4gb ram(3.25gb usable)???

[stuartb04]

only just noticed this guys

ram is just over a year old

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/146049

any ideas??

 

[Zenith]

Using 32bit OS gives u ability to use 3.25GB of RAM if 4GB installed. 64bit OS will recognize all of your RAM and I guess Linux. It's just OS thingy and 32bit address limitation.

 

[InnocentCriminal]

From his system specs it looks as if Stuart is using a 64bit OS - if that is indeed the case then some of this RAM must be allocated somewhere and from looking at his motherboard in his specifications it'll most likely be addressed to his on board GFX, even if he is using a dedicated card the option for it be sharing RAM might still be enabled. Worth seeing if you can lower that Stuart.

 

[stuartb04]

From his system specs it looks as if Stuart is using a 64bit OS - if that is indeed the case then some of this RAM must be allocated somewhere and from looking at his motherboard in his specifications it'll most likely be addressed to his on board GFX, even if he is using a dedicated card the option for it be sharing RAM might still be enabled. Worth seeing if you can lower that Stuart.

thanks for the input

but how would i go about doing that?

 

[BarbaricSoul]

I believe that option would be in your bois somewhere

 

[InnocentCriminal]

thanks for the input

but how would i go about doing that?

You'll need to enter into your BIOS, I'm just downloading the manual for your m/board now. It'll either be in the Advanced Setup or Integrated Peripherals menu(s).

 

[Black Panther]

There's a bios setting called Memory Hole Remapping. Enable it and you should be fine.

 

[InnocentCriminal]

According to your m/board manual, if you go to Advanced Chipset Features>OnBoard GPU from there you can enable or disable it. If it's already disabled, move down to the next option Frame Buffer Size and reduce the amount of RAM.

See if that helps.

Whilst you're in your BIOS, why not disable all the unnecessary items you don't need. For example, I turn off my Floppy & IDE channel(s), disable any serial or parallel ports. If you're not sure on what these are then don't bother, but it's always worth turning things off you don't need (imo).

There's a bios setting called Memory Hole Remapping. Enable it and you should be fine.

Looking through his m/board manual and that option doesn't seem present, it'll most likely be under a different name.

 

[stuartb04]

ok.thanks

will report back

 

[InnocentCriminal]

ok.thanks

will report back

Good stuff, hope it works out for you. Oh and btw, what's telling you only 3.25GB are available?

 

[stuartb04]

ok
just tried it out.the onboard gpu is set to "enable only if no ext gpu"
the only other option is enable

 

[InnocentCriminal]

>.<

Looks as if it disables automatically if a dedicated card is present. Did you see what the Frame Buffer Size was?

 

[stuartb04]

it was on 64
reduced it to 16

ram remains the same

 

[InnocentCriminal]

Bizarre!

Any chance you can post a screenshot of the application/windows that states the 3.25GB usable?

 

[stuartb04]

would a memtest suss the problem out?

 

[InnocentCriminal]

I doubt it, if it was actually a physical problem you'd be experiencing other issues and if a module wasn't working properly you'd see 1GB less not 774MB Are you using a 64bit OS?

 

[stuartb04]

i did recently(yesterday) take out my 4850 and clean it

this is when i noticed the problem

 

[InnocentCriminal]

Then only thing I can think it could be is that the on board is allocated to some system RAM. That, or you're using 32bit Windows not 64.

 

[stuartb04]

its ok guys.sussed it

went to boot advanced options,and the maximum memory box
was ticked.
unticked it.rebooted.
got my ram back

 

[InnocentCriminal]

its ok guys.sussed it

went to boot advanced options,and the maximum memory box
was ticked.
unticked it.rebooted.
got my ram back

Nicely done!

 

[stuartb04]

Nicely done!

yea i can remember fiddling with msconfig the other day

and i ticked that box.silly me.lol

thanks anyways guys

 

[InnocentCriminal]

No worries, hit us up some Thanks if you want.

 

[Goodman]

Here what your manufacturer are saying...

* (Due to the DRAM maximum size is 2GB at present, the memory maximum size we have tested is 4GB)

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Pr...D=1&DetailName=Specification&MenuID=1&LanID=0

By now they should have fix this 4GB limits?
You should update your Bios if not already done?
It may avoid future ram problems with an Bios update.
Your OS is not/was not the problem since you already got an 64bit OS.

One thing i would avoid is ECS... i know they're cheap board to buy but i'm sure for the same price you could get at least Asrock wich would be better choice over ECS...