Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I just got tablet pc with 4GB RAM but I only can see 3GB. Is this
> supposed to be?
> if not, how do I make it to see 4GB RAM?
>
> Thanks.
Other than moving to a 64-bit operating system there isn't much that you
can do to see and use the last GB of RAM. What is happening is that
32-bit Windows can only address 4GB of memory, the addressable memory is
insufficient to supply all your devices so the RAM cannot fully be used.
Memory above doesn't mean RAM only, it is memory addressing for all
the devices installed in the computer. For example, if you have 4GB of
RAM and a video card with 512MB of memory, your addressing requirements
are for 4.5GB but 32-bit Windows can only address 4GB, the memory
addresses are reserved for devices before the RAM so 512MB of addressing
space used for the video card is unavailable for other devices, the
remaining addressing space is only 3.5GB so you won't be able to fully
use the 4GB of installed RAM. In your case the addressing requirements
for your hardware is about 1GB, so these addresses are not available to
the installed RAM, you need about 5GB of memory addresses but 32-bit
Windows can only address 4GB, after the hardware addressing requirements
are met there is only 3GB of addresses left so you cannot fully use the
installed RAM in your machine.
John
John wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I just got tablet pc with 4GB RAM but I only can see 3GB. Is this supposed
> to be?
> if not, how do I make it to see 4GB RAM?
>
> Thanks.
On Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:30:13 -0800, John
<John@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I just got tablet pc with 4GB RAM but I only can see 3GB. Is this supposed
> to be?
> if not, how do I make it to see 4GB RAM?
All 32-bit versions of Windows, even though they have a 4GB address
space, can only use *around* 3.1GB of RAM. That's because some of that
space is used by hardware and not available to the operating system
and applications. The amount you can use varies, depending on what
hardware you have installed, but is usually around 3.1GB.
--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
Your description is completely wrong. 32 bits can address 4GB but the
address can be used for any device attached to the computer---a HD for
example. The reason there is only 3GB of memory is because the 1 GB is
reserved for items
that use DMA for example.
"John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:ODdYr$kJIHA.2480@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Other than moving to a 64-bit operating system there isn't much that you
> can do to see and use the last GB of RAM. What is happening is that
> 32-bit Windows can only address 4GB of memory, the addressable memory is
> insufficient to supply all your devices so the RAM cannot fully be used.
> Memory above doesn't mean RAM only, it is memory addressing for all the
> devices installed in the computer. For example, if you have 4GB of RAM
> and a video card with 512MB of memory, your addressing requirements are
> for 4.5GB but 32-bit Windows can only address 4GB, the memory addresses
> are reserved for devices before the RAM so 512MB of addressing space used
> for the video card is unavailable for other devices, the remaining
> addressing space is only 3.5GB so you won't be able to fully use the 4GB
> of installed RAM. In your case the addressing requirements for your
> hardware is about 1GB, so these addresses are not available to the
> installed RAM, you need about 5GB of memory addresses but 32-bit Windows
> can only address 4GB, after the hardware addressing requirements are met
> there is only 3GB of addresses left so you cannot fully use the installed
> RAM in your machine.
>
> John
>
> John wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I just got tablet pc with 4GB RAM but I only can see 3GB. Is this
>> supposed to be?
>> if not, how do I make it to see 4GB RAM?
>>
>> Thanks.
My answer is right, once again it is you who cannot read and comprehend
anything, which is something that we have come to expect from you. As I
have correctly stated, the reason the the user cannot see his whole 4GB
of RAM is because 32-Bit Windows can only address 4GB of Memory and the
devices are using addressing space within this boundary so it reduces
the available addressing space available to the RAM. Learn ho to read
or go troll elsewhere!
John
Unknown wrote:
> Your description is completely wrong. 32 bits can address 4GB but the
> address can be used for any device attached to the computer---a HD for
> example. The reason there is only 3GB of memory is because the 1 GB is
> reserved for items
> that use DMA for example.
