Installed 4 G of RAM. Installed Windows 7. The system will only recognize 3 G, not the whole 4. I understood Win XP couldn't see more than 3.5 G, but know that Windows 7 can see far more.
The RAM was 1 G DDR x 4 sticks. Tried several different memory modules to rule out bad memory.
Hi,
To recognize more than 3GB of RAM you will need a 64 bit version of the operating system. If you install Windows 7 32 bit (normal for most users) you will only see 3.
You should have both versions of Windows 7 (32bit and 64 bit) on your installation disk. However you will need a 64 bit capable processor to install it. Otherwise 3GB of RAM for a 32 bit operating system is more than enough.
Are you runing a 64 bit win 7 os if your runin a 32 bit os then thats y
Hi,
Contrary to popular belief the system does use the full amount of memory available even though the system information window only shows 3.5GB of installed memory. This is usually because the system you are using is a 32bit operating system. If the system was a 64bit then the information page would show actual memory installed.
Microsoft released a fix for 32bit systems to show the full amount with Vista service pack 1 so you may just have to wait until Microsoft releases service pack 1 for Windows 7 to show full memory.
Get all the latest updates from Microsoft and see if any of the updates rectify this. If not press Ctrl>Alt>Del, select Task Manager and then click on the Processes tab. Run as many heavy memory hungry programs as you can and the use a calculator to add up all the processes. You will surprisingly see that the system is using far more memory that is shown in the system information page.
Regards.
Hi,
The motherboard should support up to 6GB of memory as there are 6 memory banks available to use on that motherboard.
A 64bit OS will come in usefull here as it will show the actual amount of memory installed without checking the processes in task manager.
Regards.
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It has nothing to do with bad memory or motherboard. I believe you are using Windows 7 32-bit, right? This is a problem with x32 OS, they can not use all 4GB. It make sense that 7 can only see 3GB. If your processor and motherboard supports 64-bits, go for it, then you will be able to use all 4GB.
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nicolasiac, thank you for your answer. The reason I wanted to increase the amount of RAM above 3 G is that I am creating a Dynamips GNS3 environment to study for the CCIE Lab, and I want to run at least 16 - 17 devices (router images, switch images, and a ASA or two) and I don't believe 3 G of RAM will support that. I agree a 64-bit process would help anyway. Do you know if this motherboard will support more than 4 G RAM with a 64-bit processer?
Thanks.
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