[SOLVED] my RAM is 4gb but my pc is reading only 3gb

basman24 · 12-25-2008, 10:04 AM

i have gigabyte 945 motherboard
i have 3 rams ( all DDR2), 1gb + 1gb + 2gb <-- i got it 2day)

when i right click my computer > properties, it says 3.00 GB of RAM
and when i click Start > Run > dxdiag it says Memory : 3072 MB

but when i run the program (CPU-Z) it says i have 4gb of ram on 2 slots only

so should i return the 2gb RAM or is this normal?

HawMan · 12-25-2008, 10:17 AM

you need a 64bit OS

Carson · 12-25-2008, 08:14 PM

Well, that is to say that if you want to utilize your RAM above 3-point-something, you would require a 64-bit system to do so. Your extra RAM won't hurt your 32-bit system, but it is just sitting there. Er—sort of. Read on, and you'll see it might or might not be "JUST" sitting there.

I like RAM, so I would stay with exactly what you have—all 4 GB, even though you are not fully utilizing all of it. So you've spent a few dollars more than you might have, but you can say to yourself that you have got the maximum RAM your 32-bit system can handle (plus perhaps a little bit more).

If you look at Wikipedia, you will see that your entire 4 GB of RAM may actually be useful to your machine anyway. There is a certain amount used for memory that you can't see. You definitely can't exceed 4 GB, but I am not so sure that you are REALLY "wasting" the upper end of it. It's pretty advanced stuff if you pursue just what is happening there.

And, no, I would not jump at x64 myself. 32-bit is nice. I do have 64-bit XP, and 8 GB of RAM, but that is mainly for experimentation. A 32-bit system is smoother to make nice and lean and mean, and I think you might be happiest exactly where you are right now.

**grimx133** · 12-25-2008, 08:39 PM

You aren't wasting any memory with 4GB on a 32 bit OS. The upper reaches are reserved for, and addressable, by system files. It's just that windows doesn't display it all, only that portion of ram which is addressable by 3rd party software.

The only thing about the 2 x 1GB + 1 x 2GB configuration is that you aren't going to be running in dual channel mode.

basman24 · 12-26-2008, 04:43 AM

Thanks Guys

12-25-2008, 10:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
basman24 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 13 OS: WinXP SP2-	[SOLVED] my RAM is 4gb but my pc is reading only 3gb i have gigabyte 945 motherboard i have 3 rams ( all DDR2), 1gb + 1gb + 2gb <-- i got it 2day) when i right click my computer > properties, it says 3.00 GB of RAM and when i click Start > Run > dxdiag it says Memory : 3072 MB but when i run the program (CPU-Z) it says i have 4gb of ram on 2 slots only so should i return the 2gb RAM or is this normal? Last edited by basman24; 12-25-2008 at 10:14 AM.

12-25-2008, 10:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
HawMan Liam Join Date: May 2006 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 2,943 OS: Win XP My System	Re: my RAM is 4gb but my pc is reading only 3gb you need a 64bit OS __________________ Please Consider Donating to keep the site free.

12-25-2008, 08:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Carson Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 43 OS: Windows XP, XP-64, Vista	Re: my RAM is 4gb but my pc is reading only 3gb Well, that is to say that if you want to utilize your RAM above 3-point-something, you would require a 64-bit system to do so. Your extra RAM won't hurt your 32-bit system, but it is just sitting there. Er—sort of. Read on, and you'll see it might or might not be "JUST" sitting there. I like RAM, so I would stay with exactly what you have—all 4 GB, even though you are not fully utilizing all of it. So you've spent a few dollars more than you might have, but you can say to yourself that you have got the maximum RAM your 32-bit system can handle (plus perhaps a little bit more). If you look at Wikipedia, you will see that your entire 4 GB of RAM may actually be useful to your machine anyway. There is a certain amount used for memory that you can't see. You definitely can't exceed 4 GB, but I am not so sure that you are REALLY "wasting" the upper end of it. It's pretty advanced stuff if you pursue just what is happening there. And, no, I would not jump at x64 myself. 32-bit is nice. I do have 64-bit XP, and 8 GB of RAM, but that is mainly for experimentation. A 32-bit system is smoother to make nice and lean and mean, and I think you might be happiest exactly where you are right now. Last edited by Carson; 12-25-2008 at 08:23 PM.

12-25-2008, 08:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,165 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: my RAM is 4gb but my pc is reading only 3gb You aren't wasting any memory with 4GB on a 32 bit OS. The upper reaches are reserved for, and addressable, by system files. It's just that windows doesn't display it all, only that portion of ram which is addressable by 3rd party software. The only thing about the 2 x 1GB + 1 x 2GB configuration is that you aren't going to be running in dual channel mode. __________________

12-26-2008, 04:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
basman24 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 13 OS: WinXP SP2-	Re: my RAM is 4gb but my pc is reading only 3gb Thanks Guys