4gb of ram on 32 bit W10, but only 2.7gb usable ???

[loursbourg]

Why is that ma neighbors ?? why only 2.7gb is usable on this machine while it has 2x2gb, as far as i know 32bit os can use at least 3gb, but Man aint that Crap gone wrong ?? please help!

 

[Dunlop0078]

Do you have a gpu installed? Im not entirely sure on this but I googled it and this is what I came up with. It can address a max of 4gb of ram including your VRAM in your graphics card from what I understand.

"If you fit a graphics card with 1GB of memory only about 2.6-2.8GB of the RAM would be addressable and usable."

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-hardware/maximum-ram-for-windows-7-32-bit/4286bbfa-6851-e011-8dfc-68b599b31bf5?auth=1

 

[loursbourg]

Do you have a gpu installed? Im not entirely sure on this but I googled it and this is what I came up with. It can address a max of 4gb of ram including your VRAM in your graphics card from what I understand.

"If you fit a graphics card with 1GB of memory only about 2.6-2.8GB of the RAM would be addressable and usable."

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-hardware/maximum-ram-for-windows-7-32-bit/4286bbfa-6851-e011-8dfc-68b599b31bf5?auth=1

I have a gpu but telling you what is it is hard as buck, because it's a fake 650ti , it says that it has 2gb of vram , 256bit and 600mhz, but i'm not sure if it actually performs like that!

 

[Dunlop0078]

Do you have a gpu installed? Im not entirely sure on this but I googled it and this is what I came up with. It can address a max of 4gb of ram including your VRAM in your graphics card from what I understand.

"If you fit a graphics card with 1GB of memory only about 2.6-2.8GB of the RAM would be addressable and usable."

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-hardware/maximum-ram-for-windows-7-32-bit/4286bbfa-6851-e011-8dfc-68b599b31bf5?auth=1

I have a gpu but telling you what is it is hard as buck, because it's a fake 650ti , it says that it has 2gb of vram , 256bit and 600mhz, but i'm not sure if it actually performs like that!

Well then yes thats why you only have 2.7gb of system ram usable. The ram in the gpu counts as well so you have 2.7gb of system ram available and 1gb or so of gpu vram available totaling about 4gb.

 

[photonboy]

Hi,

The above is true (VRAM is counted in the 4GB memory map for 32-bit OS). Thus Windows 10 32-bit makes a virtual "map" to assign memory locations to which goes roughly like THIS:
a) 1024MB-> Video RAM
b) 300MB (approx)-> other stuff (motherboard, reserved..)
c) Remainder (approx 2.7GB)-> for Windows and other programs to use

*With 64-bit Windows you'll simply have all 4GB available for Windows and programs to use.

*There is a solution and that is to install Windows 10 64-bit (which is free).

AFAIK the following will work:
1. Go to MS site, download the Media Creation Tool and burn a 64-bit copy of W10 (if you have "Home" 32-bit must be Home, 64-bit version)

2. Plan carefully as you'll wipe everything (backup data, possibly the entire "Documents" folder which has save games etc. if playing steam games can save the entire "Steamapps" folder and copy back.)

3. Create a backup Image of Windows partition of possible (Acronis Free for WD, DiscWizard for Seagate or other..)

4. Shut down and unhook any secondary HDD/SSD's (to avoid accidental deletion)

5. Boot to the W10 64-bit install USB/DVD
- DELETE all partitions on OS drive
- "SKIP" when prompted for key

6. Verify activation worked after installation (Google for how)

7. Reinstall programs, drivers etc. (may not need any drivers).

 

[william p]

He could just go to 5- 6GB RAM, the 4GB "limit" for 32 bit OS is not true. That got started back in the days of 256mb GPUs. I've run 6GB with a 2GB GPU and 32 bit OS. Works just fine.