Only 3.2GB memory showing in Vista..

Soldato
Joined
17 Jan 2005
Posts
8,774
Location
Liverpool
Edit: PLEASE NOTE WE ARE USING VISTA 64BIT NOT 32.. :)

My mate has recently got a new PC off of Dell that came with Vista HP 32bit install. He got it with 4GB of RAM and it wasn't showing up correctly in Windows so we put the 64bit version on.. However, the memory is still only showing up as just over 3GB in the system properties.

We have updated the BIOS to the latest version which didn't fix the problem and there is also no Memory Remap option in the BIOS.

The board in the PC is a Foxconn G33M02. We have found the G33M on the Foxconn website and there is a BIOS update available on there, however with it being a Dell PC, I don't want to risk flashing it with the one off the Foxconn website..

Anyone got any other ideas?

Cheers,
Andy
 
Last edited:
32bit Operating Systems do not support 4gb.

Have you tried installing 64bit with just 1 or 2gb in and then adding the extra RAM after its installed?


There was something to do with Asus boards having problems with 4gb of RAM and Vista 64bit.

I shall see If I can find the thread about it...

edit----

I think a BIOS update (from Foxcon) may do the trick as it may give you the extra options for the remap etc.

What version BIOS does the board have?

edit2------

Looking on the Foxconn, the newer BIOS only seem to fix SATA issues and other rubbish.
 
Last edited:
My mate has recently got a new PC off of Dell that came with Vista HP 32bit install. He got it with 4GB of RAM and it wasn't showing up correctly in Windows so we put the 64bit version on.. However, the memory is still only showing up as just over 3GB in the system properties.

We have updated the BIOS to the latest version which didn't fix the problem and there is also no Memory Remap option in the BIOS.

The board in the PC is a Foxconn G33M02. We have found the G33M on the Foxconn website and there is a BIOS update available on there, however with it being a Dell PC, I don't want to risk flashing it with the one off the Foxconn website..

Anyone got any other ideas?

Cheers,
Andy
Yes like others said already you need 64bit to address the full 4gb with graphics card. 32bit vista can only address 4gb MAX TOTAL, including vram, so if u had sli gtx you could only address 2.5gb :eek: There's also the 32bit limitation per app, 2gig memory per app, though there are ways around it. Simpliest solution to your problems, get 64bit ;)
 
Yes like others said already you need 64bit to address the full 4gb with graphics card. 32bit vista can only address 4gb MAX TOTAL, including vram, so if u had sli gtx you could only address 2.5gb :eek: There's also the 32bit limitation per app, 2gig memory per app, though there are ways around it. Simpliest solution to your problems, get 64bit ;)

Try reading my original post completely.. Don't get bored after the first sentence.. :p

I've now editted it to make it easier to understand.. :)
 
Last edited:
Maybe the RAM's defective? If you have a 64-bit Live CD handy try that and see how much is seen. If it sees all the RAM then you'll know you can blame it on software.

From what I gather the mobo supports up to 8 GiB RAM.
 
I've already checked through the BIOS for an option like that, but being a Dell BIOS, it is extremely restricted!
 
I've got a Knoppix Live CD so I'm going to give that a go.. If that works, it must be a problem with Vista.

I just can't believe that Dell offer an upgrade to 4GB of memory in their systems when they supply them with boards and O/S that doesn't support it properly!
 
maybe a daft question but is it built on video card? taking some of the system memory to use it?
looking at one website it says that it has this "Integrated high-performance Intel® GMA 3100 graphics"
is that the problem?
 
Patch? I wasn't aware of that one! :)

I'll have a look for it..

Edit: KB929777? I tried that one before, but I've just realised that I didn't download the 64bit version! Whoops, I'll get the 64bit one and give that a go.. :)
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom