S.J.
This is not unique to XPe and not a XPe specific issue.
I took the liberty of cutting and pasting an FAQ from the ASUS website.
Check the referenced links for additional information.
Joe
Question
I have install total 4GB memory on my motherboard. However, it can only
recognize around 3.1GB or less. My friend's SLI board even less than 3GB.
What's up? How should I do to recognize 4GB totally?
Answer
If you installed total 4GB memory, the system will detect less than 4GB of
total memory because of address space allocation for other critical
functions, such as:
- System BIOS (including motherboard, add-on cards, etc..)
- Motherboards resources
- Memory mapped I/O
- configuration for AGP/PCI-Ex/PCI
- Other memory allocations for PCI devices
Different onboard devices and different add-on cards (devices) will result
of different total memory size.
e.g. more PCI cards installed will require more memory resources, resulting
of less memory free for other uses.
On a SLI system, since PCI-Ex graphic cards will occupy around 256MB,
another 256MB will be occupied after you install a 2nd PCI-Ex graphic card.
Hence, 2.75GB memory left only if two SLI cards installed on A8N-SLI Premium
while 3.0GB memory left with one graphic card without other add-on devices.
This limitation applies to most chipsets & Windows XP 32-bit version
operating system.
If you install Windows XP 32-bit version operating system, we recommend that
you install less than 3GB of total memory. If more than 3GB memory is
required for your system, then below two conditions must be met:
1. The memory controller which supports memory swap functionality is used.
The latest chipsets like Intel 975X, 955X, Nvidia NF4 SLI Intel Edition,
Nvidia NF4 SLI X16, and AMD K8 CPU architecture can support the memory swap
function.
2. Windows XP Pro X64 Ed. (64-bit) or other OS which can address more than
4GB memory.
You can check below URLs for reference:
http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/4GB_Rev1.pdf
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/cs-016594.htm