--Windows XP 32 bit memory limits question--

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kraut / Larry S.
  • Start date Start date
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Kraut / Larry S.

I have a Windows XP 32 bit memory limits question

When I got my system it can with 1 GB memory and said it could be
upgraded to 4 and I replaced it with 2 pieces 2 GBs of memory = 4 GB.

Below is is what the system information prog show I have:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9
System Manufacturer eMachines
System Model EL1200-06w
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 127 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1607
Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD R01-A3, 12/3/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.5
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512
(xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9\Larry
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.59 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Even though the pack said the strips were each 2 GB system show I am
running 4,096.00 but yet the system seems to be running slow.

Am not sure how to interpet the above memory info. Is it using all
the memory?? Any suggestions or help or interpetations appreciates.
 
Kraut said:
I have a Windows XP 32 bit memory limits question

When I got my system it can with 1 GB memory and said it could be
upgraded to 4 and I replaced it with 2 pieces 2 GBs of memory = 4 GB.

Below is is what the system information prog show I have:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9
System Manufacturer eMachines
System Model EL1200-06w
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 127 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1607
Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD R01-A3, 12/3/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.5
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512
(xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9\Larry
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.59 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Even though the pack said the strips were each 2 GB system show I am
running 4,096.00 but yet the system seems to be running slow.

Am not sure how to interpet the above memory info. Is it using all
the memory?? Any suggestions or help or interpetations appreciates.
Click to expand...

The way WinXP 32 bit is set up, it is effectively limited to 4GB
of address space. From that address space allocation, comes
address space for system busses, plus the remainder is used
for accessing the memory. At a minimum, if the computer has
PCI and PCI Express buses, you'd lose 256MB per bus, leaving
perhaps 3.5GB free for the purposes of accessing memory.
You have integrated graphics in the 6150SE chipset, so
the video card won't be "punching a hole" in the address
space as well.

http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=EL1200-06w

Take a look in Task Manager (control-alt-delete) and look under
the performance tab, to understand how much memory you're currently
using. Maybe that will help explain why there is 2.12GB of memory
left over at the moment. The Task Manager can help you account
for where the memory is going.

You can use CPUZ from cpuid.com , to check system hardware parameters.
I like the "no-install" version, as you can just double-click
cpuz.exe to start it. The CPU speed reported, is the speed at
idle. You need to run a benchmark, to help ensure the processor
is kept busy and running at full speed.

http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

In terms of benchmarks, your 2650e processor is roughly the
equivalent of an AthlonXP 2400+ from the S462 era. Whether
that is "slow", really depends on what you're trying to do.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php

Passmark
AMD Athlon 2650e 407
AMD Athlon XP 2400+ 432
Intel Celeron 3.33GHz 415

Here is a review for that computer.

http://compreviews.about.com/od/sff/gr/eMachEL120006W.htm

"The system uses a large number of older components that give
it a very severe disadvantage to even budget systems costing
about a hundred dollars more. In fact, it has more in common
with a netbook or nettop in terms of performance, storage and
features than a budget desktop PC."

Fitting a better processor might help, but the computer comes in
a small case, and there might not be enough cooling to support
a faster processor. Also, the power supply may have limited
available power, to make significant changes to the hardware
inside. And the manufacturer's web site, may not tell you
what upgrades are compatible with it.

OK, here is some more info on EL1200.

http://support.gateway.com/emachines/emac/EL1200/EL1200sp2.shtml

"AMD Athlon X2 processor (45 W max) <--- extremely low power processor!
AMD Athlon processor
AMD Sempron processor
NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE chipset (MCP61-P)"

"Power Supply 220 W"

So it sounds like cooling could be part of the problem. The
computer case is small, the cooler could be a low profile
type that can't remove much heat.

For $25, you can get a processor which is close to 50% faster.
As long as the processor is in a socket, and isn't soldered to
the motherboard, you could replace it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103839

Now, this is more like it. Only $56 and a dual core. It
meets the 45W requirement.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10009133

Details of 4850e. The only thing slightly faster, would be a 5050e.

http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUDetail.aspx?id=426

And zipzoomfly lists a 5050e as well (I wonder if those processors
are really in stock ?).

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10009201

http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUDetail.aspx?id=487

I can't find 2650e on the AMD site, so I had to use cpu-world for info.

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/AMD-Athlon 64 2650e - ADG2650IAV4DP (ADG2650DPBOX).html

Anyway, as long as you can get the computer apart, and you know how
to put fresh thermal paste on the heatsink, you could change
out the CPU to something a bit better (5050e 2.6GHz dual core 45W).
I don't know for certain it is compatible, but I've done my
best to pick something in the same stepping and socket and
power dissipation level.

Paul
 
The way WinXP 32 bit is set up, it is effectively limited to 4GB
of address space. From that address space allocation, comes
address space for system busses, plus the remainder is used
for accessing the memory. At a minimum, if the computer has
PCI and PCI Express buses, you'd lose 256MB per bus, leaving
perhaps 3.5GB free for the purposes of accessing memory.
You have integrated graphics in the 6150SE chipset, so
the video card won't be "punching a hole" in the address
Click to expand...

UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH OK on all you said.

Lets try this again.

I hear 32 bit Windows is limited to 4 GB memory. Interpeting above
info do I have to much memory at 4,096.00 even though I put in 2
memory peices of 2 GB each and if so will it effect the system
running? I heard hat if a person has more memory then the system can
handle it would effect the performance of system.

As for the E-Machine box I realize it is a "low end" machine but for
what I use it for like e-mail and news groups and letters it performs
well.

Thanks again for reply but is there too much memory in it?
 
The way WinXP 32 bit is set up, it is effectively limited to 4GB
of address space. From that address space allocation, comes
address space for system busses, plus the remainder is used
for accessing the memory. At a minimum, if the computer has
PCI and PCI Express buses, you'd lose 256MB per bus, leaving
perhaps 3.5GB free for the purposes of accessing memory.
You have integrated graphics in the 6150SE chipset, so
the video card won't be "punching a hole" in the address
space as well.
Click to expand...

Part of that 4GB address space has to be used to access video memory,
even if it resides on the video card. Address space also has to be
allocated for the BIOS.
 
