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only getting 2.5gb in vista with 4gb installed

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Memory - only getting 2.5gb in vista with 4gb installed

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xann   02-12-2008 at 06:04:55 AM

Not sure if this is in the right thread, but here goes.

I just built me dream system (darn near) and im almost 100% happy. i got the new XFX 780i SLI mobo, intel Q6600 BFG 8800GT PCIe 2.0, Ultra Chil TEC CPU cooler (my pride and joy of thie system) and 4GB of Corsair XMS2 DHX memory. my issue lies in Windows Vista and the Memory.

When installed, i placed the memory in the correct DIMM slots, 2&3 like the manual says, and start windows just fine, but in vista, the performance monitor or whatever its called shows only 2.5GB. when the systems POSTs it says i have all 4GB 4,128,###. so i know the memory works. i even swapped the sticks so A & B sticks were in slot 2&3 and then visa-versa just to test the slots... but i dont know.

the Ultra Chill TEC cooler is so big, i can only place the sticks in slots 2&3 instead of 0&1 ;_;

I updated the BIOS and reflashed it already, and im still only getting 2.5GB.. i know windows vista 32bit only recognizes 3.2GB total, and im fine with that for now. but wth is going on.

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roadrunner197069   02-12-2008 at 06:25:26 AM
- 0 +

Try looking for something to do with remapping in the bios.


Message edited by roadrunner197069 on 02-12-2008 at 06:25:46 AM
Reply to roadrunner197069
xann   02-12-2008 at 05:34:38 PM
- 0 +

how would i "remap" the bios? ive never heared of that >_>

Reply to xann
cmashwin   02-12-2008 at 05:42:00 PM
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some memory is also taken up by the graphics card.. Not sure how much or if its dynamic, but in mine, it shows 3.3GB.. Maybe u have allocated some ram for vid in bios?? As to "remapping", there is a feature in the bios.. In mine, P5KC, its under "northbridge chipset configuration".. Its labelled as "memory remap feature"... Enable it and give it a try..

Reply to cmashwin
darkstar782   02-12-2008 at 06:39:29 PM
- 0 +

Windows x86 will not simply recognise 3.2GB every time

It depends how much memory is mapped.

I've seen a system with 4GB of Ram, nforce 680i board, 8800GTX SLi, physx card, only see 2.5GB.

There isn't much you can do about it, it seems your system has alot of mapped memory.

Use x64. Or server 2003 sp2 x86, if you reeeeally want a 32bit OS.

Reply to darkstar782
jnava121   02-12-2008 at 06:54:04 PM
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Are you sure that it's just only using 2.5 GB at the time? "Performance Monitoring"

------------------------------ Sealab 2021 season2:

What does thou mash and weep and scream crap?

Reply to jnava121
folius   02-12-2008 at 07:03:40 PM
- 0 +

I have never used Vista (i still love XP to death) but it seems like its the same deal with the boot.ini and 32-bit OS. Open up your boot.ini file and add the /PAE switch to the lines of code there. That should tell your system to add a "physical address extension" to your memory so if it didnt already use the 4 gigs installed, it will use as much as the OS can recognize and allocate the rest for kernal useage.

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ C2D e6850 @3.3ghz | 2x eVGA 8800GT (v2) 512mb @650/1625/1800 | 2gig Corsair XMS PC6400 @5-5-5-15
Asus P5N32-E SLI Mobo | 320gig HDD | Cosmos 1000 | 22" LG 2ms Widescreen | 3DMark06 = 14,626
 Reply to folius
night_wolf_in   02-12-2008 at 07:19:02 PM
- 0 +

u didnt say which graphics card u using, n hw much memory they have i total.

coz ull need to reduce it from ur ram that os can see.

just google. n ull find 10 question like yours.

