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    wtf only 3/4 gb recognized?!

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by tikt4ever, Mar 20, 2008.

  1. tikt4ever

    tikt4ever Notebook Enthusiast

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    i recently put in 4 gb of new g-skill ram into my asus g1s-a1 laptop. The POST recoginzes 4096 mb but Vista can only make out 3071. Should I return my current sticks and get new ram? That has seemed to work for some people.
     
    tikt4ever, Mar 20, 2008
    #1
  2. SpeedyMods

    SpeedyMods Notebook Deity

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    No, it is a limitation of 32 bit operating systems. In order to use higher than 3.2(ish) Gb of memory, you must be running a 64 bit operating system.

    Greg
     
    SpeedyMods, Mar 20, 2008
    #2
  3. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    Have you installed Vista's SP1? I believe one of the changes is reporting of memory size above 3GB. Whether you can actually use any more memory with SP1 is another matter.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Mar 20, 2008
    #3
  4. kuncheesh

    kuncheesh Notebook Evangelist

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    kuncheesh, Mar 20, 2008
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  5. tikt4ever

    tikt4ever Notebook Enthusiast

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    I am obviously aware that my OS is only 32 bit, but still i would expect at least 3.4 or 3.5 GB, so why only 3? Better still, why exactly 3? Is it purely coincidence or is there some other underlying problem?
     
    tikt4ever, Mar 20, 2008
    #5
  6. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    Hi.

    there is a software hack, to get vista to recognise the full 4GB, but it only works on some motherboards and it really slows the performance down.

    regards

    John.
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Mar 20, 2008
    #6
  7. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    That said hack is called PAE, and it does not let you use the 4th GB. There is no hack around the basic limitation of 32bit OSes.

    Readers, please stop propagating info about 4GB 'working' with 32bit OSes.
     
    Greg, Mar 20, 2008
    #7
  8. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    What Greg said! And I am going to go way out on a limb here. Because I may not understand (if I am wrong all just neg rep me :p ). The PAE has to do with allowing applications to use more than the 2GB virtual memory space limitation (if coded to do so). Notice virtual not physical, virtual= physical+pagefile. I read months ago. If I am wrong just disagree and I will research again. kuncheesh link is good and easy to understand should anyone still be unclear just disregard the parts saying there are ways around the 4GB. And just to make Johns post even more clear the SP1 update will do nothing with the amount of RAM the OS will be able to use just will report different amount. I was not happy when I first read as it is a useless/deceptive change. But I have come to realize MS was getting a virtual headache on this issue as I think Greg is also and I am starting to also. ;)
     
    powerpack, Mar 20, 2008
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  9. Iceman0124

    Iceman0124 More news from nowhere

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    +1, reporting and having full availability/useability of said ram are entirely different. The only fix is to install a 64bit OS period. If you are running modern hardware and modern applications, the move to 64bit will be painless and well worth it, if you rely on older legacy hardware and apps, (win95 on down) you might have some headaches.
     
    Iceman0124, Mar 20, 2008
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  10. Jalf

    Jalf Comrade Santa

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    The cap varies depending on your installed hardware, drivers and other factors. It's not always 3.4-3.5.
    However, it is interesting that in your case it's so close to 3GB (it's 1MB below).
    Is it possible that the chipset in your laptop can only control 3GB?

    lol ;)

    PAE does let you use more physical memory, so you're wrong on one count. But you're right on the most important one, that it's only for applications that are specifically coded for it. And most apps aren't, so they won't benefit from it.

    So PAE doesn't really solve the problem, since it requires explicit software support. It's useful for servers and workstations and big "serious" applications that have coded in support for it. For the rest of us, there's no real benefit, and a couple of disadvantages. ;)
     
    Jalf, Mar 20, 2008
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  11. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    Jalf I will take the D+ grade for bad presentation. ;) But want to make clear to others, like me. You are not saying it will increase the amount of addressable memory? That is the brick wall? We are talking about how a set amount is utilized? If so same 3GB to 3.5GB limitation? And as said before to all, if I am wrong neg rep me (unless you are a MOD) :p :D
     
    powerpack, Mar 20, 2008
    #11
  12. tvone2

    tvone2 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello,
    I flashed the bios in my Aspire5520 last night...V1.32
    It now shows 4gb of ram in "my computer" Vista32 SP1
     
    tvone2, Mar 21, 2008
    #12
  13. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    lol on Prasad's computer it says 8GB when he only has 1gb stick installed. SP1 has serious maths issues, MS really needs to fix this. It was fine before SP1
     
    flipfire, Mar 21, 2008
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  14. nekrosoft13

    nekrosoft13 Notebook Consultant

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    computer manufactures need to step up and provide proper support for their hardware.

    is pathetic that they sell systems with 4gb of ram, but most of them don't offer 64bit Operating system as a choice, but keep forcing 32bit
     
    nekrosoft13, Mar 21, 2008
    #14
  15. nekrosoft13

    nekrosoft13 Notebook Consultant

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    yes SP1, will show 4gb, but it still will not use all 4gb.

    This change was made to fool people and stop them from complaining.
     
    nekrosoft13, Mar 21, 2008
    #15