Accessing memory above 3.25GB on E1705 or E1505

Hello,

I have a E1705 and a E1505 both with 4-GB installed. The total memory reported by Windows XP is 3.25GB, which is a well known and well documented issue.

I discovered that a few RAM Disk utilities out there are able to reclaim that missing 750MB and make it available as a RAM Disk which can be used to boost up your system by storing browser temp files, etc.

Unfortunately, none of the RAM disk utilities I have tried seem to work, their GUI freezes as soon as I unable access to this "unmanaged memory" or "invisible memory" (that is how they call it depending on the tool).

I have tried so far:
- SuperSpeed RamDisk Plus
- Vsuite RamDisk Pro
- Gavotte RAMDisk (no option to access unmanaged memory)

I was wondering if anybody successfully implemented a RAM Disk solution like this on the Inspire E line, or any other Inspiron.

Thanks

Ajack

 

Can't be done, to my knowledge. The limitation is not that the 32-bit OS cannot see higher registers. The limitation is that hardware memory controller itself in these laptops (or at least the e1505) is 32-bit. Fully 64-bit hardware can see the higher memory from within a 32-bit environment.

More here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hardware-components-aftermarket-upgrades/229976-dell-inspiron-e1505-memory-ram-upgrade-6.html

 

I was under the impression that if you have PAE enabled the BIOS would know how to access this address bank.... but sounds like you are right:

The system memory that is reported in the System Information dialog box in Windows Vista is less than you expect if 4 GB of RAM is installed

 

Nope cant be done.
You'll need up upgrade to a 64bit OS to use the full 4GB.
Even Windows 7 32bit shows 4GB, but that doesnt mean it will use the full 4GB.

 

My understanding is that even with a 64bit OS, you will NOT be able to access above 3.5GB because the memory controller from the 945 chipset on these laptops is only 32 bit, which means than all addressable RAM must be below 4-GB, so things like video memory and so forth is also below 4-GB and takes away from available memory space.

 

Your understanding is correct. A 64bit OS will not change these hardware limitations.

 

This is incorrect. I understand what the OP is trying to do. You do not need a 64-bit OS to utilize the unmanaged RAM. There are a couple of requirements for the RAMDisk utilities to work. The first being that your hardware supports PAE, the second being to enable PAE on the OS via the PAE boot.ini switch. These two things provided, along with a RAMDisk utility that will allow use of unmanaged RAM, and you should be good to go, however, the hardware might be your issue here. You may need to do some additional research to verify.

For skeptics, please see the following Tom's Hardware article:

Up To 16 GB Of RAM On A 32-Bit System! : Memory Upgrade: Is It Time To Add More RAM?

Regards.

***UPDATE***: I did the research for you and unfortunately the 945 chipsets do not support PAE extensions, so you are out of luck.