3GB RAM reported as 2.87 GB RAM

[n64ra]

I've read several posts about Win XP 32-bit NOT supporting 4GB. I installed 3GB (two 1GB and two 512MB sticks), but I am seeing System Properties report it as 2.87 GB. I thought I was understanding that Win XP 32-bit COULD support up to 3GB (not just up to 2.87GB). Other software such as CPU-Z correctly report it as 3072 MB RAM. What's the reason it would say 2.87GB instead of 3GB?

Thanks!

 

[chocobocorey]

are you using onboard video? maybe your chipset is takin 256MB of your RAM to go to your onboard video. if not.. well then beats me

 

[n64ra]

Nah, I've got a video card in my AGP.

 

[Sagekilla]

There are AGP and PCIe cards that use system memory for textures as well. Which card is it?

I think it's usually the 6200 and 7300 series that has this.

 

[n64ra]

It's a few years old. It's a Radeon 9600. Also, when I had just the two 512MB sticks, System Properties reported as 1GB.

 

[randomizer]

cpu-z will always read your actual memory amount, mine says 4gb and windows only detects 3.25gb. Still even if windows only detects 2.87gb does it really matter? Thats only 130mb missing and out of 3gb thats not much.

EDIT: Dont do what my dad does and say "its the principle" coz I know and I rarely care for principles.

 

[illinikevin]

I have the same memory configuration as you and under 32 bit Vista it only reported it as 2.8GB. Cpu-Z and the Bios reported it as 3.07GB. I now run 64 bit vista and it sees the whole 3.0GB. I'm not sure why but your problem is normal.

 

[Dade_0182]

cpu-z will always read your actual memory amount, mine says 4gb and windows only detects 3.25gb. Still even if windows only detects 2.87gb does it really matter? Thats only 130mb missing and out of 3gb thats not much.

EDIT: Dont do what my dad does and say "its the principle" coz I know and I rarely care for principles.

LMAO :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Sounds like my mom. I totally agree, out of 3GB that 130MB is nothing.

 

[chocobocorey]

cpu-z will always read your actual memory amount,

true.. a while ago i found some RAM and put it in my comp. windows didnt detect any more RAM, so i checked cpuz and it was there. so after a little looking, i realized i had put ECC RAM in my system. so windows couldnt actually use it, cause i was using a regular motherboard, but cpuz showed it.

 

[Mondoman]

The amount of the 4GB total address space taken up by the hardware varies from system to system. On some, it takes up a bit more than 1GB, so a bit less than 3GB is left for any physical memory. CPUZ is probably just reporting the total capacity of DIMMs installed, while Windows is counting the addressable memory..

 

[darkstar782]

Ok

Any 32Bit OS, be it XP, Vista x86, Linux x86, whatever, only has 4GB of address space.

Under Windows, certain bits of address space are used for things other than main memory. Different hardware and drivers uses different amounts.

For example, under XP x86, with my 8800GTX installed, I can see 3GB of ram, all of my physical RAM.

With both my 7900GT AND my 8800GTX installed, I can see 2.5GB or so of RAM, as more address space is being used, unless I switch to x64, then I can see all 3GB again.

There is not a firm limit of 3GB that Windows XP can see, it varies with hardware. Some people can see 3.7GB or so, some only 2.87GB. It depends on your specific hardware config.

 

[digitalchaos]

Also keep in mind that your BIOS can also be a limiting factor in the amount of memory your OS 'sees'. Not all 32-bit mobos have support for 'full' 4GB of memory and the BIOS quite often allocates several MBs of memory for sub system refrences and registers, etc. It's all a matter of your BIOS version, how old your mobo is, and anything you happen to add to the mobo (ex PCI).

 

[n64ra]

Thank you. I agree that 130MB is not much compared to 3GB, but I am a) curious and b) interested to learn about hardware as I don't understand it very well.