>
> "John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
> news:ODdYr$kJIHA.2480@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
>>Other than moving to a 64-bit operating system there isn't much that you
>>can do to see and use the last GB of RAM. What is happening is that
>>32-bit Windows can only address 4GB of memory, the addressable memory is
>>insufficient to supply all your devices so the RAM cannot fully be used.
>>Memory above doesn't mean RAM only, it is memory addressing for all the
>>devices installed in the computer. For example, if you have 4GB of RAM
>>and a video card with 512MB of memory, your addressing requirements are
>>for 4.5GB but 32-bit Windows can only address 4GB, the memory addresses
>>are reserved for devices before the RAM so 512MB of addressing space used
>>for the video card is unavailable for other devices, the remaining
>>addressing space is only 3.5GB so you won't be able to fully use the 4GB
>>of installed RAM. In your case the addressing requirements for your
>>hardware is about 1GB, so these addresses are not available to the
>>installed RAM, you need about 5GB of memory addresses but 32-bit Windows
>>can only address 4GB, after the hardware addressing requirements are met
>>there is only 3GB of addresses left so you cannot fully use the installed
>>RAM in your machine.
>>
>>John
>>
>>John wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Hi all,
>>>
>>>I just got tablet pc with 4GB RAM but I only can see 3GB. Is this
>>>supposed to be?
>>>if not, how do I make it to see 4GB RAM?
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>
>
>
For the benefit of other who may be reading this is the reason why the
user cannot see and use all the RAM in his machine.
The hardware memory issue is summed up as so by Tyan:
[quote]
The problem that you are seeing is based on an older architecture
design for memory addressing. All the systems architecture up to this
point were based on a maximum of 4GB of total memory. Nobody really
thought, when this standard was designed, that this amount of memory
would actually be in use. The problem that has happened is that you
have PCI devices that require memory address ranges so that they can
properly execute their commands. These address ranges were mapped in
the upper sections of this maximum amount. Since nobody thought you
would be using up to 4GB these address ranges started around the last
500MB of the memory ranges. This range is called the T.O.M. or Top of
Memory range. This is the point in the bios where it places on hold the
amount of memory that is required by the various PCI devices that are
found on the motherboard. Thus when you have PCI cards or AGP cards
installed on your motherboard these devices hold on to memory for their
own use and take away from the maximum amount of memory that is
available for other tasks. This amount of memory can vary from a little
as 200MB all the way to 1GB of memory (or even more in select cases).
It just depends on the PCI devices you have and the amount of PCI
(including AGP) that you have installed all at once.
There is really no way to get around this basic design limitation. The
only way to get around these type of issues is to use certain new
designs that have brand new architectures (i.e 64-bit designs) that
allow memory to be mapped in area's above 4GB. The brand new Intel Xeon
designs and the AMD Opteron designs are built around 64-bit technology.
This is only ½ of the equation that you would need to find success.
You would also need to use an OS that is actually PAE or PAE aware so
that it is able to address memory above the 4GB level. To find out
about PAE you can search Microsofts website for PAE (Physical Address
Extensions) and it will explain this concept and what OS's actually are
capable of providing this benefit. Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 would
fit both of these criteria. Windows XP on the hand would not allow this
type of ability.
This is exactly what I said in my earlier post, so now get lost or go
take a Remedial Reading course you troll!
John
Unknown wrote:
> Your description is completely wrong. 32 bits can address 4GB but the
> address can be used for any device attached to the computer---a HD for
> example. The reason there is only 3GB of memory is because the 1 GB is
> reserved for items
> that use DMA for example.
>
> "John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
> news:ODdYr$kJIHA.2480@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
>>Other than moving to a 64-bit operating system there isn't much that you
>>can do to see and use the last GB of RAM. What is happening is that
>>32-bit Windows can only address 4GB of memory, the addressable memory is
>>insufficient to supply all your devices so the RAM cannot fully be used.
