Memory In XP 32bit....

R.O.S.S.I · 25 Feb 2009 at 17:01

Now before you all come in here shouting XP 32BIT CAN ONLY ADDRESS UP TO 4GB OF RAM, I already know this.

The problem I was having is, I recently upgraded my PC, new motherboard, cpu, ram. I had 4gb of ram, but I decided to install 32bit XP even though I knew I wouldn't be able to use it all.

So it installs all fine and dandy, and I get into Windows, right click on My Computer, Properties......check who much memory is showing, and for some strange reason, only 2.5GB is showing.

Now I have a 512mb GFX card, so by my reckoning Windows should be showing 3GB.

Does anyone know why it is only showing my PC as having 2.5GB of ram available? and how i can claim back that extra 512mb thats been chomped away by something?

Thanks.

Rroff · 25 Feb 2009 at 17:12

Some motherboards can reserve upto a gig of MMIO space for themselves, ontop of that the GPU is claiming 250-300Mb. If you've got a soundcard like an x-fi thats even more space gone.

SMB30 · 25 Feb 2009 at 17:17

Whats your system spec?

R.O.S.S.I · 25 Feb 2009 at 18:02

Q6600
Gigabyte EP43-S3L (using on baord sound)
2x2gb Corsair TwinX PC2-6400
512mb Gainward GeForce 7800GTX
250gb Maxtor HDD
500gb WD HDD

Really annoying, i'm currently running Windows Vista 64bit, but want to move back to XP32 bit as its not as stable as i'd like with the programs I run, but I want to try and sort out the memory issue before I go back.

SMB30 · 25 Feb 2009 at 18:09

Got service pack 2 or 3 for xp?

I have service pack 3 and have 3.25 *sometimes 3.5* memory in xp.

LoadsaMoney · 25 Feb 2009 at 18:54

Also showing 3.5gb in XP.

setter · 25 Feb 2009 at 18:57

Showing as 3.25 here in xp32, 4gb ddr and 1gb gtx280

R.O.S.S.I · 25 Feb 2009 at 19:13

My Xp was fully updated. Tell you what i'll format my machine and install XP32 on it again so I can see for deffo.

pastymuncher · 26 Feb 2009 at 14:16

Mine shows 3.25Gb in XP.

R.O.S.S.I · 26 Feb 2009 at 19:16

Right, just installed XP back onto my machine and sure enough, I right on My Computer, Properties, and its showing 2.5GB RAM.

Anyone know WHY?!?!?!?! Doing my nads in now.

R.O.S.S.I · 27 Feb 2009 at 10:58

Could this be anything to do with my page file does anyone know ? It was set at 2GB-4GB, so I reduced it down to 1GB-2Gb but it was still the same. Or the BIOS on my graphics card?

miniyazz · 28 Feb 2009 at 00:56

CDj-Rossi said:
Could this be anything to do with my page file does anyone know ? It was set at 2GB-4GB, so I reduced it down to 1GB-2Gb but it was still the same. Or the BIOS on my graphics card?

Won't be anything to do with the page file, don't know about the graphics card - maybe try a spare, temporarily, if you've got one lying around, and seeing if it affects it?

Are you wanting 32-bit XP specifically, or just XP, because there is a 64-bit version available ;-)

AgedIdiot · 28 Feb 2009 at 09:24

I found the link below interesting

http://members.cox.net/slatteryt/RAM.html

McMav · 28 Feb 2009 at 16:05

just stuck my 4gb kinston kit in and windows xp 32 bit is showing 3.5 GB ram there I have a 4870 512 MB so that accounts for the other 1/2 gb

R.O.S.S.I · 1 Mar 2009 at 15:18

Hmmm, very gay indeed. Going to see if I can source a new graphics card.

dangerstat · 1 Mar 2009 at 18:23

Mine does the same, just see 2.5GB in Windows or Linux i386 distros must be a BIOS setting or something, personally I dont care as I use a AMDx64 Linux distro. Sorry I cant help

Sylver123 · 1 Mar 2009 at 19:36

You don`t really need anymore than 2GB in XP32 anyways, but if you hardware takes more memory and leaves XP32 with less than 2GB, then i would recommend switching over to x64-bit OS.