4GB of RAM installed but showing 2750MB

DV9205US i just installed another 2gb of RAM but my computer is only showin 2750MB i just updated my BOIS to the latest version and its still showing the same thing can anyone tell me what to do.

 

what is your OS?

 

That's because 32-bit operations can only recognize up to 3GB Max since the other 1GB has been reserved for graphics memory etc etc.

 

Ok, the 32-bit OS can only recognize up to 3GB but the performance work as 3GB or 4GB ?

 

Your performance is limited to however much your OS can see because it will only use what it can see. So if you are running a 32-bit version of Windows you can only use/see 3gb of RAM if you are running 64-Bit version of windows you should be able to use/see all 4gb.

 

so is my laptop running 3gb or 4gb

 

Google for the software "switch" you have to change in Windows so that your PC can see/utilize the 3gb maximum.

 

4GB, but the OS can only see 3GB. So for all intents and purposes, 3GB max.

 

That switch is called PAE, and it does NOT allow you to use 4GB of RAM on a 32bit OS. Please people stop spreading that mis-information.

There is another setting that can reduce the Windows kernel memory usage, but it does not increase memory availability for individual programs...and it causes system instability. And no program can use more than 2GB individually anyway so you're stuck anyway.

Usually, a PC can "see" 3-3.2GB of RAM. In your case, less...but nothing can be done about it.

 

simply put 32bit operating system can ONLY use about 3gb of RAM, you might find a fix to let it SEE 4gb but it will ONLY use the amount you mentioned. In order to use the full 4gb you might consider using a 64bit OS like Vista64. This is providing your CPU is a C2D and not the older Core Duo

 

I have the same issue (on my DV6130us)... I have 4GB installed, but my computer only "sees" 2.99GB. Oh well... 3 is better than 2. So far I haven't had any instability issues. If I do, I'll simply revert back to 1GB or 2GB. I flashed my BIOS and everything. As already said by people much smarter than me: there's nothing that can be done. You've already updated/flashed your BIOS than I believe that's it.

I was considering upgrading to XP-64bit (x86)... will this utilize the full 4GB, or only Vista-64?

 

XP-64bit (x86)? What do you mean by that?

 

To be honest... I don't really know. I'm still learning about this stuff really. I was under the impression that x86 implied 64 bit Intel processors... but I really don't know. Maybe someone else can clarify.

 

its usually X64 when talking about 64bit stuff

i advise you to download the 64bit OS version of windows XP or Vista and see if it sees all 4gb of it. Then if it works, buy it. Now vista64 is far more stable and developed than XP64 and also has better driver and software support.

 

Don't worry. I will clarify this. x86 refers to 32 bit which is completely different from 64 bit. If you want to upgrade to XP 64 bit you can and yes you will be able to use those 4 GBs to the best of my knowledge.

 

Yes SideSwipe is right. Vista 64 Bit is surely more developed because it has come out at a time when people are giving genuine attention to 64 bit Operating systems. Plus going for Vista 64 bit can help you avoid compatibilty issues in the future which I think would be a bit more in the case of XP 64 bit.

 

So... would I have to upgrade all the drivers individually from the hp site?!

thanks for the clarification by the way

 

If you intend to install Vista 64 bit drivers you shouldn't have much of a problem as your laptop would have come along with it in a folder called SWSetup. As for the XP 64 drivers you have to do a fair bit of research.

Here is a startup. Locate your exact model number and click it. It should have most of the drivers you want.

 

If you believe in what I am saying go with Vista 64. It will be really helpful for you. And with 3+ GB RAM it would be a real help having Vista which surely is the future and a lot more stable.

 

Vista more stable? So why is everyone trashing it so much, and going back to XP?!

 

I seriously can't understand. But I think it is very obvious that Vista and that too 64 bit is going to be the ultimate survivor looking at the numerous number of people especially the highly knowledgable ones are using it.

 

the annoying thing about Vista64 is that it only lets you install signed drivers which means tools like RMClock cannot be installed because they install an unsigned driver which Vista64 rejects.

 

Greg's comment about instability is related to using the PAE switch (which doesn't exist in Vista anyway) to allow a process to use more than 2GB of RAM. This has NOTHING to do with how much RAM you actually have installed in your computer. Having 2GB, 3GB, or 4GB installed will not effect Windows, stability wise, in ANY way, unless you try to mess with the memory settings.

Do not use XP 64 bit. It is unstable, largely unsupported, and the drivers are not compatible with Vista 64-bit.

x86 = 32-bit
x64 = 64-bit

Everyone trashes it because people don't like change. They see something different from what they are used to and then spew their mental diarrhea to any web site they can find. Also because Vista is hugely overpriced (if you buy it retail or as an upgrade) for what you actually get.

 

I dont think people are trashing it because of its stability necesarily. I think its bloated, annoying, and not worth the money.

