I just adeed another 2GB Memory and Total says 3.25GB Memory

[videocheez]

I'm running WXP Pro SP2 and my computer had 2GB of 800MHz PC 6400 DDR2 RAM w/ latency 5-5-5-12 RAM. The prices finally dropped and I added another 2GB of 800MHz PC 6400 DDR2 RAM. The new memory has latency 4-4-4-12. I'm wondering why when I right click on my computer and look at properties under the general tab it says only 3.25GB memory. I thought It would say 4GB of memory available. Is there some else that I need to do to make all of the memory available or did I buy bad memory?

Thx in advance,

VC

[JohnnyMalaria]

That's normal (unfortunately). The only way to get the full 4GB is to use 64-bit Windows.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605

(Refers to Vista but applies to XP)

[videocheez]

That's normal (unfortunately). The only way to get the full 4GB is to use 64-bit Windows.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605

(Refers to Vista but applies to XP)

Thanks for the sad news. I waited almost 15 months for this. I was going to brag to all of my buddies that I have 4GB of RAM. Oh well 3.25 ain't bad. Now I'm at least glad that I waited for it to be only $50. I suppose I don't really need the extra memory. I have had no blue screen memory dumps since I got this comp with 2GB RAM. I was just hoping to be able to keep a zillion apps open without having any problems.

Thanks for getting back to me,

VC

[lordsmurf]

XP stops at 3.5GB.

[redwudz]

All 32 bit OSs are limited to a little less than 4GB because there's not enough available memory locations in a 32 bit address for 4GB RAM.

[videocheez]

XP stops at 3.5GB.

Ok. what information could I give you to help me figure why mine stops at 3.5?

Thx,

VC

[Ethlred]

After years of lurking a first post.

Ok. what information could I give you to help me figure why mine stops at 3.5?

Thats normal. Windows has half a gig of ram space allocated for hardware. So 3.5 GB is the maximum usable ram and only 2 GB can be allocated for any one program.

Ethelred

[lenti_75]

that is a total waste of money, you'll never use more than 2Gb on XP no matter what.
I can't max 2Gb on my 64 Vista ultimate and have like 20 programs open, from Flash professional to Visual Studio 2008

before you buy something, make sure you really need it.

[videocheez]

that is a total waste of money, you'll never use more than 2Gb on XP no matter what.
I can't max 2Gb on my 64 Vista ultimate and have like 20 programs open, from Flash professional to Visual Studio 2008

before you buy something, make sure you really need it.

Thanks. I feel even better now.

[Soopafresh]

You can allocate some of the RAM for a Ramdrive, and stick your temp folder or browser cache on it.

[aedipuss]

i don't think a ramdrive will find the "missing ram", the addresses to the memory in that area is already used.

[drjtech]

XP stops at 3.5GB.

Ok. what information could I give you to help me figure why mine stops at 3.5?

Thx,

VC

I presume you meant to ask why yours stopped at 3.25. You probably have 256K allocated to graphicss memory.

-drjtech

[videocheez]

I presume you meant to ask why yours stopped at 3.25. You probably have 256K allocated to graphicss memory.

-drjtech

Your presumption is correct.
I have 512MB on my video card and the motherboard has a video adapter too. If the motherboard's on video memory is 256MB and I add the total video memory of my video card and the presumed 256MB of motherboard memory, that would be the total of my missing memory. Does this logic sound plausible?

Thx in advance,

VC

[Rudyard]

that is a total waste of money, you'll never use more than 2Gb on XP no matter what.
I can't max 2Gb on my 64 Vista ultimate and have like 20 programs open, from Flash professional to Visual Studio 2008

before you buy something, make sure you really need it.

Ive maxed 2gb in XP SP2 using photoshop CS3 several times (well within the last 1-200mb, I didnt push on any further but assume that what we could called maxed?)

[linux_guru]

All 32 bit OSs are limited to a little less than 4GB because there's not enough available memory locations in a 32 bit address for 4GB RAM.

All WINDOWS 32bit are limited to 3.25G. My 32bit SuSE O.S. happily sees all my 4GB memory. Most 32bit Linux distros will support 4GB+ with a PAE kernel.

[redwudz]

True, some 32 bit OSs can use 'tricks' to go above that limit. But the problem is the 32 bit number system itself. The virtual address space is limited, by definition, to the size of a 32-bit value:

2(32) = 4,294,967,296 (Sorry, I can't seem to do the superscript notation for 2 to the 32nd power with my keyboard.)
4,294,967,296 / (1,024 x 1,024) = 4,096 MB

Some Windows systems can apparently go up to or over the 4096 MB value also, but probably by assigning memory differently where it's not part of the 4096 MB address system.

One easy to read reference for Windows 32 bit OSs and memory limitations: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000811.html

Windows PAE info: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366796(VS.85).aspx

Or more on Windows memory info: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778.aspx#memory_limits

[Ai Haibara]

2(32) = 4,294,967,296 (Sorry, I can't seem to do the superscript notation for 2 to the 32nd power with my keyboard.)

I believe you use the ^ symbol for that (shift-6). Sorry, I've forgotten off the top of my head what it's called.

That would be 2^32=4,294,967,296.

[drjtech]

I have 512MB on my video card and the motherboard has a video adapter too. If the motherboard's on video memory is 256MB and I add the total video memory of my video card and the presumed 256MB of motherboard memory, that would be the total of my missing memory. Does this logic sound plausible?

Thx in advance,

VC

If you are not using your onboard video adapter you may be able to reclaim the 256MB by disabling the adapter via your motherboard BIOS.

-drjtech