Lets try this again.

I hear 32 bit Windows is limited to 4 GB memory. Interpeting above
info do I have to much memory at 4,096.00 even though I put in 2
memory peices of 2 GB each and if so will it effect the system
running? I heard hat if a person has more memory then the system can
handle it would effect the performance of system.

As for the E-Machine box I realize it is a "low end" machine but for
what I use it for like e-mail and news groups and letters it performs
well.

Thanks again for reply but is there too much memory in it?
Click to expand...

No, I have a machine with 4 GB RAM installed and XP 32 bits uses about 3.1
GB and the machine is running fine.
 
Kraut / Larry S. said:
UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH OK on all you said.

Lets try this again.

I hear 32 bit Windows is limited to 4 GB memory. Interpeting above
info do I have to much memory at 4,096.00 even though I put in 2
memory peices of 2 GB each and if so will it effect the system
running? I heard hat if a person has more memory then the system
can
handle it would effect the performance of system.

As for the E-Machine box I realize it is a "low end" machine but for
what I use it for like e-mail and news groups and letters it
performs
well.

Thanks again for reply but is there too much memory in it?
Click to expand...

No, there is not too much memory in it. If it is running slow, it
isn't due to you having too much memory.
 
Kraut said:
I have a Windows XP 32 bit memory limits question

When I got my system it can with 1 GB memory and said it could be
upgraded to 4 and I replaced it with 2 pieces 2 GBs of memory = 4 GB.

Below is is what the system information prog show I have:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9
System Manufacturer eMachines
System Model EL1200-06w
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 127 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1607
Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD R01-A3, 12/3/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.5
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512
(xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9\Larry
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.59 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Even though the pack said the strips were each 2 GB system show I am
running 4,096.00 but yet the system seems to be running slow.

Am not sure how to interpet the above memory info. Is it using all
the memory?? Any suggestions or help or interpetations appreciates.
Click to expand...

If you use Task Manager, you can get more info on memory usage
at the moment. Task Manager will also tell you how much CPU
is being used at the moment, in percentage values. Press
control-alt-delete to get there.

You said your system "seems to be running slow", which is why
I wrote my long answer to your question. Adding the memory
didn't do that. The processor is slow.

Paul
 
Lets try this again.

I hear 32 bit Windows is limited to 4 GB memory. Interpeting above
info do I have to much memory at 4,096.00 even though I put in 2
memory peices of 2 GB each and if so will it effect the system
running? I heard hat if a person has more memory then the system can
handle it would effect the performance of system.
Click to expand...

Utterly false. Some of the RAM you plug in won't be used, for reasons
already discussed. Having unused memory will not degrade your
machine's performance.
 
I have a Windows XP 32 bit memory limits question

When I got my system it can with 1 GB memory and said it could be
upgraded to 4 and I replaced it with 2 pieces 2 GBs of memory = 4 GB.

Below is is what the system information prog show I have:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9
System Manufacturer eMachines
System Model EL1200-06w
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 127 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1607
Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD R01-A3, 12/3/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.5
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512
(xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9\Larry
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.59 GB \
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Even though the pack said the strips were each 2 GB system show I am
running 4,096.00 but yet the system seems to be running slow.

Am not sure how to interpet the above memory info. Is it using all
the memory?? Any suggestions or help or interpetations appreciates.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing here, but it looks like you may have integrated video (as
opposed to a separate video board) set to high resolution. Integrated
video uses system RAM and it can easily suck up 1GB.

Windows also takes close to 1GB for its own use.

What I don't understand is how you have 2GB of virtual memory with
4.5GB of page file. That's contradictory. And you'd have to have
either a 64-bit system or have the /PAE switch in boot.ini on a 32-bit
system to be able to create a 4.5GB page file anyway.

Something is screwed up, no doubt.


Does this E-whatever machine have 4 memory slots? If so, did you
install the 2GB modules in the correct slots? Some machines number
their memory slots:

[1][3] [2][4]

and so the paired modules may need to have an open slot between them.
Check your manual or look for slot numbers on the system board.

If you do have the memory modules in the wrong slots, it could
definitely confuse the system.

George
 
I have a Windows XP 32 bit memory limits question

When I got my system it can with 1 GB memory and said it could be
upgraded to 4 and I replaced it with 2 pieces 2 GBs of memory = 4 GB.

Below is is what the system information prog show I have:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9
System Manufacturer eMachines
System Model EL1200-06w
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 127 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1607
Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD R01-A3, 12/3/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.5
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512
(xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9\Larry
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.59 GB \
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Even though the pack said the strips were each 2 GB system show I am
running 4,096.00 but yet the system seems to be running slow.

Am not sure how to interpet the above memory info. Is it using all
the memory?? Any suggestions or help or interpetations appreciates.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing here, but it looks like you may have integrated video (as
opposed to a separate video board) set to high resolution. Integrated
video uses system RAM and it can easily suck up 1GB.

Windows also takes close to 1GB for its own use.

What I don't understand is how you have 2GB of virtual memory with
4.5GB of page file. That's contradictory. And you'd have to have
either a 64-bit system or have the /PAE switch in boot.ini on a 32-bit
system to be able to create a 4.5GB page file anyway.

Something is screwed up, no doubt.


Does this E-whatever machine have 4 memory slots? If so, did you
install the 2GB modules in the correct slots? Some machines number
their memory slots:

[1][3] [2][4]

and so the paired modules may need to have an open slot between them.
Check your manual or look for slot numbers on the system board.

If you do have the memory modules in the wrong slots, it could
definitely confuse the system.

George
Click to expand...


I just looked inside and there is only 2 memory slots with a 2 GB card
in EACH which should give me a total of 4 GB memory but above shows
4,096.

Thanks all for replies.
 
I have a Windows XP 32 bit memory limits question

When I got my system it can with 1 GB memory and said it could be
upgraded to 4 and I replaced it with 2 pieces 2 GBs of memory = 4 GB.

Below is is what the system information prog show I have:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9
System Manufacturer eMachines
System Model EL1200-06w
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 127 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1607
Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD R01-A3, 12/3/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.5
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512
(xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9\Larry
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.59 GB \
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Even though the pack said the strips were each 2 GB system show I am
running 4,096.00 but yet the system seems to be running slow.

