Im missing 1GB

Hi there,

Do u have x64bit windows?

x32bit windows show no more than 3.5GB RAM.

Ah right, thought x32bit could show 4GB. So I'm still half a gig short then if that is the case.

My onboard graphics has 512MB but I don't use that. Would that affect it somehow?

I wrote no more than 3.5GB, but some show less. Sometimes 3.25GB and less.

Also, the graphics take the megabytes no mater what.

It is different with each mobo.

That may well answer it then. Quick side question, do any boards come with no graphics installed? Would they be better to get?

Well, better and cheaper is to get x64bit windows.

But the mobo's are like that. It depends on CPU, what mobo to get.

What's your CPU?

Old one now, Intel Core 2 Duo E4600

I'm looking to upgrade on a budget, seemed to have gone about it the wrong way so far, so I'm looking to start from scratch again.

This varies, with 32-bit Windows, from computer to computer. If you have onboard video of any kind you're going to lose anywhere from 256MB to 768MB. You could try completely disabling the onboard video in your BIOS but sometimes this can be either ineffective or simply impossible because the BIOS doesn't allow it.

Plenty of motherboards are coming without onboard video because CPU manufacturers are starting to integrate video directly into the CPU, effectively giving you the same results.

It's not so much the mobo, it's the CPU.

I think that CPU does support 64-bit processing.

However, I don't know how to check.

Anyone?

Here is a link.

All Core2 are x64bit CPU's. Only the older ones aren't.

U can try to go to BIOS and disable the on-board graphic's if u have a GPU card installed as a source.

Anyway, for $400 u can have 4 times faster PC than the old one. With reusing the old components like HDD, keyboard+mouse, ...

What would you recommend?

OK, before I say more, we need to level the budget.

What do u have?

1. Can u post all the hardware that u have and can re-use on new system.

HDD, keyboard+mouse, Windows, LCD, PSU Watts and other parts ...

How old is the PSU?

2. When u can buy, as there are discounts, that will end soon.

3. Is this going to be a gamer PC?

4. And also say if u can be flexible and add $50 if needed to add great deal part.

So, answer as 1, 2, 3, 4 .

1. System:

Display: ATI Radeon HD 3600 Series
Motherboard: Intel DG33BU
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4600 @ 2.40GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
PSU: 350W I believe
Memory: 4GB Non-ECC CL6 PC2-6400 unbuffered
HDD: Seagate OEM ST3160815AS,160GB SATA,BARRACUDA 7200.10 ,7200RPM 8MB Cache

Keyboard and mouse are fine, could do with a new monitor, speakers and sound are not a huge issue.

2. I can buy anytime really

3. I will be using it for games

4. I could be flexible, depends on the level of extra performance the money could get me.