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Windows XP Pro Not Detecting proper size of RAM and HD

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by NJTech30, 2008/08/15.

  1. 2008/08/15
    NJTech30

    NJTech30 Inactive Thread Starter

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    I have a machine with Windows XP Pro SP3. It has 4 GB of RAM but it only seems to be detecting 3 GB. I thought XP Pro can go higher than 4GB. Am I wrong? If not, why is it only reading 3GB and not all of the RAM? I also have a 500 GB HD in the machine and XP only posts the size as 466 GB. Does any one know why it is not detecting the full 500 GB capacity? :confused:
     
    NJTech30,
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  2. 2008/08/15
    rsinfo

    rsinfo SuperGeek Alumni

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    Hi NJTech30,

    WinXP 32 bit can only use only about 3GB of RAM. Rest is used up by the system. WinXP shows the actual memory its using as opposed to Vista SP1 which shows the RAM installed.

    500 GB HDD ~ 460 GB as the HDD manufacturers & computers can't seem to agree on the definition of a GB [or MB or KB for that matter]. For a computer 1 GB = 1024 MB but for manufacturers 1 GB = 1000 MB & so on. So you would see some difference between the manufacturer's figures & those reported by the computer.
     
    Last edited: 2008/08/15
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  4. 2008/08/16
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Not only that (500GB will be 488GB in Windows), but the file system will also take up space, so that an empty 500GB drive will show as having around 460GB.
     
    Arie,
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  5. 2008/08/16
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Not strictly accurate - XP will generally show 3.5 ish Gb of RAM when 4 Gb is installed and that is all it can use. The balance is not used by the system.

    However if you have an onboard graphics chip as opposed to a plug in card in most cases a small part of the installed RAM is allocated to the graphics - the memory shown under System Properties reflects this.

    So, if you have 4 Gb installed Windows recognises and can use ~3.5 Gb and your graphics card may take 250 Mb or more depending on it's performance leaving you with ~3 Gb.

    See this thread for more info ....

    http://www.windowsbbs.com/windows-xp/75944-windows-xp-pro-random-access-memory-capacity.html
     
    PeteC,
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  6. 2008/08/16
    rsinfo

    rsinfo SuperGeek Alumni

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    PeteC,

    Even when not using onboard graphics or when no onboard graphics is present, the RAM is shown from 3 GB to 3.5 GB [varies from system to system depending on the board/GPU used].

    If system is not using memory, why is there variation ?
     
    rsinfo,
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  7. 2008/08/17
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    rsinfo
    I don't have a definitive answer to that, but I think the amount of memory recognized as usable is down to the way in which the system maps the memory and the CPU architecture and PAE (Physical Address Extension) both play a part here. There is a suggestion that the size of the pagefile also plays a part and this will vary depending on whether the file is of a fixed size or system managed and, of course the amount of pagefile in use when the memory reading is taken.
     
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  8. 2008/08/17
    WhitPhil

    WhitPhil Inactive

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    This page gives a decent explanation of the architecture and why the amount of ram seen varies.
     
    WhitPhil,
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  9. 2008/08/17
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    A good read - thanks :)
     
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  10. 2008/08/17
    NJTech30

    NJTech30 Inactive Thread Starter

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    I always new that Windows didn't give the exact size of the disk. I remember when GB drives were first coming out there was always about 100 - 200 MB off in size. But 40 GB?? Wow! I think the manufacturers need to work a little harder to report the actual sizes. Thanks all for your input!:D
     
    NJTech30,
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  11. 2008/08/17
    WhitPhil

    WhitPhil Inactive

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    If you select the drive, right mouse properties, what does it show for Capacity (in bytes)?
     
    WhitPhil,
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  12. 2008/08/17
    NJTech30

    NJTech30 Inactive Thread Starter

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    I never thought to look at the bytes! It says 500,096,991,232 bytes. (500 GB). :eek:
     
    NJTech30,
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  13. 2008/08/17
    rsinfo

    rsinfo SuperGeek Alumni

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    Again its NOT 500 GB strictly speaking. Its actually 465.751617431640625 GB.
     
    rsinfo,
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  14. 2008/08/18
    WhitPhil

    WhitPhil Inactive

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    You have to realize that there are 2 measures going on in the relation to size.
    One, where it is measured in 1,000's (hence the 500GB) and one where the measurement is in terms of 1,024.

    At the end of the day one has the exact same number of bytes.
     
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  15. 2008/08/18
    rsinfo

    rsinfo SuperGeek Alumni

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    Well I would start thinking in terms of bytes. :D

    How about 1000193982464 bytes of space ?
     
    rsinfo,
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  16. 2008/08/19
    demon

    demon Well-Known Member

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    Hi, just google " crucial.com "( no comma's) and it will do a ram check etc, also cpuz.com. gives all your internal data.
    Cheers Des.
     
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  17. 2008/08/19
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    GB? Gigabytes?
     
    mattman,
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  18. 2008/08/19
    rsinfo

    rsinfo SuperGeek Alumni

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    Yup.

    Its Gigabytes.
     
    rsinfo,
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  19. 2008/08/19
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    Ah, I am used to seeing it in bytes, not with a decimal point. That's accurate in GB's :)

    Matt
     
    mattman,
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