Am not sure how to interpet the above memory info. Is it using all
the memory?? Any suggestions or help or interpetations appreciates.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing here, but it looks like you may have integrated video (as
opposed to a separate video board) set to high resolution. Integrated
video uses system RAM and it can easily suck up 1GB.

Windows also takes close to 1GB for its own use.

What I don't understand is how you have 2GB of virtual memory with
4.5GB of page file. That's contradictory. And you'd have to have
either a 64-bit system or have the /PAE switch in boot.ini on a 32-bit
system to be able to create a 4.5GB page file anyway.

Something is screwed up, no doubt.


Does this E-whatever machine have 4 memory slots? If so, did you
install the 2GB modules in the correct slots? Some machines number
their memory slots:

[1][3] [2][4]

and so the paired modules may need to have an open slot between them.
Check your manual or look for slot numbers on the system board.

If you do have the memory modules in the wrong slots, it could
definitely confuse the system.

George
Click to expand...


I just looked inside and there is only 2 memory slots with a 2 GB card
in EACH which should give me a total of 4 GB memory but above shows
4,096.

Thanks all for replies.
Click to expand...

One more thing. In Windows task manager it show under Performance,
Physical Memory (K)

Total memory 2881964
Available 2383088 - Flutuates a bit
Ayatem Cache 514992 - Flutuates a bit
 
Kraut said:
I have a Windows XP 32 bit memory limits question

When I got my system it can with 1 GB memory and said it could be
upgraded to 4 and I replaced it with 2 pieces 2 GBs of memory = 4 GB.

Below is is what the system information prog show I have:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9
System Manufacturer eMachines
System Model EL1200-06w
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 127 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1607
Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD R01-A3, 12/3/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.5
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512
(xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9\Larry
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.59 GB \
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Even though the pack said the strips were each 2 GB system show I am
running 4,096.00 but yet the system seems to be running slow.

Am not sure how to interpet the above memory info. Is it using all
the memory?? Any suggestions or help or interpetations appreciates.
I'm guessing here, but it looks like you may have integrated video (as
opposed to a separate video board) set to high resolution. Integrated
video uses system RAM and it can easily suck up 1GB.

Windows also takes close to 1GB for its own use.

What I don't understand is how you have 2GB of virtual memory with
4.5GB of page file. That's contradictory. And you'd have to have
either a 64-bit system or have the /PAE switch in boot.ini on a 32-bit
system to be able to create a 4.5GB page file anyway.

Something is screwed up, no doubt.


Does this E-whatever machine have 4 memory slots? If so, did you
install the 2GB modules in the correct slots? Some machines number
their memory slots:

[1][3] [2][4]

and so the paired modules may need to have an open slot between them.
Check your manual or look for slot numbers on the system board.

If you do have the memory modules in the wrong slots, it could
definitely confuse the system.

George
Click to expand...

I just looked inside and there is only 2 memory slots with a 2 GB card
in EACH which should give me a total of 4 GB memory but above shows
4,096.

Thanks all for replies.
Click to expand...

One more thing. In Windows task manager it show under Performance,
Physical Memory (K)

Total memory 2881964
Available 2383088 - Flutuates a bit
Ayatem Cache 514992 - Flutuates a bit
Click to expand...

Something is using up address space. I would have expected you to see
anywhere between 3.2 and 3.5GB "Total memory".

The value of 2.27GB sounds a little low. There must be some hardware
unaccounted for, or, the integrated video has been set to
use its maximum memory, which is an unnecessary setting.

According to the Emachines specs, they claim 6150SE can only grab
128MB of shared memory, and subtracting 128MB wouldn't get you
down to 2.27GB. Maybe some kind of "remapping" or "memory hoisting"
setting is being used in the BIOS ? Some of those types of settings,
can discard everything above 2.0GB or everything above 3.0GB,
depending on chipset (or a bad BIOS design).

I tried looking in a bunch of manuals using that chipset, but
I can't find a setting like that.

For fun, run GPU-Z and see how much memory the GPU is using.

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1864/TechPowerUp_GPU-Z_v0.4.6.html

Paul
 
Kraut said:
I have a Windows XP 32 bit memory limits question

When I got my system it can with 1 GB memory and said it could be
upgraded to 4 and I replaced it with 2 pieces 2 GBs of memory = 4 GB.

Below is is what the system information prog show I have:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9
System Manufacturer eMachines
System Model EL1200-06w
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 127 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1607
Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD R01-A3, 12/3/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.5
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512
(xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9\Larry
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.59 GB \
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Even though the pack said the strips were each 2 GB system show I am
running 4,096.00 but yet the system seems to be running slow.

Am not sure how to interpet the above memory info. Is it using all
the memory?? Any suggestions or help or interpetations appreciates.
I'm guessing here, but it looks like you may have integrated video (as
opposed to a separate video board) set to high resolution. Integrated
video uses system RAM and it can easily suck up 1GB.

Windows also takes close to 1GB for its own use.

What I don't understand is how you have 2GB of virtual memory with
4.5GB of page file. That's contradictory. And you'd have to have
either a 64-bit system or have the /PAE switch in boot.ini on a 32-bit
system to be able to create a 4.5GB page file anyway.

Something is screwed up, no doubt.


Does this E-whatever machine have 4 memory slots? If so, did you
install the 2GB modules in the correct slots? Some machines number
their memory slots:

[1][3] [2][4]

and so the paired modules may need to have an open slot between them.
Check your manual or look for slot numbers on the system board.

If you do have the memory modules in the wrong slots, it could
definitely confuse the system.

George

I just looked inside and there is only 2 memory slots with a 2 GB card
in EACH which should give me a total of 4 GB memory but above shows
4,096.

Thanks all for replies.
Click to expand...

One more thing. In Windows task manager it show under Performance,
Physical Memory (K)

Total memory 2881964
Available 2383088 - Flutuates a bit
Ayatem Cache 514992 - Flutuates a bit
Click to expand...

Something is using up address space. I would have expected you to see
anywhere between 3.2 and 3.5GB "Total memory".