That being said, I have XP64 on both a desktop and a laptop, and I'm not that impressed. It's nice to use all 4GB on both, but crappy driver support, buggy software incompatibilties (Quickbooks), and the lack of hibernation support just irritates the hell out of me.

 

No hibernation in x64? Well F-that... I use Hibernation ALL the time.

 

2/2 vs 3/1 gb memory support for windows x32 os's explained:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx
Vista x64 specifications support:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/64bit.mspx
Hibernation support on ms os's and 4gb explained:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888575

Vista is trashed because the minimum requirements were set too low to enjoy the full multimedia experience. You need the latest and fastest processor and graphics engine to get interface response as fast as on XP.

 

When you have 4GB of RAM.

 

Microsoft really pisses me off sometimes.... Here is the "workaround" for the no hibernation support in 64bit OS with 4GB of RAM....

"WORKAROUND
To work around this issue, decrease the RAM to 4 GB or less."

And in practice, it's not actually true. You have to decrease to LESS than 4GB. Being at the 4GB limit screws you too. That little KB is so wrong.

 

HA! So true... I was thinking the same thing when I read that.

 

Hello, I'm a proud owner of an HP nx9420 with 2x 1GB RAM @ 667MHZ an I need some answers from those who own this laptop with 4GB RAM and Vista x64.
1. Do you need any bios update for full 4GB support?
2. The memory modules are running at 677MHz or 533Mhz (I need a real case answer).

 

He is talking about XP 64-bit, not Vista 64-bit.

 

I was going to start a new thread on this same topic but since i found this one i will post it here because i to have questions on this and to be honest really confused as well!

I understand that vista 32 bit edition cannot "see" all 4 gigs of ram, but when doing some minor research on the topic, microsofts website (i dont have the link handy, but i know ive seen it on there) says that vista 32 bit max memory is 4gb and windows 64 bit is somewhere around 16gb max memory.

I have also heard that windows vista 32 bit CAN "see" that extra 1 gb of memory it just allocates it to video and other such programs.

i have also heard that 64 bit vista is more trouble than its worth

so having said that heres my questions....

1) Can you just go to microsoft and download the 64 bit version of the edition that you have currently. or do you have to buy a 64 bit version of the OS.

2) I know that if you have 3gb or less and are running vista 32 bit OS it does not allocate any of the memory to other stuff. why is this?

 

Yes... and isn't that what I said? x64=XP 64 bit...

 

No, it cannot "see" the extra 1GB of RAM. You are talking about the difference between physical memory, and the memory address space. Address space is all of the possible locations of memory a computer can talk to, while the physical RAM is what is physically installed in the system.

Computers use a concept called "memory mapped I/O", which uses the memory address space of the RAM, but it does not ever see any RAM itself that is in that area of the memory map. All the CPU knows about is that it's reading and writing data to a certain address space. Sometimes that address space has RAM in it, other times it can be a device. When designing the 32bit system, they put the RAM at the bottom of the address space, and devices at the top. Since more than 3GB of RAM will encroach into the "top" of the address space, the devices would either get overridden by the RAM, or the RAM gets overridden by the devices. Devices get a higher priority because they are more critical to the system.

You must be reading the same drivel that everyone else is from the whiners who have nothing better to do than complain. There's nothing wrong with 64-bit, it works just fine. Yes, there are some caveats, and the hardest part is getting drivers for your external devices. Otherwise it works just fine.

1: You don't need to buy it. Take a look at my clean install guide (see sig) which gives you details on how to get the 64-bit media.

2: I'm not sure the question makes sense, but I think you are referring to memory-mapped i/o again. You may be interested in more reading here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory-mapped_IO

 

So today I've just installed 4GB RAM (2xKingston 2GB 667Mhz) in my nx9420 with Vista x64 bios v F.18. (chipset 945pm) (original hp vista x64 drivers)

1. the bios an vista correctly recognized all 4GB RAM
2. In task manager I have maximum 3,455GB ram for system becose 641MB are reserved for Graphics memory (you should see this also in HP's system information, so try install all the drivers from hp)
3. Windows can allocate dinamicaly up to 1,4GB for Graphics memory
(also when I had 2GB of RAM in vista x64 there was 1,4GB for system and 600MB for craphics and vista could allocate up to 740MB for Graphics)
4 The momory are running at 667Mhz. So is not limited to 533Mhz at 4GB

For core2duo processors vista x64 is way faster than any 32 bit system xp or vista x86 (only if you have enough ram). I-ve tested this wit 32 bit applications like CorelDraw and 64 applications like Maya 64bit.
On Maya32bit, with XP (when I had 2GB ram) There was a limit of 1,4GB of RAM used when maya simply crashed every time (when rendering). In vista 32bit the memory allocation was improved and maya was stable . On vista 64 bit there is an improvement even in 3d view when rotating the scenes. The frame rate is exceptional (the framerate is allmost triple). And when rendering the same scene, (with 4GB ram) there is a render time improvement up to 4time faster.

If you need any other information just ask