NotebookReview x64 team

thansaa

maybe the culprit is like destiny already asked the graphics card . you should check if your graphics card is using shared video memory. even if your graphics card has dedicated ( real onboard) memory, it may take some additional memory from the ram you have installed.

the amount of shared video memory rises the more ram you have installed.
maybe you should check that first.

 

Hi JCMS. My 64-bit OS does not seem to be using all 4GBs. That's how the whole thing originated. I looked at task manager, and it seems to be telling me that I only have 3261 total physical memory. Maybe I'm just reading it wrong or something. I don't know. How do I find out if my system is really seeing and using all 4GBs of RAM?

Thank you, Schoko. I do know that my graphics card is an older one. I am eventually going to look to upgrade. How do I find out how much RAM my graphics is using?

 

These games are all known to work in Vista x64. Crysis even has a 64-bit version

Not technically. It's not emulation strictly speaking. Since the x64 processors have a 100% native X86 hardware structure, the 64-bit OS simply passes the program off to that part of the processor. There is *no* penalty for this, and the amount of code needed to make it work is fairly minimal.

Nero 32-bit works fine with 64-bit Windows. PowerISO should, it doesn't do anything special. These are not apps that push the system very hard, they don't *need* to be 64-bit. Still, I use a burning software called InfraRecorder, which is 64-bit, and free, and also very small.

As for your Dell, I know for my Inspiron E1705, which Dell offers practically NO Vista x64 drivers for, I got drivers for everything in it. Best thing to do is get some info on who makes your bluetooth component and see if they have any drivers. Dell is not taking 64-bit very seriously, but they tend to use fairly generic parts that other notebook makers use, ones that do have drivers.

 

What system do you have? I know my Dell Inspiron E1705 notebook, it only officially supports 2GB RAM. I tried putting 4GB in it once and the OS I was using (not Windows) said I had 4GB total, but only calculated used RAM as if I had about 3.2GB. This is a known issue, and in my case there is no "fix" since it's simply a limitation of the pre-Santa Rosa chipset the laptop has.

You may want to verify your system can really use 4GB to begin with.

 

This may just be the issue then. I have 4GB installed and my Windows system page tells me that I have 4GB of RAM installed; however, task manager seems to think that I only have 3.2GB of total physical memory. Why does this occur? Even CCleaner says that I only have 3.2GB of RAM. I know that I installed Vista Ultimate x64, though, unless the people at BB lied to me.

 

to see how many shared memory your graphics card is using i think the dxdiag tool should give you the info.

start- > run -> type in dxdiag.exe
dxdiag shows a lot of information about your system , as well as the shared memory should be displayed.

 

Ok I've been reading on NBR that you have to install the AHCI driver before installing Vista 64. Is this true and how do u do that?

 

nope. not true

the ahci driver( sata) is known to vista.the old Xp does not know this kind of adapter out of the box.

 

sweeeetnesssss!!!! I'm taking the plunge tonight! Going BALLS DEEP!!

 

anyone know where i can buy a copy of XP 64bit?

 

well... then have fun tonight.

 

I'll do it.

 

if you don´t get your info in dxdiag, you might aswell look under desktop properties.

rightclick on desktop -> properties -> settings-> adapter

i´m not sure about this one, but i think the shared video mem should be shown here also.

 

What should I be looking for when the information is displayed? Will this answer why task manager only seems to be seeing or addressing less than the 4GB of RAM I have installed?

 

yes.

if your graphics card for example shows 768- 1GB of memory or a separate setting for shared memory shows up that is around 512-768 MB you can be sure it´s the graphics card eating up your memory.

 

ITS OFFICIAL!!! I'm running Vista Ultimate 64bit! The only driver I had to install was for the 8600GT M. Everything works!

 

windows marketplace should have it.
But are you sure you want XP64? it`s terribly poor in drivers, Vista 64 is the better choice.
Also : http://www.nextag.com/xp-64-bit/search-html

 

Thunder...several have run into issues when not installing the AHCI driver before install. IF you can, do it that way.

 

Unless you have some special need for AHCI I would just disable it in BIOS. It doesn't do much for performance (little better in some apps, a little slower in some games) and is just another driver to worry about. IDE mode is fine for most users. The only real "feature" that is lost is hot-swap, which your typical home desktop doesn't have or need.

 

Hey Schoko, here are the readings:

Once again, here is my system:


Here's what dxdiag.exe showed:

System


Graphics


Does it seem to make sense to you, or might something be wrong?

 

Can you add me????

 

@ thansaa

there you have it !

i think the culprit is indeed the graphics card.
though the numbers don´t make that much sense. 1439 MB is way too much. the numbers don´t add up somehow.

when you think about it : 4GB = 4096MB - 3262MB = 834 MB that should be used by your graphics card.
Total amount of graphicsram = 1439MB

1439- 834 = 605 MB , this rest of 605 MB should be the dedicated ram of your graphics card. but this seems it´s not correct. I don´t know much about the IGP´s, but maybe somebody here can tell a little bit more about the radeonxpress 200 IGP.

