4gb mem only showing 3.35 in windows?

mike2074 · 23 Jul 2009 at 13:46

Hi Chaps

I just got some 4gb ocz platinum pc8500 1066 from ocuk. However in windows it only shows up as 3.35gig, but its clearly 4gb in the bios? I am using vista ultimate and an ip35 pro board.I also think the meme is only at 800mhz, how can i get it to run at 1066, i assumed it would be standard at that as it sells at that in the details etc.

I did have my q6600 clocked to 3.6 using ocuk instructions in a bundle i got last feb. Now that i have 4gb mem, i have put the settings back to factory standard as i am told that more than 2gb mem with the ocuk overclock settings wont be stable
Can anyone suggest a good stable overclock now that i have the extra 2 gb of ram?
rig:

q6600 2.4
ati hd 4890 (new this week, previous 8800gtx)
seagate 500gb hd 16 cache
ip35 pro board from abit
4 gb ocz platinum pc8500 1066 mem
antec 900 case
galaxy 850w psu
tunic tower cooler

big thanks fellas

mike

4T5 · 23 Jul 2009 at 13:49

Your running Windows XP (I s'pose) XP only shows 3.5 Gig, Don't worry about it.

Ok I just read your post Properly

You're on Vista & I know Nothing.

Is it just the amount that Vista uses ???

.Griff. · 23 Jul 2009 at 13:52

mike2074 said:
I am using vista ultimate

x86 (32 bit) I guess?

That only supports 4gig of ram (including Vram). You need to upgrade to x64 (64 bit) Vista in order to fully utilise 4gig of ram and over.

HazardO · 23 Jul 2009 at 14:26

32bit windows can only use up to 4G of RAM (except with PAE enabled, but we won't go there and nor should you).

Your OS needs to map All off the memory in the system into a 4G space. This includes CPU caches, Video RAM, Disk controller caches etc etc etc. Hence you only get 3-3.5G of RAM available when you have 32bit windows and 4G or more of RAM.

On the topic of your RAM speeds, that specification of RAM does not conform to a JDEC standard, it is essentially overclocked 800MHz RAM anyway. You need to manually set the voltage, speed and timings for the RAM in the BIOS to get it to run at the advertised speed.

mike2074 · 23 Jul 2009 at 20:46

cheers lads

I was thinking of the vista 64 bit, but hear there are still a lot of driver issues?

So in essence, my pc is only using 3.35 gig, the other is wasted?

millsy888 · 23 Jul 2009 at 20:52

mike2074 said:
cheers lads

I was thinking of the vista 64 bit, but hear there are still a lot of driver issues?

So in essence, my pc is only using 3.35 gig, the other is wasted?

windows 7 is on pre order at OcUK

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18035109

.Griff. · 23 Jul 2009 at 20:56

mike2074 said:
cheers lads

I was thinking of the vista 64 bit, but hear there are still a lot of driver issues?

That's just pub talk these days. Any way no point getting Vista x64 with Windows 7 x64 around the corner.

horse · 23 Jul 2009 at 20:59

very true, skip vista wait for win 7 x64