Installed RAM vs. Total Physical RAM

Hi. Just installed more RAM in my Acer Aspire 3050-1150 running Vista Home Basic 32 bit. Went from 2 gigs to 4. Acer Aspire supposed to support 4 Gigs of memory (dual channel...2 x 2Gigs) CPUZ says 4 GB installed. Windows System Info says Installed Physical Memory = 4.00GB, but Total Physical Memory is only 1.75 GB. Task manager also shows only 1.75 or so.

I realize that Vista 32 bit can only utilize about 3.5 GB or so of memory, but why is only 1.75 of the 4 GB being utilized??

 

I'm wondering if the actual chipset is limited to 2 GB, or if there's something else taking RAM (like a integrated video card?)

 

Hi Evaders.

I am looking into the chipset, but Acer claims that this model can be upgraded to 4GB if 2 sticks of 2 GB are used (I am using a dual channel kit).

The integrated video card is using some of the RAM, but nowhere near an amount that would reconcile this difference.

 

Some motherboards are limited, I put 4gb into a Debian box recently and got 3.25 GBs out of it. You might have to return the ram unfortunately depending on specs.

 

Hi Howard. This model is supposed to max out at 4 GB. Anyway, BIOS recognizes 3800 (or so) of extended memory + the 256 MB devoted to video, for a total of 4GB+.

In another thread somewhere I remember a comment about revising the "memory map" in system BIOS. Acer's BIOS choices are extremely limited...of course no mention of a memory map.

Is there a way to get at the BIOS apart from the usual F2 at the initial splash screen? Some software utility or something?

Sorry to keep pestering everyone but this is bugging me...

Thanks!

 

as for me, i use another method, that is untick the option for maximum memory at bios. Then restart the computer, after that i got a 3gb of ram from the task manager. I haven't try tick back the maximum memory option yet. cause i lazy to restart again. but it will only increase just about 10 more mb.

(i just changed it few mins ago, was having same problem like you too at first. just brought this new ram today from IT fair.)

 

Thanks Blakedemon. See that's the problem...I don't have ANY memory tweak items in my BIOS (except to devote various amounts to graphics). Acer gives almost no room for doing anything in BIOS.

Is there a way of 'unlocking' certain BIOS items? Or a software utility that can give me more configuration options?

I am sure I can solve this if i can get to the memory aspects of BIOS, but I can't get at them.

 

ops sry, i mixed up the word BIOS and Boot thing, didn't take a careful look at the spelling

go to start > type msconfig, open the programme > Boot > advanced option > then u either increase (or enable if it not enable yet) the maximum memory. if unable to increase, untick the maximum memory option.

 

Maybe boot to a linux live cd to see if its a os thing or a hardware thing.

 

^ That could be a way to test it.

 

Blakedemon...nice idea...i was not allowed to increase 'maximum memory' so I unchecked it but only 500 MB was released....from 1.75GB I am now at 2.5GB...well I gained something anyway. Thank you.

Nizzy...I booted to an Ubuntu 64 bit live cd...showed 3.8GB (ALL of the memory) so we know it is a software issue.

Still need to get that last gig or so released...

 

Acer e-mail "tech" help was hilariously unhelpful. G-Skill, the maker of the RAM says this seems to be a common problem with Acer/Vista machines and suggests re-installing Vista. I haven't gone through this exercise yet, but has anyone an opinion on this?

 

This issue can be confusing to troubleshoot, there could be two possibilities one is an OS problem or it could also be a motherboard chip set limit issue... Anyway I wish you luck in successfully getting your upgrade of memory.