The value of 2.27GB sounds a little low. There must be some hardware
unaccounted for, or, the integrated video has been set to
use its maximum memory, which is an unnecessary setting.

According to the Emachines specs, they claim 6150SE can only grab
128MB of shared memory, and subtracting 128MB wouldn't get you
down to 2.27GB. Maybe some kind of "remapping" or "memory hoisting"
setting is being used in the BIOS ? Some of those types of settings,
can discard everything above 2.0GB or everything above 3.0GB,
depending on chipset (or a bad BIOS design).

I tried looking in a bunch of manuals using that chipset, but
I can't find a setting like that.

For fun, run GPU-Z and see how much memory the GPU is using.

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1864/TechPowerUp_GPU-Z_v0.4.6.html

Paul
Click to expand...

I ran the above and under the sensors tab which has GPU Core Clock,
ETC it says memory used 22MB

Not sure if that is what you were asking about.
 
Kraut said:
Kraut said:
I have a Windows XP 32 bit memory limits question

When I got my system it can with 1 GB memory and said it could be
upgraded to 4 and I replaced it with 2 pieces 2 GBs of memory = 4 GB.

Below is is what the system information prog show I have:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9
System Manufacturer eMachines
System Model EL1200-06w
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 127 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1607
Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD R01-A3, 12/3/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.5
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512
(xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9\Larry
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.59 GB \
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Even though the pack said the strips were each 2 GB system show I am
running 4,096.00 but yet the system seems to be running slow.

Am not sure how to interpet the above memory info. Is it using all
the memory?? Any suggestions or help or interpetations appreciates.
I'm guessing here, but it looks like you may have integrated video (as
opposed to a separate video board) set to high resolution. Integrated
video uses system RAM and it can easily suck up 1GB.

Windows also takes close to 1GB for its own use.

What I don't understand is how you have 2GB of virtual memory with
4.5GB of page file. That's contradictory. And you'd have to have
either a 64-bit system or have the /PAE switch in boot.ini on a 32-bit
system to be able to create a 4.5GB page file anyway.

Something is screwed up, no doubt.


Does this E-whatever machine have 4 memory slots? If so, did you
install the 2GB modules in the correct slots? Some machines number
their memory slots:

[1][3] [2][4]

and so the paired modules may need to have an open slot between them.
Check your manual or look for slot numbers on the system board.

If you do have the memory modules in the wrong slots, it could
definitely confuse the system.

George
I just looked inside and there is only 2 memory slots with a 2 GB card
in EACH which should give me a total of 4 GB memory but above shows
4,096.

Thanks all for replies.

One more thing. In Windows task manager it show under Performance,
Physical Memory (K)

Total memory 2881964
Available 2383088 - Flutuates a bit
Ayatem Cache 514992 - Flutuates a bit
Click to expand...
Something is using up address space. I would have expected you to see
anywhere between 3.2 and 3.5GB "Total memory".

The value of 2.27GB sounds a little low. There must be some hardware
unaccounted for, or, the integrated video has been set to
use its maximum memory, which is an unnecessary setting.

According to the Emachines specs, they claim 6150SE can only grab
128MB of shared memory, and subtracting 128MB wouldn't get you
down to 2.27GB. Maybe some kind of "remapping" or "memory hoisting"
setting is being used in the BIOS ? Some of those types of settings,
can discard everything above 2.0GB or everything above 3.0GB,
depending on chipset (or a bad BIOS design).

I tried looking in a bunch of manuals using that chipset, but
I can't find a setting like that.

For fun, run GPU-Z and see how much memory the GPU is using.

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1864/TechPowerUp_GPU-Z_v0.4.6.html

Paul
Click to expand...

I ran the above and under the sensors tab which has GPU Core Clock,
ETC it says memory used 22MB

Not sure if that is what you were asking about.
Click to expand...

My problem is, I'm running out of utilities to test with :-)

Something has degraded the available address space on your hardware
setup. The question is, what utility does a decent job of displaying
what is going on ?

The Microsoft tools, will tell you the results, after the dust settles.
They give a "free memory" figure, and we know your number is abnormally
low. The question is, why isn't more of the memory accessible. I think
your free memory should be somewhere in the 3.2 to 3.5 GB range. With
a Microsoft 32 bit OS, you can't get the entire 4.0GB, since some address
space is needed for system bus accesses, and Microsoft won't enable
PAE properly to make more space available. So the result should be
somewhere in the 3.2 to 3.5GB range. Your graphics hardware has
a BIOS setting, that controls how much UMA (shared memory) is allocated
for its usage. It could be, that the BIOS will allow as much as 128MB
or 256MB to be used by the 6150SE graphics core. But that amount of
memory, doesn't account for your low "free memory" figure.

OK, I have some experiments to run, and I'll post later with
some suggestions. I have to change memory configurations to
do some testing. What I'm going to do, is use "msinfo32" and
the Hardware:Memory tab, with various amounts of memory.

Paul
 
Something has degraded the available address space on your hardware
setup. The question is, what utility does a decent job of displaying
what is going on ?
Click to expand...

Not only is the RAM usage confusing but the page file apparently isn't
being used either ... which means the OS really is screwed up.

The Microsoft tools, will tell you the results, after the dust settles.
They give a "free memory" figure, and we know your number is abnormally
low. The question is, why isn't more of the memory accessible. I think
your free memory should be somewhere in the 3.2 to 3.5 GB range.
Click to expand...

Counting the page file, available VM should be over 6GB.

With a Microsoft 32 bit OS, you can't get the entire 4.0GB, since some
address space is needed for system bus accesses, and Microsoft won't
enable PAE properly to make more space available. So the result should
be somewhere in the 3.2 to 3.5GB range.
Click to expand...

Yes.

However, by manually enabling PAE in boot.ini you can gain access to
*virtual memory* up to 64GB. Each individual application still is
limited to (somewhat less than) 4GB, but you can run multiple
applications each of which is using its full address space.

But the OP must already have had PAE turned on because the page file
is larger than 4GB. Windows would have limited the page file to 4GB
unless PAE was on and working at the time the page file was created.

