I installed 2 dimm of 2GB ram (total 4GB), how come my system display 3.54GB of memory only?

What about in the future if I add in 2 more, can I get 8GB?  

p/s: I'm using Win XP.

I'm talking about PC dekstop with dedicated EN8800GT graphic card, not laptop!

32 bits OS can only support up to 4GB RAM installed,and will only use 3.5GB or so.

This is due to 32-bit limitation.If you want to more RAM than that,u need to have a 64 bit OS like XP 64 or Vista 64

If I'm not wrong, I think there's something called "Physical Adress Extension".

i seriously think graphics card taking away the ram.

like i saw on hp mini notebook, specs say 2gb ram, system info say 1.5gb ram.

1) ceecookie said is very very true.
2) sbs1869 said is true too.

Originally posted by SBS1869ERyan:

i seriously think graphics card taking away the ram.

like i saw on hp mini notebook, specs say 2gb ram, system info say 1.5gb ram.

Certain notebooks with integrated graphics card are like that.But i dont think Intel GMA can take as much as 500mb(and not the full amount is shown too)...maybe the Nvidia's HyperMemory?

hypermemory can take alot..

look at mine, 128mb dedicated but it take up alot to total to 880mb

Thats why if possible, try to get a Nvidia with dedicated memory to "conserve" your RAM

Originally posted by ceecookie:

Thats why if possible, try to get a Nvidia with dedicated memory to "conserve" your RAM

me got dedicated memory

my laptop one larh

128mb dedi, 880mb when sharing

dunno why eat up so much

issit that if it doesent take up teh ram, its performance will be lousy?

Originally posted by SBS7484P:

me got dedicated memory

my laptop one larh

128mb dedi, 880mb when sharing

dunno why eat up so much

issit that if it doesent take up teh ram, its performance will be lousy?

You have to define "lousy performance"

Theoretically, the performance of the laptop will be affected(the scale depending on the total RAM available) because the processor would have less RAM to use after sharing a portion of it to the GPU unit.

However,if your laptop has 2GB/4GB of RAM, the affected performance will be negligible because having that said amount is more than enough for XP/Vista unless u are using memory intensive programs most of the time.

mine 32 bit but still shows 4gb...

Are u using Win XP?

What graphic card are u using? If it is integrated graphic or graphic card that support hypermemory or whatever bullshit, it will take away some of the ram, therefore only showing you the remaining available ram.

Originally posted by furb:

What graphic card are u using? If it is integrated graphic or graphic card that support hypermemory or whatever bullshit, it will take away some of the ram, therefore only showing you the remaining available ram.

hello! What 're u talking?

Windows XP and vista only supports 3.5GB as MAX useage atm

so even though u have 4.5GB of ram it will still show as 3.5GB

the new windows that is coming may support more but that i am not sure

and about graphic cards with their own rams, they do not take up rams at all unless the game u are playing needs more ram for the graphic

you can tweak your graphics card to use more memory. But these memory comes from your ram.

It applies for certain GPU.

Originally posted by Animetshop:

I installed 2 dimm of 2GB ram (total 4GB), how come my system display 3.54GB of memory only?

What about in the future if I add in 2 more, can I get 8GB?  

 

p/s: I'm using Win XP.

 

I'm talking about PC dekstop with dedicated EN8800GT graphic card, not laptop!

 

32Bit XP Max 3.25Gb ram

32Bit Vista with SP1 4Gb ram

Anything more then 4Gb go buy a 64Bit OS

And your Asus EN8800GT has got nothing to do with the Ram

There's no way XP/Vista will show 4GB of RAM installed unless you go and tweak some settings or install the 64-bit version of the OS.

Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:

There's no way XP/Vista will show 4GB of RAM installed unless you go and tweak some settings or install the 64-bit version of the OS.

Hmm, unless i go tweak??? Well,i think no need for me to talk much bahs.

General Improvements and Enhancements

Vista sp1 will show 4gb ram, im on sp1 and it showed!

Originally posted by IT-Newbie-Logy:

32Bit XP Max 3.25Gb ram

32Bit Vista with SP1 4Gb ram

Anything more then 4Gb go buy a 64Bit OS

And your Asus EN8800GT has got nothing to do with the Ram

Of cos I knew Asus EN8800GT got nothing to do with the Ram, but some kids always try to post something out of the topic, talking their laptop.... sianz

Originally posted by IT-Newbie-Logy:

Hmm, unless i go tweak??? Well,i think no need for me to talk much bahs.

General Improvements and Enhancements

•

SP1 includes a number of changes which allow computer manufacturers and consumers to select a default desktop search program similar to the way they currently select defaults for third-party web browsers and media players. That means that in addition to the numerous ways a user could access a third party search solution in Windows Vista, they can now get to their preferred search results from additional entry points in the Start Menu and Explorer Windows in Windows Vista with SP1. 3rd party software vendors simply need to register their search application using the newly provided protocol in Windows Vista SP1 to enable these options for their customers.

•

With SP1, Windows Vista will report the amount of system memory installed rather than report the amount of system memory available to the OS. Therefore 32-bit systems equipped with 4GB of RAM will report all 4GB in many places throughout the OS, such as the System Control Panel. However, this behavior is dependent on having a compatible BIOS, so not all users may notice this change.

Sources: http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/005f921e-f706-401e-abb5-eec42ea0a03e1033.mspx?mfr=true

Welcome to sgForums, Logy. And thanks for posting this interesting piece of information. It seems new to me that Vista SP1 actually showed the amount of physical memory installed in the system. But oh well, the actual amount available to the OS is still less than 4GB; it's just a little gimmick by Microsoft to reduce the number of calls they receive from puzzled consumers on their customer support service line everyday.

Originally posted by IT-Newbie-Logy:

Hmm, unless i go tweak??? Well,i think no need for me to talk much bahs.

According to your post, it's for Vista SP1.

Anything lower than Vista SP1, it will not show the actual amount.

Originally posted by Animetshop:

Of cos I knew Asus EN8800GT got nothing to do with the Ram, but some kids always try to post something out of the topic, talking their laptop.... sianz

Well, i already stressed that no matter what it is, the max is 3.25GB usage in 32 bits.

And blame SBS for the off-topic discussion

Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:

According to your post, it's for Vista SP1.

Anything lower than Vista SP1, it will not show the actual amount.

Ya lor,according to your post it clearly stated there's no way XP/vista will show 4Gb of rams unless it's a 64bits Os. So i am just feeding some new information for fellow Sgforumers, since i believe alot of users don't know this news yet as they are still using Xp.