Can I add more memory ...

D

DeonH

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Hi all and thank you so long for your help.

Below is my PC setup:
Processor: Intel Core i5 CPU 750 @ 2.67GHz
Installed Memory: 6.00 GB (3.99 GB usable)
System Type: 64-Bit Operating System
Operating System: Win 7

I want to add another 2 GB of RAM, but now I worry because it looks as if my system only uses 3.00 GB of the installed 6.00 GB. Am I reading it correctly or not?
Please advise.

Regards,
Deon
 
3.99 GB usable generally means you are either running on a 32 bit OS or you are using one of the baby versions of Windows, which supports no more than 4 GB's of RAM

So yeah, you could add more, but you'd not see any of it
 
bullzeye.za said:
3.99 GB usable generally means you are either running on a 32 bit OS or you are using one of the baby versions of Windows, which supports no more than 4 GB's of RAM
Click to expand...

Thank you for the reply.
I am running Windows 7 Ultimate.

Here is a screenshot of System properties.
http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o15/DeonHolt/?action=view&current=6gig_system.jpg

How can I make sure I am running 64-bit? I have Photoshop 64-bit running nad I have in the very beginning of owning this PC, accidently tried to install 32-bit software which ended up in an error message telling me I am trying to instal 32-bit software on a 64-bit system.

Please help/advise.

Regards,
Deon
 
Which motherboard do you have?

I think there might just be a setting in the BIOS that would give you access to all of the 6GB RAM.
 
Mier said:
Are you using on board graphics with shared memory ?
Click to expand...

What I'm thinking as well: Some shared memory in use. Borrow another stick of RAM and plug it in and see ...
 
Hi again and thank you so long for your help.

Motherboard: (This is the total description on the invoice.)
MB-AP7P55M : MB-AP7P55M ASUS P7P55-M ; LGA1156 mb ; 8+2 phase power design ; intel P55 , 4x dual channel DDR3 2200(o.c) , 6 x s-ata2 with raid 0/1//0+1/5/10 , 1x parallel ata133 , on-board VT1708S 7.1 audio + gigabit lan + ieee1394a ; 1x pci , 2 x pci-e(1x) , 1 x pci-e 2.0- with EPU + express gate + Turbo key , with com/serial port - 1 x PS2 only for kb - micro-atx [S-23]

Graphics:
NVIDEA GeForce GTS 450

Do I need to tell my MotherBorad to use in 64-bit mode?

Deon
 
DeonH said:
Hi again and thank you so long for your help.

Motherboard: (This is the total description on the invoice.)
MB-AP7P55M : MB-AP7P55M ASUS P7P55-M ; LGA1156 mb ; 8+2 phase power design ; intel P55 , 4x dual channel DDR3 2200(o.c) , 6 x s-ata2 with raid 0/1//0+1/5/10 , 1x parallel ata133 , on-board VT1708S 7.1 audio + gigabit lan + ieee1394a ; 1x pci , 2 x pci-e(1x) , 1 x pci-e 2.0- with EPU + express gate + Turbo key , with com/serial port - 1 x PS2 only for kb - micro-atx [S-23]

Graphics:
NVIDEA GeForce GTS 450

Do I need to tell my MotherBorad to use in 64-bit mode?

Deon
Click to expand...

Check in the bios if some memory is not shared for on board graphics.
 
Try this...

1) Win+R -> type 'msconfig'
2) Under the 'Boot' Tab, click 'Advanced Options'
3) Make sure the 'Maximum memory' option is unselected and that there is no value in the box
3) Click OK and restart

The option we just changed handles the the maximum amount of memory that Windows can use. The difference on my machine went from 2.9GB usable to 3.8GB usable. Granted my machine(HP6550b) uses integrated graphics, my guess is that gain comes from sacrificing some graphic usage of ram. My Windows Experience Index also moved from 4.4 to 4.5 which seems slightly counter intuitive to me.
 
I have changed the setting and restarted; no change. :cry:

What else can I check? This is bugging me now.

Deon
 
The MB has 4x DIMMS: How / what memory do you have in?

In some setups you have to be very careful what / how you combine the memory.

I.e. on my board, I can have RAM in Slots 1, Slots 1 and 3, Slots 2 and 4, or Slots 1, 2, 3, 4.

If I use Slots 1 to 3 then it will only use one channel, and I will only have 4 GB accessible.

No idea if this is your problem, but the MB seems fine, doesn't look like anything on it is using shared memory, so then I think the only culprit left is either your RAM or the combination of slots used.

So I would start with one stick, plug it in check everything.
Add another stick, check everything, etc.
 
Thank you for all the replies.

I will change bios and check as per all the suggestions when I go home later this afternoon.

Deon
 
bin3 said:
The MB has 4x DIMMS: How / what memory do you have in?

In some setups you have to be very careful what / how you combine the memory.

I.e. on my board, I can have RAM in Slots 1, Slots 1 and 3, Slots 2 and 4, or Slots 1, 2, 3, 4.

If I use Slots 1 to 3 then it will only use one channel, and I will only have 4 GB accessible.
Click to expand...

This ^^


@DeonH,

Your motherboard has strict requirements as to how dimm slots are populated, I suggest you see pages 1-15 to 1-18 of your motherboard manual for the details as it differs between RAM brand & models.

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1156/P7P55M/#download for the manual.
 
Hi and thanx for the update.

I got it fixed. I installed the 4th piece of RAM and unticked the option to use all RAM in msconfig.

Thank you for all the help & advice.

Deon
 
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