Your graphics hardware has
a BIOS setting, that controls how much UMA (shared memory) is allocated
for its usage. It could be, that the BIOS will allow as much as 128MB
or 256MB to be used by the 6150SE graphics core. But that amount of
memory, doesn't account for your low "free memory" figure.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that UMA is only the shared address space used to
communicate between the CPU and GPU. It is not the total of memory
that the graphics system can use. If you fire up a 3D game at very
high resolution, the integrated graphics can suck over a 1GB.

OK, I have some experiments to run, and I'll post later with
some suggestions. I have to change memory configurations to
do some testing. What I'm going to do, is use "msinfo32" and
the Hardware:Memory tab, with various amounts of memory.

Paul
Click to expand...

I'm wondering whether the new memory modules are incompatible with the
memory controller.

George
 
Paul said:
Kraut said:
Kraut / Larry S. wrote:
I have a Windows XP 32 bit memory limits question

When I got my system it can with 1 GB memory and said it could be
upgraded to 4 and I replaced it with 2 pieces 2 GBs of memory = 4
GB.

Below is is what the system information prog show I have:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9
System Manufacturer eMachines
System Model EL1200-06w
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 127 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1607
Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD R01-A3, 12/3/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.5
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512
(xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9\Larry
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.59 GB \
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Even though the pack said the strips were each 2 GB system show I am
running 4,096.00 but yet the system seems to be running slow.

Am not sure how to interpet the above memory info. Is it using all
the memory?? Any suggestions or help or interpetations appreciates.
I'm guessing here, but it looks like you may have integrated video
(as
opposed to a separate video board) set to high resolution.
Integrated
video uses system RAM and it can easily suck up 1GB.

Windows also takes close to 1GB for its own use.

What I don't understand is how you have 2GB of virtual memory with
4.5GB of page file. That's contradictory. And you'd have to have
either a 64-bit system or have the /PAE switch in boot.ini on a
32-bit
system to be able to create a 4.5GB page file anyway.

Something is screwed up, no doubt.


Does this E-whatever machine have 4 memory slots? If so, did you
install the 2GB modules in the correct slots? Some machines number
their memory slots:

[1][3] [2][4]
and so the paired modules may need to have an open slot between them.
Check your manual or look for slot numbers on the system board.

If you do have the memory modules in the wrong slots, it could
definitely confuse the system.
George
I just looked inside and there is only 2 memory slots with a 2 GB card
in EACH which should give me a total of 4 GB memory but above shows
4,096.

Thanks all for replies.

One more thing. In Windows task manager it show under Performance,
Physical Memory (K)

Total memory 2881964
Available 2383088 - Flutuates a bit
Ayatem Cache 514992 - Flutuates a bit


Something is using up address space. I would have expected you to see
anywhere between 3.2 and 3.5GB "Total memory".

The value of 2.27GB sounds a little low. There must be some hardware
unaccounted for, or, the integrated video has been set to
use its maximum memory, which is an unnecessary setting.

According to the Emachines specs, they claim 6150SE can only grab
128MB of shared memory, and subtracting 128MB wouldn't get you
down to 2.27GB. Maybe some kind of "remapping" or "memory hoisting"
setting is being used in the BIOS ? Some of those types of settings,
can discard everything above 2.0GB or everything above 3.0GB,
depending on chipset (or a bad BIOS design).

I tried looking in a bunch of manuals using that chipset, but
I can't find a setting like that.

For fun, run GPU-Z and see how much memory the GPU is using.

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1864/TechPowerUp_GPU-Z_v0.4.6.html

Paul
Click to expand...

I ran the above and under the sensors tab which has GPU Core Clock,
ETC it says memory used 22MB

Not sure if that is what you were asking about.
Click to expand...

My problem is, I'm running out of utilities to test with :-)

Something has degraded the available address space on your hardware
setup. The question is, what utility does a decent job of displaying
what is going on ?

The Microsoft tools, will tell you the results, after the dust settles.
They give a "free memory" figure, and we know your number is abnormally
low. The question is, why isn't more of the memory accessible. I think
your free memory should be somewhere in the 3.2 to 3.5 GB range. With
a Microsoft 32 bit OS, you can't get the entire 4.0GB, since some address
space is needed for system bus accesses, and Microsoft won't enable
PAE properly to make more space available. So the result should be
somewhere in the 3.2 to 3.5GB range. Your graphics hardware has
a BIOS setting, that controls how much UMA (shared memory) is allocated
for its usage. It could be, that the BIOS will allow as much as 128MB
or 256MB to be used by the 6150SE graphics core. But that amount of
memory, doesn't account for your low "free memory" figure.

OK, I have some experiments to run, and I'll post later with
some suggestions. I have to change memory configurations to
do some testing. What I'm going to do, is use "msinfo32" and
the Hardware:Memory tab, with various amounts of memory.

Paul
Click to expand...

OK, I've done some experiments, and these can demonstrate how
memory "gets lost".

*******

My memory is normally 2GB physical (2x1GB modules installed). This
is what "msinfo32" reports. The BIOS reports 2GB available,
memory remapping has no effect (because 4GB or more of memory
is not present). I have a 512MB video card installed here,
and 2GB+0.5GB video card+256MB per two busses, is less than
4GB and is not a problem.

