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MyComputer shows less RAM

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by El Parro, 2008/06/13.

  1. 2008/06/13
    El Parro

    El Parro Inactive Thread Starter

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    I hope this is the right Thread to post this question on!

    I have a Compaq laptop with 256 Ram installed. It has been very slow booting up accessing internet, etc. I checked properties in My Computer and it shows 196 RAM, not 256. Is something wrong with one of my two memory chips? Could this be making my laptop operate slower?
     
    El Parro,
    #1
  2. 2008/06/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I think you will find that the 'missing' 60Mb of your installed RAM is assigned to the graphics chip.
     
    PeteC,
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  4. 2008/06/13
    El Parro

    El Parro Inactive Thread Starter

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    Does this apply to just laptops? My desktop HP with XP has 512 RAM installed and shows that amount in My Computer.
     
    El Parro,
    #3
  5. 2008/06/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Laptops use a graphics chip which share the installed RAM - there is generally no video memory on the chip. If you look under Display Properties there should be an indication of how much RAM is assigned to the chip and maybe the facility to alter.

    Same applies to a desktop if the graphics are on board - i.e. a chip on the mobo.

    If you have a plugin graphics card it has it's own video memory on the card and the mainboard RAM is unaffected.
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2008/06/13
    El Parro

    El Parro Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks PeteC, that explains a lot. I still think I will install more RAM. Maybe that will make the laptop run a little bit faster!!
     
    El Parro,
    #5
  7. 2008/06/13
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    With XP, 512MB of RAM is good minimum.
     
    broni,
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