2GB to 4GB system not showing upgrade

Heffer23

Heffer23

Heffer23

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Joined
12 Aug 2009
Posts
193
Location
Swindon
Hi all,
I have just fitted new (for me) memory to my PC. Its exactly the same as before but now I have 4GB fitted [2x2GB] where as previously I had 2 [1x1GB].
The memory is 2x2GB Corsair TwinX DDR2 XMS2 Dominator PC2-8500(1066) 240pin CAS 5 EPP + Airflow Fan.

Trouble I have is on 3Dmark06
Previously when I checked my system details with 3Dmark06 it used to say I had 2032MB – which as I had 2GB would be correct.
Now I have fitted my 4GB, 2 sticks in 0 & 2 [blue slots] the system details say I have 2800 MB of memory !!!
Surely it should say I have approx 4000 MB

Can anyone explain please?

My system is as follows:

E6600 2.4GHz
Inno3D 680i SLI Mobo
2x2GB PC-8500 DDR2 Corsair Dominator + Airflow fan
Zalman CNPS9500 CPU fan
Coolermaster 850w PSU
Single Asus 8800GTX G80
& a Antec P180
Im running windows XP
 
Sounds like your using a 32bit operating system, to get a full usable 4GB you need a 64bit O/S!
 
Like axer said. XP is only 32-bit and will only recognise a total of 3.5GB of total memory including VRAM on your GPU. Upgrade to a 64-bit OS such as Vista home premium or XP 64-bit edition. OR download the new windows 7 RC (is that it?) for free.
 
Either it is down to the fact that you have a 32bit OS, which only allows a max of 4GB memory in total, this includes your video card memory etc.

Or.. you need to enable a feature in the BIOS which allows your computer to see all 4GB, usually called something like 'Memory Overlapping'.
 
Sweet lord I think you're all right.
I believe I am 32bit.......... !!!
Cheers, will get upgrade to xp 64bit first, more money :o(
 
Heffer23 said:
Sweet lord I think you're all right.
I believe I am 32bit.......... !!!
Cheers, will get upgrade to xp 64bit first, more money :o(
Click to expand...

I wouldn't get XP64bit, I'd wait for Windows 7 to come out and get a 64Bit version of that. You get preorder it now for around £70!
 
DON'T GO FOR XP 64BIT!

Gosh the thing is ruddy awful I tried it and it's just terrible it is so incompatible with so many things.

Just wait for Windows 7.

It will be cheaper than XP 64bit and it will be a hell of a lot better :)
 
VortX said:
DON'T GO FOR XP 64BIT!

Gosh the thing is ruddy awful I tried it and it's just terrible it is so incompatible with so many things.
Click to expand...

That must have been some time ago, because I'm running XP 64-bit and I don't know of anything that won't run (certainly not in compatability mode anyway). Vista 64 has compability issues, certainly.

I would agree though - XP is a near EOL OS and there's no point buying it now. As for Windows 7, I would have liked Microsoft to have sorted Vista before they started on another one...
 
WJA96 said:
That must have been some time ago, because I'm running XP 64-bit and I don't know of anything that won't run (certainly not in compatability mode anyway). Vista 64 has compability issues, certainly.

I would agree though - XP is a near EOL OS and there's no point buying it now. As for Windows 7, I would have liked Microsoft to have sorted Vista before they started on another one...
Click to expand...

Ah maybe I was just unlucky. It was about a year ago I used it.

I just found it to be buggy and awkard, much prefered Vista 64bit.

User preferance :)
 
XP64bit is good, but don't pay for it.. ie use it if you have it already, buy the Windows 7 64bit instead, download the Windows 7 RC for the time being
 
Cheers all.... I'll wait for Windows 7 unless I can get hold of a cheap / free xp 64.
Talking of Win7 RC...... will that require a complete reinstall or is it an upgrade???
I don't mind admitting I am a complete noob, if you hadn'y already guessed.
Many thanks in advance
 
Hi vortX,
Agreed, Win 7 defo way to go.
I'm currently on 32bit so the trial RC is saying I can't upgrade to 64 bit.
Is that I can't upgrade without a complete reinstall or I can't upgrade full stop??? Confused
 
You guys know your stuff........ I've also put a post on Overclocking which ties in with my memory question. Any chance you lot could give your views on this too.
Its the
Overclocking E6600 with nTune or BIOS thread
Many thanks
 
WJA96 said:
That must have been some time ago, because I'm running XP 64-bit and I don't know of anything that won't run (certainly not in compatability mode anyway). Vista 64 has compability issues, certainly.

I would agree though - XP is a near EOL OS and there's no point buying it now. As for Windows 7, I would have liked Microsoft to have sorted Vista before they started on another one...
Click to expand...

Windows Vista is absolutely fine. What problems are you exactly experiencing?

Heffer23 said:
Hi vortX,
Agreed, Win 7 defo way to go.
I'm currently on 32bit so the trial RC is saying I can't upgrade to 64 bit.
Is that I can't upgrade without a complete reinstall or I can't upgrade full stop??? Confused
Click to expand...

You cannot upgrade from a 32-bit to a 64-bit operating system, you must do a clean installation.
 
can someone explain the pros of havin a 64bit OS when it comes to gaming?

i get that 64bit OS can access a lot more ram but most games arent designed for 64bit systems and the most ram ive seen a game access is between 2 - 2.5gb of ram.
 
tone12 said:
can someone explain the pros of havin a 64bit OS when it comes to gaming?

i get that 64bit OS can access a lot more ram but most games arent designed for 64bit systems and the most ram ive seen a game access is between 2 - 2.5gb of ram.
Click to expand...

64bit is better in some games, most games it makes no difference. 64bit can allow for larger groups of calculations to be done quicker. If a game has a calculation that is anything over 32bit's rather than sending it twice, it can send it just once in a 64bit environment. Thus saving time and making the game quicker.

However this is rare and very limited as few things require more than a 32bit calculation.

You will notice on some games, including Crysis, which uses 64bit, that the game runs slightly faster, about 2-5fps, not a lot, but every little helps.

64bit also allows for more memory to be recognised. Windows 32bit is limited to 4GB for the entire system memory. This includes memory on the graphics card etc.

So, say you have a GFX card with 1GB of memory, that allows only 3GB max to be used of system RAM.

Games are easily pushing the 2.5GB memory usage now days, so things are getting tight.

Especially if you are running in SLI, you could have 2-3GB just in video RAM.

This is where 64bit OS comes in, allowing for more memory to be installed, so you can have something crazy like 24GB RAM and Tri Sli GFX cards and still have plenty of head room.

64bit is the way to go, whether you use it for games, video editing, music editing or whatever.

It allows for quicker calculations and more RAM basically. The only down side is compatibility. But this is becoming less of a problem more and more as 64bit is becoming much more popular.

As for gaming, I can't think of a reason not to go to 64bit, because pretty much every modern game these days works on 64bit, most of the time runs slightly better, and those games that aren't made for 64bit are being updated so that they can :)
 
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