[icu222much]

I just bought a new computer with 4Gb of RAM. I also have a 9800gx2 video card. I also am running Windows XP - 32 Bit. I realize that windows should only recognize 3.5Gb of my RAM, but when I look at my system properties it only recognizes 2.75Gb of RAM. What is happening? Is my video card taking some of my RAM away?

[Hybr!d]

I had a similar problem with a customer, two GFX cards each taking their own size of RAM away from the system RAM also.

The customer chose not to have it diagnosed or fixed but I had a suspicion a BIOS update would have sorted it although I never really looked into it.

Would love to know if you find out for sure.

[serverguy]

Windows XP 32 bit will address a maximum of 4Gb of address space, which includes video card RAM, NIC RAM, soundcard RAM etc.

So if you have a 512Mb video card with 4Gb of ram, only 3.5Gb of ram will be recognized (under optimum conditions). But the video card memory takes priority.

So, in simple terms, if you add a video card with more memory, your system will have access to less RAM memory.

In your case, you start with 4GB of RAM. If your video card has 1Gb onboard, pfft, there goes 1GB of XP reported system RAM.

Down to 3GB. Then, your motherboard chipset / soundcard / NIC / Tuner etc etc etc take some more up.

Down to about 2.75

Simple eh?

NB. There is nothing you can do to make more used. Bios updates etc. Nothing at all. Just the way the 32 bit architecture works.

The way to fix it and use up to 128Gb of RAM - buy a 64 bit OS.

[Hybr!d]

Didn't know that, knew the 3.5GB 32bit rule but thought GFX card RAM was separate.

Cheers SG.

[serverguy]

Originally Posted by Dave Hybrid

Didn't know that, knew the 3.5GB 32bit rule but thought GFX card RAM was separate.

Cheers SG.

Other onboard devices also eat some of the RAM, which is why you always gets slightly different readings, depending on the chipset / mobo.

[icu222much]

thank you :)
now it makes more sense.

[serverguy]

No problem

[icu222much]

Is there any way to increase the amount of RAM windows can detect without removing any of my existing hard ware? For example, is there a setting in the BIOS I can change?

[serverguy]

Originally Posted by icu222much

Is there any way to increase the amount of RAM windows can detect without removing any of my existing hard ware? For example, is there a setting in the BIOS I can change?

Nope.

Its not worth worrying about either.

If you want Windows to be able to 'see' more RAM, then upgrade to Vista 64 bit.

Otherwise there is nothing you can do at all.

How much RAM do you have of the graphics card?