>>Memory above doesn't mean RAM only, it is memory addressing for all the
>>devices installed in the computer. For example, if you have 4GB of RAM
>>and a video card with 512MB of memory, your addressing requirements are
>>for 4.5GB but 32-bit Windows can only address 4GB, the memory addresses
>>are reserved for devices before the RAM so 512MB of addressing space used
>>for the video card is unavailable for other devices, the remaining
>>addressing space is only 3.5GB so you won't be able to fully use the 4GB
>>of installed RAM. In your case the addressing requirements for your
>>hardware is about 1GB, so these addresses are not available to the
>>installed RAM, you need about 5GB of memory addresses but 32-bit Windows
>>can only address 4GB, after the hardware addressing requirements are met
>>there is only 3GB of addresses left so you cannot fully use the installed
>>RAM in your machine.
>>
>>John
>>
>>John wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Hi all,
>>>
>>>I just got tablet pc with 4GB RAM but I only can see 3GB. Is this
>>>supposed to be?
>>>if not, how do I make it to see 4GB RAM?
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>
>
>
On 32-bit machines, the lower 2 GB of the virtual address space is user
space and the upper 2 GB is reserved as system space by default. If
user-mode applications require additional virtual address space, an
administrator can reserve 3 GB for user space, thus leaving only 1 GB of
system space, by applying the /3GB switch to Boot.ini and then
restarting the machine. This switch is also useful during testing to see
how a driver performs with limited system address space. The switch is
supported on Windows Server 2003 (all editions), Windows XP (all
versions), Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and Windows 2000 Datacenter
Server. http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...5/mem-mgmt.doc
As I understand the limitation is available address spaces not the
ability to see 4 gb of RAM. The result from whichever viewpoint is the
same.
--
Hope this helps.
Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John John wrote:
> My answer is right, once again it is you who cannot read and
> comprehend anything, which is something that we have come to expect
> from you. As I have correctly stated, the reason the the user cannot
> see his whole 4GB of RAM is because 32-Bit Windows can only address
> 4GB of Memory and the devices are using addressing space within this
> boundary so it reduces the available addressing space available to
> the RAM. Learn ho to read or go troll elsewhere!
>
> John
>
> Unknown wrote:
>
>> Your description is completely wrong. 32 bits can address 4GB but the
>> address can be used for any device attached to the computer---a HD
>> for example. The reason there is only 3GB of memory is because the 1
>> GB is reserved for items
>> that use DMA for example.
>>
>> "John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>> news:ODdYr$kJIHA.2480@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>
>>> Other than moving to a 64-bit operating system there isn't much
>>> that you can do to see and use the last GB of RAM. What is
>>> happening is that 32-bit Windows can only address 4GB of memory,
>>> the addressable memory is insufficient to supply all your devices
>>> so the RAM cannot fully be used. Memory above doesn't mean RAM
>>> only, it is memory addressing for all the devices installed in the
>>> computer. For example, if you have 4GB of RAM and a video card
>>> with 512MB of memory, your addressing requirements are for 4.5GB
>>> but 32-bit Windows can only address 4GB, the memory addresses are
>>> reserved for devices before the RAM so 512MB of addressing space
>>> used for the video card is unavailable for other devices, the
>>> remaining addressing space is only 3.5GB so you won't be able to
>>> fully use the 4GB of installed RAM. In your case the addressing
>>> requirements for your hardware is about 1GB, so these addresses are
>>> not available to the installed RAM, you need about 5GB of memory
>>> addresses but 32-bit Windows can only address 4GB, after the
>>> hardware addressing requirements are met there is only 3GB of
>>> addresses left so you cannot fully use the installed RAM in your
>>> machine. John
>>>
>>> John wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> I just got tablet pc with 4GB RAM but I only can see 3GB. Is this
>>>> supposed to be?
>>>> if not, how do I make it to see 4GB RAM?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks.
I suggest you read your response. Example: You state if one has 512 meg for
video, then addressing requirement is 4.5gig.
That simply is not true. The 512 Meg can be on the video card or can be main
memory itself such as a DMA. If it were DMA then logically it cannot be used
for programs.
