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12 gb RAM installed, 11.5 usable, but still uses only around 2 gb

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  • RAM
  • Processors
  • Memory
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October 16, 2014 8:48:52 AM

System specs:
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.6GHz
Installed memory (RAM): 12.0 GB (4 x 3GB) (11.5 GB usable)
System type: 64-bit Operating System, x64-based processor
Graphics processing unit: NVIDIA GeForce OEM GTX 745
Windows edition: Windows 8.1

The problem is that even though my computer has 12 gb RAM, it still only uses a maximum of around 2 or 3. When I play a game on the lowest settings, it runs fine, but when I turn it to the highest settings, it drops to around 20 fps, and uses around the same amount of RAM. Can someone please help? I already tried going into MsConfig to change my usable amount of RAM. I also have already tried using LAA to no avail.

More about : ram installed usable

October 16, 2014 8:52:56 AM

what GPU are you using?
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a b } Memory
October 16, 2014 8:54:04 AM

Hello... Game performance is directly related to your Graphics card display Performance... what are you using, ON-CPU IGT?
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Related resources
October 16, 2014 9:07:22 AM

qazzi said:
what GPU are you using?


NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745
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a b } Memory
October 16, 2014 10:17:10 AM

Dmytro Bondarchuk said:
System specs:
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.6GHz
Installed memory (RAM): 12.0 GB (4 x 3GB) (11.5 GB usable)
System type: 64-bit Operating System, x64-based processor
Graphics processing unit: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745
Windows edition: Windows 8.1

The problem is that even though my computer has 12 gb RAM, it still only uses a maximum of around 2 or 3. When I play a game on the lowest settings, it runs fine, but when I turn it to the highest settings, it drops to around 20 fps, and uses around the same amount of RAM. Can someone please help? I already tried going into MsConfig to change my usable amount of RAM. I also have already tried using LAA to no avail.


Your confused. The game doesn't "use all my RAM" (12GB) it uses the GPU RAM on the GPU card to manage the graphics level. More 'RAM' doesn't mean better FPS.

Next couple of things
1) Remove the 3rd 4GB or ADD another 4GB, Modern systems require PAIRED RAM. Having a SINGLE stick actually impacts performance as it can't DUAL CHANNEL.
2) the reason you have ONLY 11.5GB Usable is .5 (or 512Mb) is being dedicated tot he onboard video. Disable the onboard video in BIOS, you don't need it. Make sure your LCD is PLUGGED into the 745 video connection NOT the onboard video connection
3) just saying " I play a game on the lowest settings, it runs fine, but when I turn it to the highest settings, it drops to around 20 fps" doesn't MEAN ANYTHING. Are we talking your trying to play WATCHDOGS or you talking FARMVILLE. Each game has much different demands and needs, and one game can rock like crazy while another is dog bad.
3) Now you do mean a GTX 745M as in your LAPTOP GPU right? Because that is the normal production model, while I did find a OEM GTX 745 out there for desktops, the large norm is the 745 is a MOBILITY GPU for laptops. Which still is a LOW END graphics card that isn't usable for gaming. http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-745M.902...
Even old games like Hitman Absolution (2012) you only get decent frame rates when playing in LOW Graphics (UGLY!), in the lowest resolution (1024x768 OMG!!! EWWW!).
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October 16, 2014 10:47:11 AM

Tom Tancredi said:
Dmytro Bondarchuk said:
System specs:
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.6GHz
Installed memory (RAM): 12.0 GB (4 x 3GB) (11.5 GB usable)
System type: 64-bit Operating System, x64-based processor
Graphics processing unit: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745
Windows edition: Windows 8.1

The problem is that even though my computer has 12 gb RAM, it still only uses a maximum of around 2 or 3. When I play a game on the lowest settings, it runs fine, but when I turn it to the highest settings, it drops to around 20 fps, and uses around the same amount of RAM. Can someone please help? I already tried going into MsConfig to change my usable amount of RAM. I also have already tried using LAA to no avail.


Your confused. The game doesn't "use all my RAM" (12GB) it uses the GPU RAM on the GPU card to manage the graphics level. More 'RAM' doesn't mean better FPS.

