Computer not using all available RAM

duponttc24 · 11-23-2008, 09:18 AM

I recently added ram to my pc it previously had 1 gig of ram and I added an additonal 2 gigs of ram. I now have a total of 3 gigs of ram. Well while playing an online game my computer really chugs so I opened up task manager while playing to see how much vm I was using, I noticed that I am using about a gig of vm for the game when I still have over a gig and a half of physical memory available. What could cause this and how do I make sure my comp takes advantage of all the ram available.

**BCCOMP** · 11-23-2008, 09:24 AM

Do you have a video card that shares RAM from the MoBo?
Does your BIOS see the 3GB of Ram?
Are these Ram Sticks the same manaufacture and specs?
Bill

duponttc24 · 11-23-2008, 09:29 AM

Not sure about the 1st question but my computer is reading all of the ram and it is compatible with my pc. Not sure if the new cards are the same manufacturer but they are the same specs. My video card is a ati radeon x300 128 mb

**BCCOMP** · 11-23-2008, 09:33 AM

What is the make and model of the PC or MoBo.
Bill

duponttc24 · 11-23-2008, 09:36 AM

It is a dell xps 051 not sure the model of the MoBo.

**BCCOMP** · 11-23-2008, 11:56 AM

Are you having the issue with a particular game or All games.
The Dell site does not show an XPS 051.
Can you PM me your Service Tag?
If the OS is showing 3GB of Ram and in the Task Manager you see 2.5GB total the OS maybe using 500MB.
When you are online are you using a wireless card or LAN card?
Can I get a screenshot of the device manager Performance Tab with NO apllications running.
Here is how:
http://www.techsupportforum.com/cont...icles/151.html
Bill

**wrench97** · 11-23-2008, 01:17 PM

DP 051 is a XPS400 or Dimension 9150 motherboard model.
Both came stock with a x300le 128 onboard shared 256.
Seeing as it's a Dell if the memory is not compatible and matched it won't run dual channel

So we really need to know what brand and model ram you bought and you left the original ram in or not.

duponttc24 · 11-24-2008, 02:11 PM

This is what I bought.
The brand is Crucial.
1GB 240-PIN DIMM 128Mx64 DDR2 PC2-4200 UNBUFF
and I did leave the original memory in.

**BCCOMP** · 11-24-2008, 02:35 PM

Leaving the original memory in will not allow you to run in Dual Channel Mode.
You could run the 2GB of Crucial Memory in Dual Channel Mode.
If the Original Memory is installed and if it runs at a lower speed your New Ram will run at the lower speed and in single channel mode.
Bill

**wrench97** · 11-24-2008, 03:02 PM

The XPS 400 came with PC 4200 2x 256 or 2x 512 optional so I would suspect it should still be in dual channel mode.

Does your PC say XPS 400 on the front at the top of the black bezel?

duponttc24 · 11-24-2008, 06:43 PM

Yeah it says xps 400 and I have the 2 512mb mem cards

**BCCOMP** · 11-24-2008, 07:23 PM

Hi,
Check to see if the RAM is installed correctly for Dual Channel Mode.
I have attached a screenshot for your review.
Bill

duponttc24 · 11-24-2008, 07:37 PM

yes they are just like that I have the two 512mb cards in the DIMM_1 and DIMM_2 and the two 1gb cards in the DIMM_3 DIMM_4 slots

duponttc24 · 11-24-2008, 07:42 PM

These are the screen shots of my task manager

**BCCOMP** · 11-24-2008, 08:09 PM

Hi,
Have you run spyware/antivirus scans?
I do not think your issue (Chugging) is related to your RAM?
Does this happen with ALL your game or just a certain few?
Can I get a screenshot of the Task Manager's Performance Tab?
Bill

duponttc24 · 11-25-2008, 12:28 PM

the previous attachment also has the processes tab of the task manager. Thanks

duponttc24 · 11-25-2008, 12:45 PM

Forgot to say that by chugging I mean a super low fps and I don't really play a lot of games on pc this is occuring on Warhammer online though. Thanks.

**wrench97** · 11-25-2008, 12:48 PM

Try doing this > http://www.techsupportforum.com/cont...icles/151.html

duponttc24 · 11-25-2008, 12:52 PM

I am at work now I will do this when I get home in a couple hours thanks

duponttc24 · 11-25-2008, 02:51 PM

Here is my task manager processes tab with nothing else being used.

11-23-2008, 09:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
duponttc24 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 13 OS: Windows XP	Computer not using all available RAM I recently added ram to my pc it previously had 1 gig of ram and I added an additonal 2 gigs of ram. I now have a total of 3 gigs of ram. Well while playing an online game my computer really chugs so I opened up task manager while playing to see how much vm I was using, I noticed that I am using about a gig of vm for the game when I still have over a gig and a half of physical memory available. What could cause this and how do I make sure my comp takes advantage of all the ram available.