------------------------------ Q6600 @ 3Ghz | zalman 9700NT cooler | gigabyte P35-DS3L | Kingstone DDR2 667 2GB x 2 | HIS 4850HD with Accelero S1 Rev.2 | enermax Liberty 500w | Coolermaster C5 case |
 Reply to night_wolf_in
xann   02-12-2008 at 10:35:30 PM
- 0 +

the Graphics card is the BGF 8800GT. i did say that >_> but. i have googled "Windows Vista Memory" and "Windows Vista 2.5 GB" and all kinds of stuff and all i get is adds and reviews. google aint what it used to be /cry

Reply to xann
chookman   02-12-2008 at 10:59:05 PM
- 0 +

folius wrote :

I have never used Vista (i still love XP to death) but it seems like its the same deal with the boot.ini and 32-bit OS. Open up your boot.ini file and add the /PAE switch to the lines of code there. That should tell your system to add a "physical address extension" to your memory so if it didnt already use the 4 gigs installed, it will use as much as the OS can recognize and allocate the rest for kernal useage.



PAE switch has been disabled since SP2 and no longer does anything

BIOS remap feature will only resolve issue if the bios doesnt detect all 4gb, which it is already detecting all ram so this will not resolve the issue either.

In 32bit OS's there is a 4gb limit on physical addressing space. As there needs to be memory addressing for your GPU ram and other devices (sound cards, raid cards etc.) this 4gb limit cuts down. 512mb from the gpu would bring you to a 3.5gb limit then with other addressing on top of this you could well come down to ~2.5-3.5gb addressing space left for your RAM. Although 2.5gb seems a little low it is very possible. To get around this i would move to a 64bit OS or as suggested Server2003 SP2 supports more addressing space also.

Message quoted 2 times
------------------------------ "This thread made me strap on my lolerskates and head for my roflcopter."
 Reply to chookman
darkstar782   02-12-2008 at 11:15:44 PM
- 0 +

chookman wrote :

PAE switch has been disabled since SP2 and no longer does anything

BIOS remap feature will only resolve issue if the bios doesnt detect all 4gb, which it is already detecting all ram so this will not resolve the issue either.

In 32bit OS's there is a 4gb limit on physical addressing space. As there needs to be memory addressing for your GPU ram and other devices (sound cards, raid cards etc.) this 4gb limit cuts down. 512mb from the gpu would bring you to a 3.5gb limit then with other addressing on top of this you could well come down to ~2.5-3.5gb addressing space left for your RAM. Although 2.5gb seems a little low it is very possible. To get around this i would move to a 64bit OS or as suggested Server2003 SP2 supports more addressing space also.



Exactly.

Over 2GB, use x64.

x64 is now stable and reliable, and no new modern build (with new modern hardware) will encounter driver issues.

If you really want x86, your only option is Sever 2003 patched with Service pack 2.

Reply to darkstar782
leon2006   02-12-2008 at 11:49:30 PM
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To go beyond 4G you need to use a 64bit OS...

I'm using Vista Ultimate 64 Bit with 4G of memory... No issues

Reply to leon2006
dengamle   02-13-2008 at 12:24:55 AM
- 0 +

chookman wrote :

PAE switch has been disabled since SP2 and no longer does anything



I'm actually in PAE mode on my XP SP2. It says so in system properties.

Reply to dengamle
xann   02-13-2008 at 11:09:04 PM
- 0 +

looks like im gonna have to dump $400+ more into vista 64bit.... this aint right.

Reply to xann
roadrunner197069   02-13-2008 at 11:11:00 PM
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You could get it for $7.00

Reply to roadrunner197069
xann   02-13-2008 at 11:35:42 PM
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7? where and how long would i be in jail for?

Reply to xann
rwpritchett   02-14-2008 at 12:11:55 AM
- 0 +

You don't have to go to jail at all. If you have a retail version of Vista-32, Microsoft will ship you a Vista-64 DVD for a small fee. It comes to about $10 with S&H. It uses the same activation key as your old 32-bit DVD. Here's the URL for more info:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvi [...] fault.mspx

I don't think it applies to OEM versions, but you can try.

Reply to rwpritchett
roadrunner197069   02-14-2008 at 12:27:14 AM
- 0 +

Thers another way to get it from MS for $7.00. You go threw the upgrade page add a upgrade and make sure to click you dont have the disk. Then it puts the upgrade in your card and a disk in your cart. The disk is free the upgrade costs. Edit cart and remove upgrade, you still get the disk for $7.00 shipping. Install it then you have 30 days to try it out, and dont forget the rearm feature that gives you 120 days to try. After the trial you will need to activate it and there is a couple of options there.


Message edited by roadrunner197069 on 02-14-2008 at 12:27:30 AM
Reply to roadrunner197069
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