Available Memory

[TallyTiger]

I was given a Dell Dimension 4600 and I wiped the HDD and did a clean install of Windows 7 32-bit. All is working fine. To help I then installed the maximum physical memory, 4GB of PC3200 (400-MHz) DDR SDRAM (non-ECC). I know that the available memory is limited by the 32-bit architecture to something like 3.4GB or something like that and that is what it said under available memory in system properties. The thing I have a question about is that I then installed a new Video Card, EVGA 512-A8-N403-LR GeForce 6200 LE 512MB DDR2 AGP Graphics Card. Now, the system properties only shows 2.5GB of available memory. Did the Graphics card steal some memory from Windows? How can I get it back? Do I want to get it back?

Thank you.

 

[jaquith]

Define 'Available' the image below of the Resource Monitor indicates memory usage and availability. Question, how much memory is shown in the 'Hardware Reserved', 'Total', and 'Installed'. Available, shows the the 'free' RAM after OS + Apps + etc is used.

Yes, even a discrete GPU uses 'Shared Memory', see below, and if your Dell has an onboard GPU then it too is allocating some RAM in the form of 'Hardware Reserved'. To minimize it's use: 1. BIOS if possible Disable the onboard GPU/VGA, 2. Prioritize the PCIe GPU to initialize first, and 3. Open the Device Manager and Disable the onboard GPU/VGA. Unfortunately, Dell and most OEM MOBO BIOS are very limited by design so some or all of those BIOS setting might not be available.

Further, verify the MSCONFIG 'Maximum Memory' as indicated below.

Resource Monitor:

Shared Memory:

Maximum Memory:

 

[TallyTiger]

I know I don't have an on-board graphics, but I check the bios anyhow and did not find any reference to disabling onboard GPU/VGA or the like.

I checked the Maximum memory in msconfig and is it as you show yours.

Below are images of my System Info and Resource Monitor. As you can see 1.5GB is dedicated to hardware. How do I change that? Should I?

Thanks

 

[jaquith]

Hmmm...looking at the online manual it states "Video Port / Intel Extreme Graphics controller" - http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4600/en/4600i/sm/specs.htm#1119251 which at most would account for 0.25GB~0.5GB max of the H/W Reserved.

However, looking at what you posted - my feeling is a bad stick or DIMM slot. Therefore, do the following:

1. Pull ALL of the RAM and clean RAM contacts with Isopropyl alcohol, dampen the RAM contacts and insert damp in DIMM slots, repeat twice and allow to dry ~5 minutes before firmly reinstalling. Be careful to note any corroding or darken oxidation; if found clean with a pencil eraser.

/failure

2. Download CPUz - http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html and on the 'SPD' tab check that ALL RAM is registering.
3. Download Memtest and create a bootable CD/DVD, use the ISO/zip file; unzip and burn the ISO file - http://www.memtest.org/
3. If possible raise the DRAM Voltage e.g. X.50v -> X.55~X.60 ; I believe you DDR runs 2.5~2.6v

 

[TallyTiger]

Jaquith, the 4600 had an option for on-board video or not. Mine does not have on-board video. Here is the tech specs link: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4600/en/4600/sm/specs.htm#1084976

I haven't done the Memtest yet, but below is what I got from CPUz. I'll do the memtest and report back. Regarding your #3, how do you raise the DRAM voltage?

Thank you!

Memory SPD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM # 1
SMBus address 0x50
Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) (0000000000000000)
Size 1024 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC3200 (200 MHz)
Part number LIFETIMEMEMORY.COM
Serial number FFFFFFFF
Manufacturing date Week 255/Year 255
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no
Nominal Voltage 2.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 2.5-3-3-7-n.a. @ 166 MHz
JEDEC #2 3.0-3-3-8-n.a. @ 200 MHz

DIMM # 2
SMBus address 0x51
Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) (0000000000000000)
Size 1024 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC3200 (200 MHz)
Part number LIFETIMEMEMORY.COM
Serial number FFFFFFFF
Manufacturing date Week 255/Year 255
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no
Nominal Voltage 2.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 2.5-3-3-7-n.a. @ 166 MHz
JEDEC #2 3.0-3-3-8-n.a. @ 200 MHz