2GB memory

0x80000000-0xFFFFFFFF PCI bus OK
0xFC000000-0xFE8FFFFF Intel(R) X38/X48 Express Chipset PCI Express Root Port - 29E9 OK
0xFC000000-0xFE8FFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO OK
0xC0000000-0xDFFFFFFF Intel(R) X38/X48 Express Chipset PCI Express Root Port - 29E9 OK
0xC0000000-0xDFFFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO OK
0xFD000000-0xFDFFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO OK
0xFBFFFC00-0xFBFFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C OK
0xFBFF8000-0xFBFFBFFF Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio OK
0xFAE00000-0xFAEFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 1 - 2940 OK
0xFEA00000-0xFEAFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 3 - 2944 OK
0xFEAFC000-0xFEAFFFFF Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller OK
0xFE900000-0xFE9FFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 5 - 2948 OK
0xFBFFF800-0xFBFFFBFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293A OK
0xFAFFE000-0xFAFFEFFF Hauppauge WinTV 878/9 WDM Video Driver OK
0xFAFFF000-0xFAFFFFFF Hauppauge WinTV 878/9 WDM Aux Driver OK
0xFEBFF800-0xFEBFFFFF VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller OK
0xFED1C000-0xFED1FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFED20000-0xFED3FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFED50000-0xFED8FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFA00000-0xFFAFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFA00000-0xFFAFFFFF Intel(R) 82802 Firmware Hub Device OK
0xFFB00000-0xFFBFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFE00000-0xFFEFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFE00000-0xFFEFFFFF Intel(R) 82802 Firmware Hub Device OK
0xFFF00000-0xFFFFFFFE Motherboard resources OK
0xFED00000-0xFED003FF High precision event timer OK
0xFFC00000-0xFFDFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFEC00000-0xFEC00FFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFEE00000-0xFEE00FFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFBFFF400-0xFBFFF4FF Intel(R) ICH9 Family SMBus Controller - 2930 OK
0xFED14000-0xFED19FFF System board OK
0xE0000000-0xEFFFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0x0000-0x9FFFF System board OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF PCI bus OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF Intel(R) X38/X48 Express Chipset PCI Express Root Port - 29E9 OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO OK
0xC0000-0xCFFFF System board OK
0xD0000-0xDFFFF PCI bus OK
0xE0000-0xFFFFF System board OK
0x100000-0x7FFFFFFF System board OK

*******

For the next test, I install 2x2GB physical RAM, for 4GB total.
The 512MB PCI express video card is still present. This is
too much hardware for the 4GB address limit of WinXP Pro (x32) SP3.

With remap enabled, the BIOS reports 4096MB detected (because it pushes
the left over RAM, above the 4GB address mark, where only a 64 bit
OS can use it). And this is what Task Manager and msinfo32 report.
This is basically 3GB of RAM, as 1GB of addressing space is
being used for other hardware. (These numbers are only approximate,
because they change too rapidly for me to snapshot them all at
the same time. I suppose I could have used a PrntScrn to get them.)

4GB remap enabled 3144748
Available 2802548
Total 175312

0xC0000000-0xFFFFFFFF PCI bus OK
0xC0000000-0xFFFFFFFF Intel(R) X38/X48 Express Chipset PCI Express Root Port - 29E9 OK
0xC0000000-0xFFFFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO OK
0xFC000000-0xFE8FFFFF Intel(R) X38/X48 Express Chipset PCI Express Root Port - 29E9 OK
0xFC000000-0xFE8FFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO OK
0xFD000000-0xFDFFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO OK
0xFBFFFC00-0xFBFFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C OK
0xFBFF8000-0xFBFFBFFF Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio OK
0xFAE00000-0xFAEFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 1 - 2940 OK
0xFEA00000-0xFEAFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 3 - 2944 OK
0xFEAFC000-0xFEAFFFFF Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller OK
0xFE900000-0xFE9FFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 5 - 2948 OK
0xFBFFF800-0xFBFFFBFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293A OK
0xFAFFE000-0xFAFFEFFF Hauppauge WinTV 878/9 WDM Video Driver OK
0xFAFFF000-0xFAFFFFFF Hauppauge WinTV 878/9 WDM Aux Driver OK
0xFEBFF800-0xFEBFFFFF VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller OK
0xFED1C000-0xFED1FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFED20000-0xFED3FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFED50000-0xFED8FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFA00000-0xFFAFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFA00000-0xFFAFFFFF Intel(R) 82802 Firmware Hub Device OK
0xFFB00000-0xFFBFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFE00000-0xFFEFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFE00000-0xFFEFFFFF Intel(R) 82802 Firmware Hub Device OK
0xFFF00000-0xFFFFFFFE Motherboard resources OK
0xFED00000-0xFED003FF High precision event timer OK
0xFFC00000-0xFFDFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFEC00000-0xFEC00FFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFEE00000-0xFEE00FFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFBFFF400-0xFBFFF4FF Intel(R) ICH9 Family SMBus Controller - 2930 OK
0xFED14000-0xFED19FFF System board OK
0xE0000000-0xEFFFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0x0000-0x9FFFF System board OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF PCI bus OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF Intel(R) X38/X48 Express Chipset PCI Express Root Port - 29E9 OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO OK
0xC0000-0xCFFFF System board OK
0xD0000-0xDFFFF PCI bus OK
0xE0000-0xFFFFF System board OK
0x100000-0xBFFFFFFF System board OK

*******

Now, if I go back into the BIOS, and disable remapping, the BIOS
on the next POST reports it detected 3072MB of memory. But the other
results remain relatively the same. But this result is not
of any practical significance to the 32 bit OS. The situation
for it, hasn't changed.

4GB remap disabled 3144748
Available 2806940
Total 164600

0xC0000000-0xFFFFFFFF PCI bus OK
0xC0000000-0xFFFFFFFF Intel(R) X38/X48 Express Chipset PCI Express Root Port - 29E9 OK
0xC0000000-0xFFFFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO OK
0xFC000000-0xFE8FFFFF Intel(R) X38/X48 Express Chipset PCI Express Root Port - 29E9 OK
0xFC000000-0xFE8FFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO OK
0xFD000000-0xFDFFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO OK
0xFBFFFC00-0xFBFFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C OK
0xFBFF8000-0xFBFFBFFF Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio OK
0xFAE00000-0xFAEFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 1 - 2940 OK
0xFEA00000-0xFEAFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 3 - 2944 OK
0xFEAFC000-0xFEAFFFFF Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller OK
0xFE900000-0xFE9FFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 5 - 2948 OK
0xFBFFF800-0xFBFFFBFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293A OK
0xFAFFE000-0xFAFFEFFF Hauppauge WinTV 878/9 WDM Video Driver OK
0xFAFFF000-0xFAFFFFFF Hauppauge WinTV 878/9 WDM Aux Driver OK
0xFEBFF800-0xFEBFFFFF VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller OK
0xFED1C000-0xFED1FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFED20000-0xFED3FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFED50000-0xFED8FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFA00000-0xFFAFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFA00000-0xFFAFFFFF Intel(R) 82802 Firmware Hub Device OK
0xFFB00000-0xFFBFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFE00000-0xFFEFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFE00000-0xFFEFFFFF Intel(R) 82802 Firmware Hub Device OK
0xFFF00000-0xFFFFFFFE Motherboard resources OK
0xFED00000-0xFED003FF High precision event timer OK
0xFFC00000-0xFFDFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFEC00000-0xFEC00FFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFEE00000-0xFEE00FFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFBFFF400-0xFBFFF4FF Intel(R) ICH9 Family SMBus Controller - 2930 OK
0xFED14000-0xFED19FFF System board OK
0xE0000000-0xEFFFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0x0000-0x9FFFF System board OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF PCI bus OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF Intel(R) X38/X48 Express Chipset PCI Express Root Port - 29E9 OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO OK
0xC0000-0xCFFFF System board OK
0xD0000-0xDFFFF PCI bus OK
0xE0000-0xFFFFF System board OK
0x100000-0xBFFFFFFF System board OK

