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    Only 2.93 GB RAM usable

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by bonbooni, Aug 27, 2010.

  1. bonbooni

    bonbooni Notebook Consultant

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    Hi,

    After installing WIN 7 on my VAIO Z it shows 2.93 GB RAM usable out of 4GB? I updated to the latest BIOS I believe..! Any similar encounters or proposed means to solve this problem? I am running 32 bit win BTW

    Many thanks in advance
    P.S. My model is VGN-Z31WN
     
    bonbooni, Aug 27, 2010
    #1
  2. Andrew08

    Andrew08 Notebook Evangelist

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    hmm did you edit the boot settings like start > search programs and files > msconfig > boot > advanced option?
     
    Andrew08, Aug 27, 2010
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  3. bonbooni

    bonbooni Notebook Consultant

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    No, did nothing of that sort actually
     
    bonbooni, Aug 27, 2010
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  4. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

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    The Intel 945 based Chipsets provide a maximum address space of 4GB and do not support memory remapping. As parts of that address need to be reserved for other devices, you will not be able to use more than 3.2 GB of system memory with your current system configuration. No BIOS Update or 64 Bit operating system will ever change that. This is a chipset rather than a board or BIOS limitation. So given you've edited the boot settings, you still won't see 4GB actually used.
     
    H.A.L. 9000, Aug 27, 2010
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  5. bonbooni

    bonbooni Notebook Consultant

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    I did not edit anything as I just mentioned above
     
    bonbooni, Aug 27, 2010
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  6. Andrew08

    Andrew08 Notebook Evangelist

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    LOL...
    it' the hardware limitation...
    he is not talking about settings...
     
    Andrew08, Aug 27, 2010
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  7. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

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    With hardware limitations in mind, it should still register 3.2GB in the system information... AFTER applying the changes like Andrew said of course :) Also, changing that setting won't harm anything...
     
    H.A.L. 9000, Aug 27, 2010
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  8. Ice-Tea

    Ice-Tea MXM Guru NBR Reviewer

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    Unless a part is gone for IGP I suppose?
     
    Ice-Tea, Aug 27, 2010
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  9. arth1

    arth1 a҉r҉t҉h

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    32-bit Vista and Windows 7 have a hardcoded memory limitation of 3 GB. XP had a limit where all memory mapped addresses were placed at the 4 GB limit, and counted down. Depending on the number of devices and how much memory mapping they used, you could end up with anything from 3 GB to 3.5 GB on a machine with 4 GB physical memory installed. This was hell for professionals to try to explain to ignorant customers ("Yes, but my other machine shows 3.3 GB! So there must be something wrong with this one!").
    There's also a hard limit of 2 GB per process in Windows, so having systems with 3.5 GB usable means that programmers have to look at not just the amount of free memory, but choose the lowest of either free physical memory or 2 GB as the value for usable free physical memory. And there are enough of ignorant programmers out there too that this caused occasional problems under XP.
    So Microsoft placed an artificial limit at 3 GB for 32-bit systems, which greatly reduces both problems.

    In your case, take the 3 GB hardcoded limit, and then subtract memory assigned to the display for internal (non-mapped) use, and you end up with a little less than 3 GB. I.e. perfectly normal.
     
    arth1, Aug 27, 2010
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  10. bonbooni

    bonbooni Notebook Consultant

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    Sorry but can you tell me how to make this adjustments (editting)?
     
    bonbooni, Aug 27, 2010
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  11. Qwaarjet

    Qwaarjet Notebook Deity

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    Like Arth said, it's an "issue" with your 32bit OS not your hardware. Having 2.93 or 3.2 with some tweaks will make ZERO difference. Once you upgrade to a 64bit OS you'll see more available.
     
    Qwaarjet, Aug 27, 2010
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  12. bonbooni

    bonbooni Notebook Consultant

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    yes, I guess u r right. Thans you so much guys for your precious help.
     
    bonbooni, Aug 27, 2010
    #12