System Not Using All RAM That I Just Installed

[shewillnotdie]

Okay. Just purchased 4 brand new 1gb sticks for my HP Pavilion a1120n.

Pavilion a1120n Memory Specifications
Standard Memory 512 MB = 256 MB (removable) + 256 MB (removable)
Maximum Memory 4.0 GB
Memory Expansion 4 sockets
Memory Comments PC2-3200 DDR2 SDRAM DIMMs. Supports Dual Channel DDR2.
CPU Type 3.06GHz Intel Pentium 4 519
Model Comments 533MHz FSB, Intel 915GV Chipset.

Using this diagram I figured the max was 4gb and that's what I wanted to do. Get the max amount of RAM in the PC for performance.

It's reading only 2.87gb of the 4.00gb though. Is this because I'm running Windows 32 bit? Or because of my graphics card? Or both?

Well if so what can I do about this? Am I able to install a 64 bit version of Windows 7 or would that show under system type of I was able to? So what are my options here? My PC performance rating is low according to Windows 7. I've purchased this RAM, want my PC to run as good as it can, so Can I upgrade something to run a 64 bit OS that runs my ram? What can I do here?

[gcavan]

It's reading only 2.87gb of the 4.00gb though. Is this because I'm running Windows 32 bit? Or because of my graphics card? Or both?

Both in fact.

A 32 bit operating system has a maximum address space of a little more than 4GB. After you subtract from this the space used by all the system devices (including video memory) you get something around 3GB left over. This is the maximum system memory the 32bit OS can address.

There are applications available online which proclaim to allow a 32 bit OS to use all 4GB but in actual fact they only allow the OS to recognize that the memory is there, not to actually address it and use it.

[shewillnotdie]

Thanks for the response. Okay, so it sounds like I know what's going on and the 32 bit plus the nvidia gforce card is what the hold up is. So I know what's going on here.

So the question is what options do I have? Windows already acknowledges 4gb ram installed as you can see from the pic. I want to use this ram I just purchased and for my PC to run at best performance it can.

So what can I do? Can I upgrade to a 64 bit Windows 7 system with what I current have? Maybe another 64 bit os if not? Or hardware upgrade? What options do I have here?

P.S. Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

[Amd_Man]

Your cpu is not 64 bit capable so you are stuck with 32 bit. I also notice from your attatched pic that your video driver is not installed.

[LMiller7]

Unfortunately, there really isn't much you can do, and what you can do is unlikely to make much difference.

A 32 bit client OS such as Windows 7 has a maximum physical address space of 4 GB. However, a substantial portion of that (roughly .75 GB more or less depending on your hardware) is needed for memory mapped hardware, leaving about 3.25 GB available to Windows. There is nothing you can do to increase that. In addition, any system memory used by your video system will further reduce that value. You may be able to reduce the memory shared by the video system but that is unlikely to make much difference.

A 64 bit OS would be able (in most cases) to access all 4 GB RAM, minus whatever is needed by the video system. That is because these systems have a much larger address space that can easily accommodate 4 GB RAM plus that needed for memory mapped hardware. Unfortunately, your hardware is not compatible with a 64 bit OS.

An Internet search for such an issue will likely turn up the use of the PAE boot option. But that does nothing useful with a client OS. It's purpose is to allow access to RAM above the 4 GB mark, but the kernel in 32 bit client versions of Windows will ignore all memory above 4 GB so the option essentially does nothing.

[shewillnotdie]

Originally Posted by Amd_Man

Your cpu is not 64 bit capable so you are stuck with 32 bit. I also notice from your attatched pic that your video driver is not installed.

How do you see that? The pen and touch thing?... If the drivers for the video card weren't installed they would show as a yellow exclamation point under device manager right?

Originally Posted by LMiller7

Unfortunately, there really isn't much you can do, and what you can do is unlikely to make much difference.

A 32 bit client OS such as Windows 7 has a maximum physical address space of 4 GB. However, a substantial portion of that (roughly .75 GB more or less depending on your hardware) is needed for memory mapped hardware, leaving about 3.25 GB available to Windows. There is nothing you can do to increase that. In addition, any system memory used by your video system will further reduce that value. You may be able to reduce the memory shared by the video system but that is unlikely to make much difference.

A 64 bit OS would be able (in most cases) to access all 4 GB RAM, minus whatever is needed by the video system. That is because these systems have a much larger address space that can easily accommodate 4 GB RAM plus that needed for memory mapped hardware. Unfortunately, your hardware is not compatible with a 64 bit OS.

An Internet search for such an issue will likely turn up the use of the PAE boot option. But that does nothing useful with a client OS. It's purpose is to allow access to RAM above the 4 GB mark, but the kernel in 32 bit client versions of Windows will ignore all memory above 4 GB so the option essentially does nothing.

So why is hardware upgrade not an option? CPU is what enables or disables the possibility of 64 bit os right? So I couldn't install a different CPU on this mobo to get access to all 4gb of RAM that I just purchased?

