GA-X38-DQ6 4GB RAM, XP32 and Vista32

[rossb]

I have an X38-DQ6 with a Q6600, DDR2 800, and BIOS F6b. I recently upgraded from 2GB of RAM to 4GB.

My BIOS detects 4GB, CPU-Z reports 4GB, but XP Pro32 and Vista32 are both reporting 3GB. Is there anything I can do in the BIOS or in Windows to increase the amount of memory being detected by Windows? I do not plan to run Win64.

 

[Maziar]

Nope 32bit windows recognizes 3GB (3.25GB) of 4GB RAM and if u want your RAM to be fully recognized, then u must get 64bit

 

[runswindows95]

How many times a day is this question asked? The only way to use the full 4GB is to go to a 64-bit OS.

 

[pinaplex]

if you don't plan on running Win64, you're not going to be able to use more than about 3-3.5gb of ram...period...

STICKY PLEASE!!!!

 

[Scotteq]

In 32 bit Windows operating systems, the total addressable space available is 4GB. If you installed total 4GB memory, the system will detect less than 4GB of total memory because of address space allocation for other critical functions, such as:

- System BIOS (including motherboard, add-on cards, etc..)
- Motherboards resources
- Memory mapped I/O
- Configuration for AGP/PCI-Ex/PCI
- Other memory allocations for PCI devices

Different onboard devices and different add-on cards (devices) will result of different total memory size. e.g. more PCI cards installed will require more memory resources, resulting of less memory free for other uses.

This limitation applies to most chipsets & Windows XP/Vista 32-bit version operating systems.

If you install a Windows operating system, if more than 3GB memory is required for your system, then the below conditions should be met:

1. The memory controller which supports memory swap functionality is used. The latest chipsets like Intel 975X, 955X, Nvidia NF4 SLI Intel Edition, Nvidia NF4 SLI X16, AMD K8, and newer architectures can support the memory swap function.

2. Windows XP Pro X64 Ed. (64-bit), Windows Vista 64, or other OS which can address more than 4GB memory.



Note: According to the latest Change Log published my Microsoft, Windows Vista 32bit SP1 will display the installed amount of RAM. This is a display change only.

 

[rossb]

Hmm, I checked this section and I certainly did not see this question posted every day. Thanks for the replies.

This KB article pretty much wraps it up:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605

 

[runswindows95]

The space allocation only happens when you run more the 3GB on a 32-bit OS.