Might i ask, if the radeon Xpress 200 brings in some additional dedicated memory ?

 

I've edited the list again. If I have forgotten someone send me a private message. Unfortunately I don't really have enough time to visit the forums as I have an exam and I have to study. I will check my mail more often and I will try to answer as soon as possible.

 

go STUDY!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Schoko, I thank you so much for taking the time to walk me through some of this. The numbers didn't add up to me either, but this has to be the problem, nonetheless. I have recently started reading about updating graphics, so that may be the route that I decide to go. I just think that my graphics are terribly outdated; therefore, the graphics must be using a lot more RAM than it's supposed to. That's just my best guess because I, like you, don't know much about IGPs either.

 

IGP don't use more than 128MB when idle, so the system shouldn't be more crippled than 128MB.

 

Then what else could possibly be eating up my RAM so bad? Do you have any inklings at all? I mean, my graphics are really old.

 

If it's old it should even be using less. There is no way they are making a 800MB IGP. Old ones, like the GMA 950, only use 8MB of the system memory at first (expends to 128 while gaming).

 

Now I have an issue with Vista 64. I'm trying to run RivaTuner for my 8600GT M using 169.09 drivers. When I open RivaTuner it says that it cannot load drivers cuz drivers are not digitally signed. Is there any way around this or am I just not gonna be able to overclock my GPU?

 

you might wanna read this to get rivatuner working in vista x64

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=254863&highlight=driver+signing

 

Really appreciate it!!! Riva works like a charm. Thanx.

 

Any other ideas then? I really don't get it. Everything but task manager seems to be registering that I have 4GB of RAM.

At idle, my Vista Ultimate is at 700MB. The reading that says "Total Physical Memory' at that point is at around 3200. Could that be telling me that the approximately 3200MB of total memory is what's left over after whatever is using the 700MB?




Is the systems page always 100% accurate? I know this sounds like a foolish question, but I just had to ask at this point.

 

If I were you I would run MemTest86+ http://www.memtest.org/ just to make sure your sticks are actually ok. Do it stick by stick if you have two and leave it until it reaches at least 100%

 

Hi Destiny. I did memtest and it says that all of my sticks of RAM are okay. Also, other programs, like CCleaner, read that I have 4GB installed. I really don't know why task manager is the only thing on my computer that doesn't seem to be reading that I have 4GB installed.

 

Task Manager (even in Vista SP1, I think) only reports the amount of memory that you can use.

 

That wouldn't make sense, as 64 bit is supposed to be able to address the full 4GB... When I get a minute I will check how it looks on my Vista.

 

Got a question for anyone who can help, I'm trying to use my memory card reader on my 1520 and I have uninstalled then reinstalled the drivers and I have googled my problem and downloaded and installed those drivers but with no results. Any help will be awesome. Thanx in advanced!

 

If it's not asking too much, can you post a picture of your task manager readings so I can compare them to mine?

Greg and Orev have explained why I may not be able to use all of the 4GBs of RAM on my computer, but I'm curious to learn as much as I can about the subject. I thought I learned everything I needed to know before I made the upgrade, but I apparently did not.

 

Add me to the team please. I have Vista Ultimate x64.

 

There you go. I ran Everest as well to double check.


Mine seems to be ok, but I havent got graphics drivers installed on vista yet, as I mainly use xp now. Havent got time for gaming at the mo.

Have you checked if your mobo supports more than 3GB? Your gfx cant eat that much coz I used to have a notebook that had same gpu. Very weird...

 

I've recently found out that it may be a limitation from my MOBO. Apparently, my motherboard, though capable of being upgraded to 4GB, does not support the usage of 4GB. I wish I knew that before spending the money.

Thank you for posting the pictures. By the way, what program is that to the left of your task manager?

 

Reinstalled Vista x64 and man does it ever feel awesome

 

It does feel awesome, even though my system won't allow it to address the full 4GBs of RAM.

 

I have only 2 gigs atm, so no harm done.

 

Oh no, I was just ranting about my own personal thing. 2GBs is more than enough to run it and you'll find that you'll have a good overall experience with Vista and the 64-bit operation. I'm still enjoying the heck out of it.

 

what kinda rig r u running?

 

It's an older rig. I bought it back when AMD introduced 64-bit chips to the market. I was just waiting for the right time to upgrade. Aside from the RAM issue, I have no complaints. The older chipset has adjusted well to Vista. I'm still enjoying the x64 experience. My next laptop and desktop will both be 64-bit systems.

 

what kinda RAM is it?? DDR or DDR2?? what speed is the RAM?

 

That is Everest Ultimate Edition, http://www.lavalys.com/products/overview.php?pid=3&ps=UE&lang=en
Very handy tool

 

It's DDR RAM. I have the exact speed written somewhere. I'll post it when I find it.

Thanks, Destiny.