take some of the ram
tmcd35 Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 [snip - bad reply] Doh - should have looked at the pic before replying! Yeah, as others have said prob shared graphics
FN-GM Posted November 5, 2009 Author Posted November 5, 2009 Hi, It has its own graphics, our other machines have 8GB ram in and they just simply say 8GB. It used to have 3GB ram in but i stuck another stick in this is how it went.
cookie_monster Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 32 Bit Windows? DOH just re read that.
cookie_monster Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 Take a look at this link it describes an issue with x64 as well. TabBlogger : The 3GB-not-4GB RAM problem
tmcd35 Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 32 Bit Windows? :cough: the bad reply I just gave - it's 64bit Windows! What does the performance tab in task manager say? 1
mac_shinobi Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 I would either say one of the following 1 - shared graphics as per above 2 - its using some for the system 3. - windows is not reporting the correct amount of memory - so if you use siw or another util does that report the correct amount of memory ? Not sure if 2 is related to 1
cookie_monster Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 (edited) The link I posted above explains the issue ^ and here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605/en-us This behavior is the expected result of certain hardware and software factors. Various devices in a typical computer require memory-mapped access. This is known as memory-mapped I/O (MMIO). For the MMIO space to be available to 32-bit operating systems, the MMIO space must reside within the first 4 GB of address space. For example, if you have a video card that has 256 MB of onboard memory, that memory must be mapped within the first 4 GB of address space. If 4 GB of system memory is already installed, part of that address space must be reserved by the graphics memory mapping. Graphics memory mapping overwrites a part of the system memory. These conditions reduce the total amount of system memory that is available to the operating system. The reduction in available system memory depends on the devices that are installed in the computer. However, to avoid potential driver compatibility issues, the 32-bit versions of Windows Vista limit the total available memory to 3.12 GB. See the "More information" section for information about potential driver compatibility issues. If a computer has many installed devices, the available memory may be reduced to 3 GB or less. However, the maximum memory available in 32-bit versions of Windows Vista is typically 3.12 GB. Pretty much saying in more detail what others have said above. Edited November 5, 2009 by cookie_monster 2
somabc Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 open msconfig, go to the boot tab and click 'advanced options' and uncheck 'max memory'
mac_shinobi Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 The link I posted above explains the issue ^ Was just reading through the article and was just about to say that lol *cough* Thanks for that post +1 rep to you Also Not sure if its the same with windows 7 but I know they had a similiar issue with I think windows XP Service Pack 2 ? or at least one of the service packs that was not reporting the correct amount of memory but I think its more so what that article explains hence the link
FN-GM Posted November 5, 2009 Author Posted November 5, 2009 open msconfig, go to the boot tab and click 'advanced options' and uncheck 'max memory' This doesnt work. Thanks for the links guys i will read them when i get chance. Cheers
tmcd35 Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 I've just read through the MS link in Cookie_Monsters reply. It basically covers the known 3Gb memory hole with 32bit Windows - the other 1Gb is needed for DMA use by the PCI bus. However this paragraph probably applies to 64bit installs... The BIOS must support the memory remapping feature. The memory remapping feature allows for the segment of system memory that was previously overwritten by the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) configuration space to be remapped above the 4 GB address line. This feature must be enabled in the BIOS configuration utility on the computer. View your computer product documentation for instructions that explain how to enable this feature. Many consumer-oriented computers may not support the memory remapping feature. No standard terminology is used in documentation or in BIOS configuration utilities for this feature. Therefore, you may have to read the descriptions of the various BIOS configuration settings that are available to determine whether any of the settings enable the memory remapping feature. Sooo, the BIOS does not support (or is not set to) remap certain PCI address spaces above the 4Gb threshhold. Thus this is taken away from your addressable memory. 2
DAckroyd Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 have you got your motherboard drivers and other drivers on the machine ok cos that Experiance Index looks very low for a computer with 4GB of ram and a 3GHz CPU
DAckroyd Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 Sooo, the BIOS does not support (or is not set to) remap certain PCI address spaces above the 4Gb threshhold. Thus this is taken away from your addressable memory. I was thinking this but it can see that there is 4GB there so the bios/chipset must be set right or it would just show as 3GB or somthing
cookie_monster Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 I was thinking this but it can see that there is 4GB there so the bios/chipset must be set right or it would just show as 3GB or somthing Is it possible that it's pulling the 4Gb info direct from the BIOS which sees all of the RAM but Windows will still tell you how much 'it' can use.
tmcd35 Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 I was thinking this but it can see that there is 4GB there so the bios/chipset must be set right or it would just show as 3GB or somthing No not necersarrily. The BIOS will show you how much RAM is installed not how the RAM will be used. I have servers here with 12Gb RAM installed (and seen by the BIOS) but only 3.somthing used because I'm currently running 32bit on them (in the process of upgrading). Yes the BIOS reports 4Gb ram, good, but there may be a setting in there thats telling it to map some of the PCI address space into this 4Gb space. Thus Windows can only use 3.89Gb.
bossman Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 @FN-GM I run 16gb on my windows 3.1 box but it only reports 4 Mb 2
DAckroyd Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 @FN-GM I run 16gb on my windows 3.1 box but it only reports 4 Mb I think the only question that needs asking there is why are you still running 3.1?
FreelanceX Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 I think the only question that needs asking there is why are you still running 3.1? Is the answer: "cuz its kool?" haha. EDIT: TO actually add to the discussion, do you think it may be a bad stick off RAM? Possibly? Like what happens if you put it in another machine?
tmcd35 Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 Is the answer: "cuz its kool?" haha. Only if it's being run on your mobile phone... Windows 3.1 on a Nokia N95
bossman Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 I think the only question that needs asking there is why are you still running 3.1? Cos I can and cos it runs faster, and cos FN-GM needs to get a life :D 1
FreelanceX Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 Only if it's being run on your mobile phone... Windows 3.1 on a Nokia N95 Haha thats ace. Beats me running the PSX on my touch pro 2!
DMcCoy Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 What is the board and cpu? As mentioned graphics cards can use some of the address space, as can thing like X-FI sound cards.
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