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I built a new computer with 4GB of RAM. However, Windows recognizes only 3GB. What might be the reason?

18 Mar

Win XP/Win Vista 32-bit
Core 2 Quad Q6600
MSI P6N SLI Platinum board
Geforce 8600GT 512mb video
Corsair XMS2 DDR2 (2×2GB) RAM

 
8 Comments

Posted in Get MSI Netbook

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

 
 

  1. October

    March 18, 2010 at 6:14 pm

    Sound cards can use 1GB of Ram

     

  2. David S

    March 18, 2010 at 6:31 pm

    that is because you have a 32-bit operating system and a 32-bit os can only reconize 3 gig so if you want it to reconize more your going to have to get a 64 bit os. such as windows xp pro 64 or windows xp ultimate 64-bit or 64-bit version of linux is always good

     

  3. SUBHENDU

    March 18, 2010 at 6:36 pm

    there can be multiple reasons.
    1. check whether your motherboard support 4gb ram.
    2. check whether the gpu uses turbo cache technology.
    3. goto bios and configure the ram modules there.
    4. vista alone needs 1 gb ram for running.

     

  4. chezzrob

    March 18, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    you have to live with this

    your motherboard cannot report 4 gb

    some memory is used to report the memory, and when it gets near the maximum amount, it cant report on itself

    dont worry about it

    you actually got 3 gb memory available for programs, and the motherboard / hardware will use what it wants out of the remaining 1 gig

    if you had 3 gb memory total, then only 2 – 2.5 or so gig be available for programs.

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888137/en-us

     

  5. ogye

    March 18, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    This is a limitation of 32bit Operating systems, they can address up to 4BG of memory. So your OS has to handle the 512 MB on your graphic card too, maybe other devices on your system, so that leaves you with 3 ,5 GB RAM Max. The only solution to have the full 4 Gigs available is to upgrade to a 64-bit Operating System.

     

  6. REALTommy

    March 18, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    Do you play games. If no buy a copy of win 2000 pro it recognizes the best things ever including up to 4GB ram.

     

  7. Mad Scientist?

    March 18, 2010 at 8:49 pm

    32 bit OS can only detect 3,5GB RAM

     

  8. Wolf

    March 18, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    Vista 32 bit will only show 3G of RAM when 4 Gig is installed. More info included in link.