4 GB RAM in XP Pro

[Uffe Kousgaard]

I have just upgraded from 2 to 4 GB RAM in XP Pro. Now it reports 3½ GB + 64
Kb (3648 MB) as total memory. Both in BIOS, My Computer properties, Process
Explorer etc.

Is this normal, due to hardware issues with the ram or motherboard?

Regards
Uffe

 

[Uffe Kousgaard]

Is this normal, due to hardware issues with the ram or motherboard?

OK, Motherboard issue according to the documentation. Just the way it is.

 

[JS]

There are a number of users who have 4GB of ram and Windows shows only
around 3GB so you are not alone.

JS

 

[Bob I]

Humm, in this case BIOS/motherboard is the issue.

There are a number of users who have 4GB of ram and Windows shows only
around 3GB so you are not alone.

JS

 

[frodo]

Humm, in this case BIOS/motherboard is the issue.

it's normal; 32-bit processor can address total of 4GB; not all of that
can be RAM, some must be used to address HW on the motherboard etc. You
will typically see 3 to 3.5 GB of RAM actually usable, depending on bios
settings - turn off all unneccessary bios items (shadowing/caching, io
ports you don't use, etc) to try and get the maximum that you can.

BTW, what exactly about "only" 2GB of RAM were you dissatisfied with? ;-)

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I have just upgraded from 2 to 4 GB RAM in XP Pro. Now it reports 3½ GB + 64
Kb (3648 MB) as total memory. Both in BIOS, My Computer properties, Process
Explorer etc.

Is this normal, due to hardware issues with the ram or motherboard?

A normal consequence of a 32-bit OS.

To get all your memory you need XP64 and both hardware and software
support of it.

 

[Larry Samuels]

Something totally different--he has a BIOS issue with the motherboard that
must wait for a fix from the manufacturer (most likely a MSI board).

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
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