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    Maximum Physical Memory on a 3GB system?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by joey-t, Sep 28, 2009.

  1. joey-t

    joey-t Notebook Consultant

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    What is the maximum Physical Memory T500/T400 owners are getting that purchased a system with 3GB of ram?
    I purchased 4GB and the maximum I am getting is 3,065MB, after disabling switchable graphics.
    I am just curious how much extra Physical Ram I actually got by buying the extra 1GB of ram.
    Oh yeh, this is for 32bit systems. I know 64bit gets you more.

    T500 with Switchable Graphics disabled with 4GB ram.
    [​IMG]
     
    joey-t, Sep 28, 2009
    #1
  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Well, 3GB of RAM is 3072MB so you've always had only 3065MB. So your upgrade did absolutely nothing.
     
    Greg, Sep 28, 2009
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  3. intoflatlines

    intoflatlines Notebook Consultant

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    Isn't that the most that XP can handle, but Vista and 7 can do more?
     
    intoflatlines, Sep 28, 2009
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  4. joey-t

    joey-t Notebook Consultant

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    That doesn't answer the question.
    If a 3GB system is only able to achieve, say 2,950mb of Physical Memory, then the extra 1GB does achieve something.
    While everyone knows buying 4GB, vs. 3GB is a poor investment, and maybe a total waste of money, on a 32bit system, there might still be some small amount of ram benefit from 4GB.
     
    joey-t, Sep 28, 2009
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  5. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    there is a small boost since you're going from asynchronous dual channel to Synchronous dual channel.

    The performence increase would be unoticible unless you have intgrated graphics.
     
    moral hazard, Sep 28, 2009
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  6. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    The extra RAM cannot be used, period. As moral stated, one really small benefit is that your computer is now running in dual channel mode. But that isn't going to help much.
     
    Greg, Sep 28, 2009
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  7. koreo

    koreo Notebook Consultant

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    I have 4GB of RAM but mine only recognizes 2519MB.
     
    koreo, Sep 28, 2009
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  8. joey-t

    joey-t Notebook Consultant

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    Mine was the same as yours before I disabled switchable graphics.

    You can disable switchable graphics in the Bios.
    Boot to the Bios and change these two settings.

    Config > Display > Graphics Device > change to DISCRETE GRAPHICS
    Config > Display > Graphics Device > OS Detection for Switchable Graphics > change to DISABLE
     
    joey-t, Sep 28, 2009
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  9. joey-t

    joey-t Notebook Consultant

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    Back to my original question.

    For owners with 3GB Ram, what is the Physical Ram displayed in your Task Manager?
     
    joey-t, Sep 28, 2009
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  10. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    I don't think you understand how memory allocation works. Memory doesn't just "disappear" randomly. If you put 3 GB of RAM in, you're going to get 3 GB. If you put in 4 GB, you're going to get the maximum addressable, which in your case is 3 GB.
     
    Lithus, Sep 28, 2009
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  11. joey-t

    joey-t Notebook Consultant

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    I know this, in theory. I am trying to confirm it in the real world. The reason for starting this thread.
     
    joey-t, Sep 28, 2009
    #11