Vista x64 not accessing 4GB RAM

trdsupragt · 05-28-2009, 04:54 PM

So I've got 4GB of RAM installed, all G.Skill sticks. However, my 64bit Vista system information (dxdiag) doesn't seem to access the 4GB. It shows about 3262MB of RAM.

In the Vista System rating window however, it shows that I have 4.00GB of RAM.

I've checked my BIOS settings for a RAM remapping feature, but couldn't find such function. Here are my specs:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+
ASRock 939-DualVSTA motherboard
G.Skill 4GB RAM

Thanks

**wrench97** · 05-28-2009, 05:23 PM

What does system info show for Ram?

trdsupragt · 05-28-2009, 05:35 PM

It shows, I believe 3262MB also, when starting up.

**wrench97** · 05-28-2009, 06:12 PM

When starting up do you mean the Bios is reporting 3262Mb?

trdsupragt · 05-28-2009, 08:41 PM

That's right

tomanderson1991 · 05-28-2009, 10:23 PM

What does the System information show once you've booted up

trdsupragt · 05-28-2009, 11:59 PM

This should help things along:

And BIOS is reporting 3262MB.

**wrench97** · 05-29-2009, 01:11 AM

If the Bios is only showing 3262 then the motherboard is reserving ram for something like the video card so all that's going to available to windows is what is not reserved.

trdsupragt · 05-29-2009, 03:14 AM

Ah, alright. Is there anyway for me to get Vista to access the rest of the ram? It's kind of bothering me that I have 4gb installed but can't use it all.

**wrench97** · 05-29-2009, 12:21 PM

I skimmed through the manual for that board and didn't see anything that would reserve ram, but they seem to stress using 4 identical sticks are your sticks part of a quad set?
Unfortunately I'm not at all familiar with this board but the fact that the Bios is only reporting 32xx means it's not a Vista issue but rather MB or Ram.

What does the System Overview page in the main Bios section show for total ram installed and list for each of the 4 sockets?

ftp://174.142.97.10/manual/939Dual-VSTA.pdf

trdsupragt · 05-29-2009, 10:12 PM

Unfortunately, they're not all identical. I have two different sets of RAM installed. But they're both G.Skill with very similar specs. I started out with 2GB at the time, then purchased another 2GB later on, when the original ones were no longer being manufactured.

So I guess it could very well be the cause of the issue? the two sets not being identical?

Riskyone101 · 05-30-2009, 01:29 AM

Yep, thats right right, theres the problem, all 4 sticks have to be the same DDR
and identical.

More facts - using 2 slots, either 1 & 2 or 3 & 4 - have to be the same
using 3 slots will not give you dual channel support.
using all 4 sticks all identical ram sticks will give you dual channel support and read 4GB true.

05-28-2009, 04:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
trdsupragt Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 12 OS: Windows Vista 64bit	Vista x64 not accessing 4GB RAM So I've got 4GB of RAM installed, all G.Skill sticks. However, my 64bit Vista system information (dxdiag) doesn't seem to access the 4GB. It shows about 3262MB of RAM. In the Vista System rating window however, it shows that I have 4.00GB of RAM. I've checked my BIOS settings for a RAM remapping feature, but couldn't find such function. Here are my specs: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ ASRock 939-DualVSTA motherboard G.Skill 4GB RAM Thanks

05-28-2009, 05:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,661 OS: Win7	Re: Vista x64 not accessing 4GB RAM What does system info show for Ram? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

05-28-2009, 05:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
trdsupragt Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 12 OS: Windows Vista 64bit	Re: Vista x64 not accessing 4GB RAM It shows, I believe 3262MB also, when starting up.

05-28-2009, 06:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,661 OS: Win7	Re: Vista x64 not accessing 4GB RAM When starting up do you mean the Bios is reporting 3262Mb? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

05-28-2009, 08:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
trdsupragt Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 12 OS: Windows Vista 64bit	Re: Vista x64 not accessing 4GB RAM That's right

05-28-2009, 10:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
tomanderson1991 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 13 OS: Windows 7	Re: Vista x64 not accessing 4GB RAM What does the System information show once you've booted up

05-28-2009, 11:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
trdsupragt Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 12 OS: Windows Vista 64bit	Re: Vista x64 not accessing 4GB RAM This should help things along: And BIOS is reporting 3262MB.

05-29-2009, 01:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,661 OS: Win7	Re: Vista x64 not accessing 4GB RAM If the Bios is only showing 3262 then the motherboard is reserving ram for something like the video card so all that's going to available to windows is what is not reserved. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

05-29-2009, 03:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
trdsupragt Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 12 OS: Windows Vista 64bit	Re: Vista x64 not accessing 4GB RAM Ah, alright. Is there anyway for me to get Vista to access the rest of the ram? It's kind of bothering me that I have 4gb installed but can't use it all.

05-29-2009, 12:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,661 OS: Win7	Re: Vista x64 not accessing 4GB RAM I skimmed through the manual for that board and didn't see anything that would reserve ram, but they seem to stress using 4 identical sticks are your sticks part of a quad set? Unfortunately I'm not at all familiar with this board but the fact that the Bios is only reporting 32xx means it's not a Vista issue but rather MB or Ram. What does the System Overview page in the main Bios section show for total ram installed and list for each of the 4 sockets? ftp://174.142.97.10/manual/939Dual-VSTA.pdf __________________ Power Supply and Selection

05-29-2009, 10:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
trdsupragt Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 12 OS: Windows Vista 64bit	Re: Vista x64 not accessing 4GB RAM Unfortunately, they're not all identical. I have two different sets of RAM installed. But they're both G.Skill with very similar specs. I started out with 2GB at the time, then purchased another 2GB later on, when the original ones were no longer being manufactured. So I guess it could very well be the cause of the issue? the two sets not being identical?

05-30-2009, 01:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
Riskyone101 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago, IL. Posts: 3,765 OS: XP Pro SP3, MCE 2005 sp3, Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate My System	Re: Vista x64 not accessing 4GB RAM Yep, thats right right, theres the problem, all 4 sticks have to be the same DDR and identical. More facts - using 2 slots, either 1 & 2 or 3 & 4 - have to be the same using 3 slots will not give you dual channel support. using all 4 sticks all identical ram sticks will give you dual channel support and read 4GB true. __________________