BIOS says 3.3GB usable of 4GB, Why?

[Zertman]

Hi everyone! I currently have windows 7 32-bit and want to upgrade to 64-bit to add more memory. I have two 2GB corsair CM2X2048-6400C5 sticks installed in my Asus P5Q-EM board. Why does the BIOS show total memory at 4096MB but only 3392MB usable? If I install two more 2GB sticks of ram, will the BIOS still only show 3392MB usable? I have the most recent BIOS version for my board (v2203). Please help.

 

[jkhoward]

Windows 7 32-bit only supports a maximum of 4GB, most cases 3.5GB. I believe what you are seeing is related to your processor with an integrated video card using some system memory as video memory. What kind of processor do you have?

 

[jitpublisher]

Its because you only have a 32 bit OS installed. 4 gig minus some memory which is hardware reserved space, normally leaves somewhere around 3.5 gig of usable memory for Windows.

Installing a 64 bit OS will fix this.

 

[USAFRet]

32bit OS, that is what happens. Somewhere under 3.5GB.
If you reinstall to a 64bit OS, and add another 4GB, you will be able to use the entire 8GB (mostly).

 

[COLGeek]

Some memory is used to manage system resources and can also be dedicated to an integrated video controller, for example.

Keep in mind that there is no upgrade path from any version of 32-bit Windows to any version of 64-bit Windows. This requires a full, clean installation to make the change.

Your motherboard will support up to 16GB of memory:

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P5QEM/specifications/

 

[Zertman]

Thanks for the quick replies!

My CPU is Core2Duo E8400 running stock at 3.0Ghz.

I'm saying that the BIOS says that the usable size is 3392MB, not Windows.

COLGeek, so if I get 4GB more of RAM, the BIOS would probably show around 7392MB usable? The board does have a built-in GPU but in the bios setting for the amount of RAM it uses is at only 32MB. I guess I cannot just disable the on-board GPU.

 

[COLGeek]

Thanks for the quick replies!

My CPU is Core2Duo E8400 running stock at 3.0Ghz.

I'm saying that the BIOS says that the usable size is 3392MB, not Windows.

COLGeek, so if I get 4GB more of RAM, the BIOS would probably show around 7392MB usable? The board does have a built-in GPU but in the bios setting for the amount of RAM it uses is at only 32MB. I guess I cannot just disable the on-board GPU.

Yes, something like that should be available after the upgrade.

 

[Wolfshadw]

@Zertman,

I would point out that without the installation of a 64-bit operating system, while your BIOS may read 7392MB usable, your OS would still only have 3392MB usable.

-Wolf sends

 

[jkhoward]

I totally answered that first.

 

[Wolfshadw]

I totally answered that first.

Perhaps you were first, but I think ColGeek answered it best; as, apparently, does the OP.

-Wolf sends