*******

OK, now I leave the 4GB of memory installed, remove the
512MB PCI Express video card, and install a 128MB FX5200 PCI video card.
This should drop the address space needed for the PCI Express bus.
The BIOS reports 3584MB detected (since remap remains disabled for
this run).

4GB remap disabled 3669036 <--- value in Task Manager
Available 3337604
Total 159088

In the results here, you can notice the space allocated for the
PCI bus has changed, as well as a couple root ports have gone
missing. And that is because the PCI Express video card was replaced.

0xE0000000-0xFFFFFFFF PCI bus OK
0xE0000000-0xFFFFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFCDFFC00-0xFCDFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C OK
0xFCDF8000-0xFCDFBFFF Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio OK
0xFFE00000-0xFFEFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 1 - 2940 OK
0xFFE00000-0xFFEFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFE00000-0xFFEFFFFF Intel(R) 82802 Firmware Hub Device OK
0xFCF00000-0xFCFFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 3 - 2944 OK
0xFCFFC000-0xFCFFFFFF Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller OK
0xFCE00000-0xFCEFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 5 - 2948 OK
0xFCDFF800-0xFCDFFBFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293A OK
0xFD000000-0xFDFFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 OK
0xF0000000-0xF7FFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 OK
0xFBFFE000-0xFBFFEFFF Hauppauge WinTV 878/9 WDM Video Driver OK
0xFBFFF000-0xFBFFFFFF Hauppauge WinTV 878/9 WDM Aux Driver OK
0xFEBDF800-0xFEBDFFFF VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller OK
0xFED1C000-0xFED1FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFED20000-0xFED3FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFED50000-0xFED8FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFA00000-0xFFAFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFA00000-0xFFAFFFFF Intel(R) 82802 Firmware Hub Device OK
0xFFB00000-0xFFBFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFF00000-0xFFFFFFFE Motherboard resources OK
0xFED00000-0xFED003FF High precision event timer OK
0xFFC00000-0xFFDFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFEC00000-0xFEC00FFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFEE00000-0xFEE00FFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFCDFF400-0xFCDFF4FF Intel(R) ICH9 Family SMBus Controller - 2930 OK
0xFED14000-0xFED19FFF System board OK
0x0000-0x9FFFF System board OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF PCI bus OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 OK
0xC0000-0xCFFFF System board OK
0xD0000-0xDFFFF PCI bus OK
0xE0000-0xFFFFF System board OK
0x100000-0xDFFFFFFF System board OK

*******

If I enable remap, with the 512MB PCI Express card removed,
128MB FX5200 PCI video card installed, the BIOS reports 4096MB detected.
But the RAM is split in two pieces - 3.5GB the 32 bit OS can see,
plus 0.5GB moved above the 4GB address mark (where a 32 bit OS
can't get to it, or at least a broken 32 bit OS can't get to it).

There is a slight difference in the numbers here, because the
Nvidia driver is gradually getting sorted out after a couple
reboots. Both video cards are Nvidia, and I didn't uninstall/reinstall
any drivers. In any case, the details from msinfo32 haven't changed.

4GB remap enabled 3669036
Available 3316172
Total 179000 (I think the Nvidia software loaded itself this time)

0xE0000000-0xFFFFFFFF PCI bus OK
0xE0000000-0xFFFFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFCDFFC00-0xFCDFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C OK
0xFCDF8000-0xFCDFBFFF Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio OK
0xFFE00000-0xFFEFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 1 - 2940 OK
0xFFE00000-0xFFEFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFE00000-0xFFEFFFFF Intel(R) 82802 Firmware Hub Device OK
0xFCF00000-0xFCFFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 3 - 2944 OK
0xFCFFC000-0xFCFFFFFF Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller OK
0xFCE00000-0xFCEFFFFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family PCI Express Root Port 5 - 2948 OK
0xFCDFF800-0xFCDFFBFF Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293A OK
0xFD000000-0xFDFFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 OK
0xF0000000-0xF7FFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 OK
0xFBFFE000-0xFBFFEFFF Hauppauge WinTV 878/9 WDM Video Driver OK
0xFBFFF000-0xFBFFFFFF Hauppauge WinTV 878/9 WDM Aux Driver OK
0xFEBDF800-0xFEBDFFFF VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller OK
0xFED1C000-0xFED1FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFED20000-0xFED3FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFED50000-0xFED8FFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFA00000-0xFFAFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFA00000-0xFFAFFFFF Intel(R) 82802 Firmware Hub Device OK
0xFFB00000-0xFFBFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFFF00000-0xFFFFFFFE Motherboard resources OK
0xFED00000-0xFED003FF High precision event timer OK
0xFFC00000-0xFFDFFFFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFEC00000-0xFEC00FFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFEE00000-0xFEE00FFF Motherboard resources OK
0xFCDFF400-0xFCDFF4FF Intel(R) ICH9 Family SMBus Controller - 2930 OK
0xFED14000-0xFED19FFF System board OK
0x0000-0x9FFFF System board OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF PCI bus OK
0xA0000-0xBFFFF NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 OK
0xC0000-0xCFFFF System board OK
0xD0000-0xDFFFF PCI bus OK
0xE0000-0xFFFFF System board OK
0x100000-0xDFFFFFFF System board OK

*******

Now, I was tempted to do another run, where I disabled the PCI Express
LAN chip, disabled the PCI Express IDE controller, such that all PCI
Express devices were disabled. I think this may have got me 3.75GB free.
But if I had done that test, Windows activation would have kicked in,
and I'd be asked to re-activate. And I didn't feel like doing that.