11-23-2008, 09:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,080 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Computer not using all available RAM Do you have a video card that shares RAM from the MoBo? Does your BIOS see the 3GB of Ram? Are these Ram Sticks the same manaufacture and specs? Bill __________________ PC Wizard \| Everest \| Power supply info \| Memtest86+ PC Running Slow Speedfan

11-23-2008, 09:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
duponttc24 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 13 OS: Windows XP	Re: Computer not using all available RAM Not sure about the 1st question but my computer is reading all of the ram and it is compatible with my pc. Not sure if the new cards are the same manufacturer but they are the same specs. My video card is a ati radeon x300 128 mb

11-23-2008, 09:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,080 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Computer not using all available RAM What is the make and model of the PC or MoBo. Bill __________________ PC Wizard \| Everest \| Power supply info \| Memtest86+ PC Running Slow Speedfan

11-23-2008, 09:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
duponttc24 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 13 OS: Windows XP	Re: Computer not using all available RAM It is a dell xps 051 not sure the model of the MoBo.

11-23-2008, 11:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,080 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Computer not using all available RAM Are you having the issue with a particular game or All games. The Dell site does not show an XPS 051. Can you PM me your Service Tag? If the OS is showing 3GB of Ram and in the Task Manager you see 2.5GB total the OS maybe using 500MB. When you are online are you using a wireless card or LAN card? Can I get a screenshot of the device manager Performance Tab with NO apllications running. Here is how: http://www.techsupportforum.com/cont...icles/151.html Bill __________________ PC Wizard \| Everest \| Power supply info \| Memtest86+ PC Running Slow Speedfan

11-23-2008, 01:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,770 OS: Win7	Re: Computer not using all available RAM DP 051 is a XPS400 or Dimension 9150 motherboard model. Both came stock with a x300le 128 onboard shared 256. Seeing as it's a Dell if the memory is not compatible and matched it won't run dual channel So we really need to know what brand and model ram you bought and you left the original ram in or not. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

11-24-2008, 02:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
duponttc24 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 13 OS: Windows XP	Re: Computer not using all available RAM This is what I bought. The brand is Crucial. 1GB 240-PIN DIMM 128Mx64 DDR2 PC2-4200 UNBUFF and I did leave the original memory in.

11-24-2008, 02:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,080 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Computer not using all available RAM Leaving the original memory in will not allow you to run in Dual Channel Mode. You could run the 2GB of Crucial Memory in Dual Channel Mode. If the Original Memory is installed and if it runs at a lower speed your New Ram will run at the lower speed and in single channel mode. Bill __________________ PC Wizard \| Everest \| Power supply info \| Memtest86+ PC Running Slow Speedfan

11-24-2008, 03:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,770 OS: Win7	Re: Computer not using all available RAM The XPS 400 came with PC 4200 2x 256 or 2x 512 optional so I would suspect it should still be in dual channel mode. Does your PC say XPS 400 on the front at the top of the black bezel? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

11-24-2008, 06:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
duponttc24 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 13 OS: Windows XP	Re: Computer not using all available RAM Yeah it says xps 400 and I have the 2 512mb mem cards

11-24-2008, 07:37 PM	#13 (permalink)
duponttc24 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 13 OS: Windows XP	Re: Computer not using all available RAM yes they are just like that I have the two 512mb cards in the DIMM_1 and DIMM_2 and the two 1gb cards in the DIMM_3 DIMM_4 slots

11-24-2008, 08:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,080 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Computer not using all available RAM Hi, Have you run spyware/antivirus scans? I do not think your issue (Chugging) is related to your RAM? Does this happen with ALL your game or just a certain few? Can I get a screenshot of the Task Manager's Performance Tab? Bill __________________ PC Wizard \| Everest \| Power supply info \| Memtest86+ PC Running Slow Speedfan

11-25-2008, 12:28 PM	#16 (permalink)
duponttc24 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 13 OS: Windows XP	Re: Computer not using all available RAM the previous attachment also has the processes tab of the task manager. Thanks

11-25-2008, 12:45 PM	#17 (permalink)
duponttc24 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 13 OS: Windows XP	Re: Computer not using all available RAM Forgot to say that by chugging I mean a super low fps and I don't really play a lot of games on pc this is occuring on Warhammer online though. Thanks.

11-25-2008, 12:48 PM	#18 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,770 OS: Win7	Re: Computer not using all available RAM Try doing this > http://www.techsupportforum.com/cont...icles/151.html __________________ Power Supply and Selection

11-25-2008, 12:52 PM	#19 (permalink)
duponttc24 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 13 OS: Windows XP	Re: Computer not using all available RAM I am at work now I will do this when I get home in a couple hours thanks