Only 3 GB of RAM recognized - what gives?

Today I installed two, 2 GB chips in my Vista desktop and when I looked at the system properties, it is showing only 3 GB (3071, to be exact).

Can anyone help me understand that issue?

Thanks in advance,
Rick

PS: System Info in signature.

 

Hi Rick,

32 bit operating systems have a limit of accessing 4GB of RAM (from my reading). So unless you are using Vista 64 bit, you are working at "the limit ".

Go into the BIOS/Configuration settings at startup and check that the RAM is "recognised ". Is 4GB of RAM the limit for your motherboard? Check the specifications of your motherboard.

Did you use the same brand of RAM as was installed originally? The manufacturer of the motherbord may have a list of compatible RAM manufaturers and their models.

I have seen motherboard information that there are specific requirements for running RAM.

32 bit operating system or the limits of the motherboard may be a cause. Compatibility of RAM might be another.

Matt
Edit: if you check on websearches, you will probably find that a 32 bit (Windows) system will throw you back to 3GB if the 4GB cannot be run.

 

For Vista, see the following Kingston memory on your Vista upgrade path to understand version differences.

To get their will require some planning. This is a interesting and upsetting reality.
I learned the hard way AFTER buying 2 x 2GB Dual channel memory kits.
The following article touches on 32 bit / 64 bit Windows operating systems and the multiply hardware requirements to see 4GB and above.

 

Only 3Gb of RAM recognized

From what I understand the reason why one can't see all 4Gb in Windows is that one's system uses part of "it" ie. system resourses, Video card RAM ?(I just read about video card RAM today). I have 4GB. installed in my computer and Windows (XP Pro) only sees 3.24Gb.
I hope this some help to you .

 

Hi Tony,
When I looked at that article I noted that it talked about the /3GB switch and parameter. The switch appears to be a way of getting Windows to adjust how much memory is allocated for User applications. It only seems to talk about the switch.

They talk about the switch here:
http://blogs.technet.com/askperf/archive/2007/03/23/memory-management-demystifying-3gb.aspx

This might be an explanation:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605/en-us

Matt

 

Thanks to all for the feedback. It looks (reads?) like I am at the functional limit with this computer.

As a poi, my desktop is a (32 bit) Circuit City special that cost me a whopping $250 after rebates. Among other things, that means my 500 GB external hard drive cost 1/2 the price of the desktop with monitor!

In terms of performance, the memory upgrade cut my boot time by 1/3, and web site loads by roughly 1/2. My real computing power needs are minimal, so I guess I'll just settle down and be happy for the duration.

Best to all,
Rick

 

An excerpt from this blog:

BTW, I just added two GB to my WinXP Pro 32-bit OS rig for a total of 4GB. I put the /3GB switch in my boot.ini. I expect to see little to no benefit except for possibly some very recent games which I hear are huge memory pigs.