*******

So I should be a bit more careful in my terminology. I propose
in your case, that your BIOS is setting the Top Of Memory register
to the wrong value. It is using too low a value, leaving too little
"free memory" reported in Windows. I don't know of a way to fix
it, unless your motherboard maker has a BIOS update file for you
to install.

It is possible, in the boot.ini, to restrict detected memory.
You should verify you haven't accidentally entered a value
in boot.ini, which is preventing all memory to be detected.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833721

/maxmem=number <---- this will restrict "free memory"

Remapping is immaterial, since whether remapping is used or not,
the 32 bit OS can't see the difference. I would need a 64 bit
OS, in order to detect the effects of remapping.

There is one Dell computer, where with a 32 bit OS, they set the
top of memory register to 2GB. If you install 4GB of memory,
you're wasting 2GB of it, and that fact is independent of the
size of video card used. Dell warns that only the usage of a
64 bit OS, fixes this. Apparently this setup is seen on server
motherboards as well, but you're not likely to see a server
motherboard used in a desktop computer. On desktops, the
granularity is in 256MB chunks and you can get closer to
using all of the memory. If you have video cards with lots of
onboard RAM, then the "free memory" reported by Windows 32 bit,
will be corresponding smaller. A person running two Nvidia
512MB video cards in SLI, typically sees a maximum of 2.75GB
free memory when 4GB of RAM is installed. In your case,
there is no giant video card present, so there must be
a bug in the BIOS doing this (wrong Top Of Memory value).
Or, the boot.ini has that "maxmem" option set in it.

Paul
 
When I got my system it can with 1 GB memory and said it could be
upgraded to 4 and I replaced it with 2 pieces 2 GBs of memory = 4 GB.

Below is is what the system information prog show I have:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9
System Manufacturer eMachines
System Model EL1200-06w
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 127 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1607
Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD R01-A3, 12/3/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.5
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512
(xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name EMACHINE-7AF6B9\Larry
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.59 GB \
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Even though the pack said the strips were each 2 GB system show I am
running 4,096.00 but yet the system seems to be running slow.

Am not sure how to interpet the above memory info. Is it using all
the memory?? Any suggestions or help or interpetations appreciates.
I'm guessing here, but it looks like you may have integrated video (as
opposed to a separate video board) set to high resolution. Integrated
video uses system RAM and it can easily suck up 1GB.

Windows also takes close to 1GB for its own use.

What I don't understand is how you have 2GB of virtual memory with
4.5GB of page file. That's contradictory. And you'd have to have
either a 64-bit system or have the /PAE switch in boot.ini on a 32-bit
system to be able to create a 4.5GB page file anyway.

Something is screwed up, no doubt.


Does this E-whatever machine have 4 memory slots? If so, did you
install the 2GB modules in the correct slots? Some machines number
their memory slots:

[1][3] [2][4]

and so the paired modules may need to have an open slot between them.
Check your manual or look for slot numbers on the system board.

If you do have the memory modules in the wrong slots, it could
definitely confuse the system.

George
I just looked inside and there is only 2 memory slots with a 2 GB card
in EACH which should give me a total of 4 GB memory but above shows
4,096.

Thanks all for replies.

One more thing. In Windows task manager it show under Performance,
Physical Memory (K)

Total memory 2881964
Available 2383088 - Flutuates a bit
Ayatem Cache 514992 - Flutuates a bit


Something is using up address space. I would have expected you to see
anywhere between 3.2 and 3.5GB "Total memory".

The value of 2.27GB sounds a little low. There must be some hardware
unaccounted for, or, the integrated video has been set to
use its maximum memory, which is an unnecessary setting.

According to the Emachines specs, they claim 6150SE can only grab
128MB of shared memory, and subtracting 128MB wouldn't get you
down to 2.27GB. Maybe some kind of "remapping" or "memory hoisting"
setting is being used in the BIOS ? Some of those types of settings,
can discard everything above 2.0GB or everything above 3.0GB,
depending on chipset (or a bad BIOS design).

I tried looking in a bunch of manuals using that chipset, but
I can't find a setting like that.

For fun, run GPU-Z and see how much memory the GPU is using.

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1864/TechPowerUp_GPU-Z_v0.4.6.html

Paul
Click to expand...

I ran the above and under the sensors tab which has GPU Core Clock,
ETC it says memory used 22MB

Not sure if that is what you were asking about.
Click to expand...

My problem is, I'm running out of utilities to test with :-)

Something has degraded the available address space on your hardware
setup. The question is, what utility does a decent job of displaying
what is going on ?

The Microsoft tools, will tell you the results, after the dust settles.
They give a "free memory" figure, and we know your number is abnormally
low. The question is, why isn't more of the memory accessible. I think
your free memory should be somewhere in the 3.2 to 3.5 GB range. With
a Microsoft 32 bit OS, you can't get the entire 4.0GB, since some address
space is needed for system bus accesses, and Microsoft won't enable
PAE properly to make more space available. So the result should be
somewhere in the 3.2 to 3.5GB range. Your graphics hardware has
a BIOS setting, that controls how much UMA (shared memory) is allocated
for its usage. It could be, that the BIOS will allow as much as 128MB
or 256MB to be used by the 6150SE graphics core. But that amount of
memory, doesn't account for your low "free memory" figure.

OK, I have some experiments to run, and I'll post later with
some suggestions. I have to change memory configurations to
do some testing. What I'm going to do, is use "msinfo32" and
the Hardware:Memory tab, with various amounts of memory.

Paul
Click to expand...


For instance I run the Start menu in classic mode and when I go from
like start, programs to other sub menus they will take a while to come
up. The sub menu boxes come up but the stuff in it takes a while to
come up and the longer I am using the system the longer it takes!!

I opened Office 2007 to write a letter and the "writing space" came up
but it took almost 5 second for the menus and toolbar to come up.
 
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