Next couple of things
1) Remove the 3rd 4GB or ADD another 4GB, Modern systems require PAIRED RAM. Having a SINGLE stick actually impacts performance as it can't DUAL CHANNEL.
2) the reason you have ONLY 11.5GB Usable is .5 (or 512Mb) is being dedicated tot he onboard video. Disable the onboard video in BIOS, you don't need it. Make sure your LCD is PLUGGED into the 745 video connection NOT the onboard video connection
3) just saying " I play a game on the lowest settings, it runs fine, but when I turn it to the highest settings, it drops to around 20 fps" doesn't MEAN ANYTHING. Are we talking your trying to play WATCHDOGS or you talking FARMVILLE. Each game has much different demands and needs, and one game can rock like crazy while another is dog bad.
3) Now you do mean a GTX 745M as in your LAPTOP GPU right? Because that is the normal production model, while I did find a OEM GTX 745 out there for desktops, the large norm is the 745 is a MOBILITY GPU for laptops. Which still is a LOW END graphics card that isn't usable for gaming. http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-745M.902...
Even old games like Hitman Absolution (2012) you only get decent frame rates when playing in LOW Graphics (UGLY!), in the lowest resolution (1024x768 OMG!!! EWWW!).


1. I said I have 4 x 3 GB, not 3 x 4. As in I have 4 cards, 3 GB each so it is paired.
2. Yes I know that I have 11.5 usable. That is on purpose.
3. Would it really seem like I would play Farmville on a computer like this? I'm talking about things like The Forest using around 2,000,000 KB at min and at max settings.
4*. It's OEM. This is a desktop.
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a b } Memory
October 16, 2014 11:13:41 AM

Dmytro Bondarchuk said:
Tom Tancredi said:
Dmytro Bondarchuk said:
System specs:
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.6GHz
Installed memory (RAM): 12.0 GB (4 x 3GB) (11.5 GB usable)
System type: 64-bit Operating System, x64-based processor
Graphics processing unit: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745
Windows edition: Windows 8.1

The problem is that even though my computer has 12 gb RAM, it still only uses a maximum of around 2 or 3. When I play a game on the lowest settings, it runs fine, but when I turn it to the highest settings, it drops to around 20 fps, and uses around the same amount of RAM. Can someone please help? I already tried going into MsConfig to change my usable amount of RAM. I also have already tried using LAA to no avail.


Your confused. The game doesn't "use all my RAM" (12GB) it uses the GPU RAM on the GPU card to manage the graphics level. More 'RAM' doesn't mean better FPS.

Next couple of things
1) Remove the 3rd 4GB or ADD another 4GB, Modern systems require PAIRED RAM. Having a SINGLE stick actually impacts performance as it can't DUAL CHANNEL.
2) the reason you have ONLY 11.5GB Usable is .5 (or 512Mb) is being dedicated tot he onboard video. Disable the onboard video in BIOS, you don't need it. Make sure your LCD is PLUGGED into the 745 video connection NOT the onboard video connection
3) just saying " I play a game on the lowest settings, it runs fine, but when I turn it to the highest settings, it drops to around 20 fps" doesn't MEAN ANYTHING. Are we talking your trying to play WATCHDOGS or you talking FARMVILLE. Each game has much different demands and needs, and one game can rock like crazy while another is dog bad.
3) Now you do mean a GTX 745M as in your LAPTOP GPU right? Because that is the normal production model, while I did find a OEM GTX 745 out there for desktops, the large norm is the 745 is a MOBILITY GPU for laptops. Which still is a LOW END graphics card that isn't usable for gaming. http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-745M.902...
Even old games like Hitman Absolution (2012) you only get decent frame rates when playing in LOW Graphics (UGLY!), in the lowest resolution (1024x768 OMG!!! EWWW!).


1. I said I have 4 x 3 GB, not 3 x 4. As in I have 4 cards, 3 GB each so it is paired.
2. Yes I know that I have 11.5 usable. That is on purpose.
3. Would it really seem like I would play Farmville on a computer like this? I'm talking about things like The Forest using around 2,000,000 KB at min and at max settings.
4*. It's OEM. This is a desktop.


I reemphasized ABOVE, just because you change max / min settings on The Forest, doesn't mean MORE/LESS System RAM is used. Graphics do not use MOTHERBOARD RAM (your 12GB) to render the display UNLESS it is a IGP (integrated graphics).

1) There is NO SUCH THING as a 3GB RAM Stick, they are in EVEN numbers, so it is IMPOSSIBLE for you to have FOUR 3GB Sticks, they dont' exist. Again back to what I said, if you have 12GB then you have THREE 4GB sticks. IF you have FOUR RAM sticks then ONE is faulty and isn't working FYI.
2) Why would you do that on purpose? That is shooting yourself in the foot as your not using the IGP, you have a dedicated GPU.
3) See above, your misunderstanding basic elements of computers.
4) Hmmm okay, well still as I pointed out the card is WAY low end and won't perform any better then you gotten because it is so low end, UNLESS you played really OLD games (hence the link to show you REAL tested numbers and performance from MANY different titles).

