Windows not seeing new RAM

[Guest]

Hi,

I'm having some issues with memory. I just installed two new modules of
memory (see link below). Both memories, two old modules and two new modules,
are compatible with the motherboard. The system, it seems, sees only 2
modules. Check 2 links on the bottom to see screen shots of the Task Manager.
I have tried switching both pairs and putting them into different slots, but
whatever I did, the Task Manager showed only 2 modules.

Then I run PC Wizard, and the wizard sees all 4 modules. Screen shots are
down below.

Any ideas on how to tell Windows there is more juice?

Thanks a lot!
Exp.


Task Manager 1: http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9436/winmem2pi2.jpg
Task Manager 2: http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=winmemzt1.jpg

PC Wizard 1: http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7722/pcwizard2tn0.jpg
PC Wizard 2: http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6862/pcwizardik7.jpg

New memory: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820146565
Old memory (2x1GB):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141210

 

[jorgen]

Any ideas on how to tell Windows there is more juice?

You have a 32-bit XP, so you won't be able to use it all. If you have
memory remapping enabled it bios, disable it, and a bit more ram will appear

 

[Guest]

Hello Jorgen,

Thank you for your response. So it seems that there is nothing that I can do
to be able to use all 4GB. What about Vista? What if I upgrade to Vista, will
I be able to use all 4GB?


Thank you in advance.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

No. Unless you get the 64-bit version. The limitation is connected to the
32-bit aspect of the OS, not the version. Unless you already have a 64-bit
capable processor and a 64-bit version of Windows, you won't get much more
than 3GB of usable RAM.

 

[Guest]

Hello Gary,

My CPU is 64-bit capable ( Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M shared
L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor). Here is the link to it:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115004.

What I'm hesitant about is that by upgrading to Vista, the fact that Vista
needs more resources to run smoothly, and the fact that now I have 4 GB of
RAM (as opposed as 2GB with XP Pro), these 4GB won't speed up my PC in any
way. What do you think? Does it then make sense to upgrade at all?

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Again, you need the 64-bit version of Windows, not just the 64-bit hardware.
As for Vista... Windows XP 64-bit version has quirks and some compatibility
problems with applications and added hardware, but much fewer than those
found in Vista 32-bit... See where this is headed? I installed 64-bit XP on
the wife's machine and after a few months of use, she wants her 32-bit
version back. We aren't even looking at Vista for another year or so. And
even then, it will be 32-bit.

What are you planning to do that would make 4GB of RAM important to have and
3GB insufficient?

 

[Guest]

Hello Garry,

I was gone for days so I'm responding just now. I do understand that I need
a 64-bit Windows, not only the hardware.
I process some huge tif files in Photoshop, some as large as 250MB. 4GB
would definitely help, which doesn't mean that 3 GB won't do it. But this is
where I get confused. You said 3GB. Where did you come up with 3GB?

 

[Daave]

3 GB is the system limit for 32-bit operating systems:

http://www.dansdata.com/askdan00015.htm

 

[Ken Blake]

3 GB is the system limit for 32-bit operating systems:

No, this isn't quite correct. There is a 4GB address space, but because some
of that address space is used for other hardware devices in the system, you
can't map the full 4GB to it.

How much RAM you can actually use varies, depending on what devices you have
in the system. 3GB to 3.1 GB is common, but I've seen some systems able to
use as much as 3.5GB.

 

[Daave]

No, this isn't quite correct. There is a 4GB address space, but
because some of that address space is used for other hardware devices
in the system, you can't map the full 4GB to it.

How much RAM you can actually use varies, depending on what devices
you have in the system. 3GB to 3.1 GB is common, but I've seen some
systems able to use as much as 3.5GB.

Interesting. Thanks for the clarification!

How would we determine the effective RAM limit for OP?

 

[Ken Blake]

Interesting. Thanks for the clarification!

You're welcome. Glad to help.

How would we determine the effective RAM limit for OP?

Although there probably is a way, I don't know any way to calculate it
accurately, other than by installing 4GB, and seeing how much Windows tells
you is available. However from a practical standard, most people will be
very close if they assume it's about 3.1GB