Windows only shows 3.2Gb

Butters · 6 Jul 2007 at 09:51

Hi, just built a really nice machine with 4GB of RAM on an ASRock board.

Windows only shows 3.2Gb in system manager and POST only shows 3200 as well. This isnt even a viable multiple of 1028 or 512 so whats going on?

In the actual BIOS screen each 1024 stick is identified as such.

Thanks

bledd · 6 Jul 2007 at 09:54

only 64bit windows can show and use over 4gb (without some sort of hack)

possibly your motherboard only supports 4gb when it's 4x 1gb ECC ram

Butters · 6 Jul 2007 at 10:02

Yeah, its a 4gb board (capable)

I found the answer actually from MS

Xp nicks some and allocates it to devices. Rude!

lokkers · 6 Jul 2007 at 13:30

IIRC, a 32bit OS (with the exception of Server 2003 with PAE) will only see (and thus use) ~3.5gb.

For the OS to see the full 4gb, you'll need to run a 64bit OS.

I'm surprised the BIOS will only see 3.2gb though - got the latest installed?

braveheart · 6 Jul 2007 at 15:40

32bits OS only max is 3GB<>3.5GB as it dont work into 4GB
64Bits OS can go up to 128GB and can show 4GB when boot up included info from Windows system