Your best answer is to get a proper video card to support your gaming needs, you got a nice CPU, the RAM is questionable (as I pointed out) but the GPU just won't cut it. Your best 'pairing for performance' with your i7 Would be GTX 770-780 at a minimum.. but the pricing of the 970-980s (which seemed to dropped the 870-880s from production) make it feasible for not much (relatively speaking) cost in comparision to how much GAIN you get in performance.
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Best solution

October 16, 2014 11:14:40 AM

Dmytro Bondarchuk said:
qazzi said:
what GPU are you using?


NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745



EDIT.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745 is an OEM btw. and yes buying a new GPU is the best...
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October 16, 2014 11:29:33 AM

Tom Tancredi said:
Dmytro Bondarchuk said:
Tom Tancredi said:
Dmytro Bondarchuk said:
System specs:
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.6GHz
Installed memory (RAM): 12.0 GB (4 x 3GB) (11.5 GB usable)
System type: 64-bit Operating System, x64-based processor
Graphics processing unit: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745
Windows edition: Windows 8.1

The problem is that even though my computer has 12 gb RAM, it still only uses a maximum of around 2 or 3. When I play a game on the lowest settings, it runs fine, but when I turn it to the highest settings, it drops to around 20 fps, and uses around the same amount of RAM. Can someone please help? I already tried going into MsConfig to change my usable amount of RAM. I also have already tried using LAA to no avail.


Your confused. The game doesn't "use all my RAM" (12GB) it uses the GPU RAM on the GPU card to manage the graphics level. More 'RAM' doesn't mean better FPS.

Next couple of things
1) Remove the 3rd 4GB or ADD another 4GB, Modern systems require PAIRED RAM. Having a SINGLE stick actually impacts performance as it can't DUAL CHANNEL.
2) the reason you have ONLY 11.5GB Usable is .5 (or 512Mb) is being dedicated tot he onboard video. Disable the onboard video in BIOS, you don't need it. Make sure your LCD is PLUGGED into the 745 video connection NOT the onboard video connection
3) just saying " I play a game on the lowest settings, it runs fine, but when I turn it to the highest settings, it drops to around 20 fps" doesn't MEAN ANYTHING. Are we talking your trying to play WATCHDOGS or you talking FARMVILLE. Each game has much different demands and needs, and one game can rock like crazy while another is dog bad.
3) Now you do mean a GTX 745M as in your LAPTOP GPU right? Because that is the normal production model, while I did find a OEM GTX 745 out there for desktops, the large norm is the 745 is a MOBILITY GPU for laptops. Which still is a LOW END graphics card that isn't usable for gaming. http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-745M.902...
Even old games like Hitman Absolution (2012) you only get decent frame rates when playing in LOW Graphics (UGLY!), in the lowest resolution (1024x768 OMG!!! EWWW!).


1. I said I have 4 x 3 GB, not 3 x 4. As in I have 4 cards, 3 GB each so it is paired.
2. Yes I know that I have 11.5 usable. That is on purpose.
3. Would it really seem like I would play Farmville on a computer like this? I'm talking about things like The Forest using around 2,000,000 KB at min and at max settings.
4*. It's OEM. This is a desktop.


I reemphasized ABOVE, just because you change max / min settings on The Forest, doesn't mean MORE/LESS System RAM is used. Graphics do not use MOTHERBOARD RAM (your 12GB) to render the display UNLESS it is a IGP (integrated graphics).

1) There is NO SUCH THING as a 3GB RAM Stick, they are in EVEN numbers, so it is IMPOSSIBLE for you to have FOUR 3GB Sticks, they dont' exist. Again back to what I said, if you have 12GB then you have THREE 4GB sticks. IF you have FOUR RAM sticks then ONE is faulty and isn't working FYI.
2) Why would you do that on purpose? That is shooting yourself in the foot as your not using the IGP, you have a dedicated GPU.
3) See above, your misunderstanding basic elements of computers.
4) Hmmm okay, well still as I pointed out the card is WAY low end and won't perform any better then you gotten because it is so low end, UNLESS you played really OLD games (hence the link to show you REAL tested numbers and performance from MANY different titles).

Your best answer is to get a proper video card to support your gaming needs, you got a nice CPU, the RAM is questionable (as I pointed out) but the GPU just won't cut it. Your best 'pairing for performance' with your i7 Would be GTX 770-780 at a minimum.. but the pricing of the 970-980s (which seemed to dropped the 870-880s from production) make it feasible for not much (relatively speaking) cost in comparision to how much GAIN you get in performance.


i don't wanna burst your bubble or anything but there is a 3GB ram see here http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kingston-ValueRAM-3GB-DDR3-SD... although out of stock at the moment .. and also here http://www.mymemory.co.uk/High-Speed-RAM/Kingston-Hyper...
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