DIMM # 3
SMBus address 0x52
Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) (0000000000000000)
Size 1024 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC3200 (200 MHz)
Part number LIFETIMEMEMORY.COM
Serial number FFFFFFFF
Manufacturing date Week 255/Year 255
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no
Nominal Voltage 2.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 2.5-3-3-7-n.a. @ 166 MHz
JEDEC #2 3.0-3-3-8-n.a. @ 200 MHz

DIMM # 4
SMBus address 0x53
Memory type DDR
Manufacturer (ID) (0000000000000000)
Size 1024 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC3200 (200 MHz)
Part number LIFETIMEMEMORY.COM
Serial number FFFFFFFF
Manufacturing date Week 255/Year 255
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no
Nominal Voltage 2.50 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 2.5-3-3-7-n.a. @ 166 MHz
JEDEC #2 3.0-3-3-8-n.a. @ 200 MHz

DIMM # 1
SPD registers
00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F
00 80 08 07 0D 0B 02 40 00 04 50 65 00 82 08 00 01
10 0E 04 18 01 02 20 C0 60 70 00 00 3C 28 3C 28 80
20 60 60 40 40 00 00 00 00 00 37 46 20 28 50 00 00
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 B7
40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 4C 49 46 45 54 49 4D
50 45 4D 45 4D 4F 52 59 2E 43 4F 4D 00 00 FF FF FF
60 FF FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
80 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
90 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
A0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
B0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
C0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
D0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
E0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
F0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF

DIMM # 2
SPD registers
00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F
00 80 08 07 0D 0B 02 40 00 04 50 65 00 82 08 00 01
10 0E 04 18 01 02 20 C0 60 70 00 00 3C 28 3C 28 80
20 60 60 40 40 00 00 00 00 00 37 46 20 28 50 00 00
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 B7
40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 4C 49 46 45 54 49 4D
50 45 4D 45 4D 4F 52 59 2E 43 4F 4D 00 00 FF FF FF
60 FF FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
80 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
90 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
A0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
B0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
C0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
D0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
E0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
F0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF

DIMM # 3
SPD registers
00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F
00 80 08 07 0D 0B 02 40 00 04 50 65 00 82 08 00 01
10 0E 04 18 01 02 20 C0 60 70 00 00 3C 28 3C 28 80
20 60 60 40 40 00 00 00 00 00 37 46 20 28 50 00 00
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 B7
40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 4C 49 46 45 54 49 4D
50 45 4D 45 4D 4F 52 59 2E 43 4F 4D 00 00 FF FF FF
60 FF FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
80 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
90 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
A0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
B0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
C0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
D0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
E0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
F0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF

DIMM # 4
SPD registers
00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F
00 80 08 07 0D 0B 02 40 00 04 50 65 00 82 08 00 01
10 0E 04 18 01 02 20 C0 60 70 00 00 3C 28 3C 28 80
20 60 60 40 40 00 00 00 00 00 37 46 20 28 50 00 00
30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 B7
40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 4C 49 46 45 54 49 4D
50 45 4D 45 4D 4F 52 59 2E 43 4F 4D 00 00 FF FF FF
60 FF FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
70 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
80 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
90 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
A0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
B0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
C0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
D0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
E0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
F0 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF

 

[TallyTiger]

OK, I ran memtest and it said it passed with no errors. But the odd thing is, the way I read the data, it was only testing 2.5GB (see attached photo). Also, just FYI, I am attaching a photo of BIOS showing my memory options. There aren't much.

Thank you again.

 

[jaquith]

Possibilities:
1. Defective RAM Stick
2. Memory Mapping {BIOS}
3. DRAM Voltage {BIOS}
4. Defective DIMM Slot

1. The 'simplest' method of testing a bad stick is to boot one at a time then swapping for the next.
2. BIOS: Memory Mapping -> Disabled. Failure: Clear CMOS via 'jumper' shorting method; removing the CMOS battery + unplugging ~15 minutes is a distant #2 method.
3. BIOS: DRAM Voltage 2.50v -> 2.55~2.60v, Dell has a very limited BIOS and this 'option' may not be available. This is especially helpful when filling ALL of the DIMM slots, one can run a lower voltage {'suckling pig analogy'}.
4. Isopropyl alcohol as above; if this is the case then there's nothing more that can be done. Using a single stick you can try moving it from one DIMM slot to another 'testing' all the slots.

More than likely you have a bad stick.