[Tyree]

Your CPU is 64Bit capable. Going to a 64Bit OS will let you "see" the 4GB (minus what is used by the Onboard graphcis) but that will not show a notable difference in performance.
Very few games/apps can utilize over 3GB.

[shewillnotdie]

Is COU just a typo for computer or is that an acronym for something? So my PC CAN run Windows 7 64 bit. That's good if so. How can you tell my PC can run 64 bit?

I'm not using onboard for graphics. The graphics is a 256mb nvidia gforce card.

So if I upgrade to 64 bit the 4gb (minus the 256mb from graphics) will be being use and not just show the 4gb installed like it is now correct? Right now i SEE 4gb installed, but being used is the little under 3gb. I don't want to SEE it, I want the max amount being used. I don't see how having more RAM running won't show any improvement.

Next step would be upgrading to 64 bit. Do I need a different Windows 7 boot disc from the one I currently have or are they all 32 64 bit capable?

[LMiller7]

A 64 bit OS will usually make most of the 4 GB memory available, always excepting that needed by a video system. But a 64 bit OS has higher memory requirements than the 32 bit version and this will largely offset the added memory available. Also be aware that a 64 bit OS is subject to the same issues as a 32 bit, only that there is usually a solution. This requires that the motherboard and BIOS support memory mapping to move the conflicting RAM to a point above the 4 GB mark where there is no conflict. Support for this is by no means universal, particularly on older systems.

You also have to consider driver and software compatibility. The situation is better than it once was but still needs to be considered. Many people have rushed to install a 64 bit OS, only to discover that a favorite hardware device or important application is not compatible.

Also be aware that there is no upgrade path from a 32 bit to 64 bit OS so a clean install of the OS and reinstallation of all applications would be required.

Installing a 64 bit OS simply to access more RAM is usually not worth the effort. I am not saying that you shouldn't do this, just that you should do your research first and understand the implications.

[shewillnotdie]

Okay. You've gone a bit over my head with support mapping and conflicting RAM and having support for this on older models?...

So you are saying the extra memory will be useable with a 64 bit system but in a sense the 64 bit os will require more RAM useage and that difference is the same as running the 32 bit system and taking my hit for 1.25gb that it's not using with the 32 bit system?

[Tyree]

COU, (supposed to be CPU) in Post #7, was a typo and it has been corrected.
You will need to buy a retail Windows 7 64 Bit disc.
Basically, the $100 for the 64Bit will get you the other 1.13GB of RAM that will probably go unused.

[LMiller7]

I am saying that a 64 bit OS will be usually be able to see more RAM but needs more for it's internal uses so you probably will not gain much. Also the ability to access most of the 4 GB RAM depends on your hardware and is not universal. You could end up with no gain at all.

Edit: Adding more RAM will usually improve performance. But there is always a point of diminishing returns beyond which there is very little improvement. That point depends heavily on the applications you run. In most cases with 3 GB accessible you are at or near that point already.

Bottom line is that installing a 64 bit OS just to access more of the 4 GB RAM is usually not worth the considerable effort.

[shewillnotdie]

Okay. I believe I might go threw with the Windows 7 64 bit install. Not immediately since I don't believe I have one (though I might because I do have a pile that I collect from people) but is there anything specific I need to know about before going threw with it or will it be the same as doing a fresh Windows 7 32 bit install?

Also, I don't think it was addressed how we know this PC can run a 64 bit OS. Can someone enlighten me as to how you go about checking that?

[Amd_Man]

I can tell by the quality of your screenshot. Windows 7 will install a Standard VGA Driver when it can't find what graphics adapter is being used. I've attached a screenshot to show you the difference.

[Amd_Man]

Your CPU is not a 64 bit processor so you can't install Windows 7 64 bit.

[shewillnotdie]

Ah, that explains why you think that. No, the graphics driver IS installed on this PC. The quality looks poor because this is a screen shot I took from my PC controlling that one with teamviewer. See, that's my Dad's PC, but I live in a different state. ;)

Okay, I'm getting mixed information now so I'm a bit confused. I've heard I can, and can't do 64 bit on this PC. How do I verify whether my CPU can or cannot?

[Amd_Man]

Ahh that explains it then! Download and run this: CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting and it will tell you what CPU your running.

[Tyree]

Originally Posted by shewillnotdie

Okay, I'm getting mixed information now so I'm a bit confused. I've heard I can, and can't do 64 bit on this PC. How do I verify whether my CPU can or cannot?

According to the manufacturer, the 3.06GHz Intel Pentium 4 519 is capable of running a 64Bit OS: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 519K (1M Cache, 3.06 GHz, 533 MHz FSB)
Under "Essentials" it says *Instruction Set 64-bit*
Look at the bottom of the page under "Advanced Technologies" Intel 64 is marked as "Yes".

[LMiller7]

Before installing any version of Windows 7 on a computer you should run the Windows 7 Upgrade advisor:
Download: Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details

This will warn you about most hardware or software incompatibilities before you proceed.

[shewillnotdie]

Very helpful. Okay, so it appears my CPU can run 64 bit. I'll definitely run that program before going threw with it. Does that program have an option to check 32 bit or 64 bit?