"John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:et9HpTuJIHA.5468@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> My answer is right, once again it is you who cannot read and comprehend
> anything, which is something that we have come to expect from you. As I
> have correctly stated, the reason the the user cannot see his whole 4GB of
> RAM is because 32-Bit Windows can only address 4GB of Memory and the
> devices are using addressing space within this boundary so it reduces the
> available addressing space available to the RAM. Learn ho to read or go
> troll elsewhere!
>
> John
>
> Unknown wrote:
>
>> Your description is completely wrong. 32 bits can address 4GB but the
>> address can be used for any device attached to the computer---a HD for
>> example. The reason there is only 3GB of memory is because the 1 GB is
>> reserved for items
>> that use DMA for example.
>>
>> "John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>> news:ODdYr$kJIHA.2480@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>
>>>Other than moving to a 64-bit operating system there isn't much that you
>>>can do to see and use the last GB of RAM. What is happening is that
>>>32-bit Windows can only address 4GB of memory, the addressable memory is
>>>insufficient to supply all your devices so the RAM cannot fully be used.
>>>Memory above doesn't mean RAM only, it is memory addressing for all the
>>>devices installed in the computer. For example, if you have 4GB of RAM
>>>and a video card with 512MB of memory, your addressing requirements are
>>>for 4.5GB but 32-bit Windows can only address 4GB, the memory addresses
>>>are reserved for devices before the RAM so 512MB of addressing space used
>>>for the video card is unavailable for other devices, the remaining
>>>addressing space is only 3.5GB so you won't be able to fully use the 4GB
>>>of installed RAM. In your case the addressing requirements for your
>>>hardware is about 1GB, so these addresses are not available to the
>>>installed RAM, you need about 5GB of memory addresses but 32-bit Windows
>>>can only address 4GB, after the hardware addressing requirements are met
>>>there is only 3GB of addresses left so you cannot fully use the installed
>>>RAM in your machine.
>>>
>>>John
>>>
>>>John wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi all,
>>>>
>>>>I just got tablet pc with 4GB RAM but I only can see 3GB. Is this
>>>>supposed to be?
>>>>if not, how do I make it to see 4GB RAM?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks.
>>
>>
>>
>
Read Ken Blakes response. He explains it. Your statement that you need 4.5
GB of addressing is extremely misleading.
"John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:et9HpTuJIHA.5468@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> My answer is right, once again it is you who cannot read and comprehend
> anything, which is something that we have come to expect from you. As I
> have correctly stated, the reason the the user cannot see his whole 4GB of
> RAM is because 32-Bit Windows can only address 4GB of Memory and the
> devices are using addressing space within this boundary so it reduces the
> available addressing space available to the RAM. Learn ho to read or go
> troll elsewhere!
>
> John
>
> Unknown wrote:
>
>> Your description is completely wrong. 32 bits can address 4GB but the
>> address can be used for any device attached to the computer---a HD for
>> example. The reason there is only 3GB of memory is because the 1 GB is
>> reserved for items
>> that use DMA for example.
>>
>> "John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>> news:ODdYr$kJIHA.2480@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>
>>>Other than moving to a 64-bit operating system there isn't much that you
>>>can do to see and use the last GB of RAM. What is happening is that
>>>32-bit Windows can only address 4GB of memory, the addressable memory is
>>>insufficient to supply all your devices so the RAM cannot fully be used.
>>>Memory above doesn't mean RAM only, it is memory addressing for all the
>>>devices installed in the computer. For example, if you have 4GB of RAM
>>>and a video card with 512MB of memory, your addressing requirements are
>>>for 4.5GB but 32-bit Windows can only address 4GB, the memory addresses
>>>are reserved for devices before the RAM so 512MB of addressing space used
>>>for the video card is unavailable for other devices, the remaining
>>>addressing space is only 3.5GB so you won't be able to fully use the 4GB
>>>of installed RAM. In your case the addressing requirements for your
>>>hardware is about 1GB, so these addresses are not available to the
>>>installed RAM, you need about 5GB of memory addresses but 32-bit Windows
>>>can only address 4GB, after the hardware addressing requirements are met
>>>there is only 3GB of addresses left so you cannot fully use the installed
>>>RAM in your machine.
>>>
>>>John
>>>
>>>John wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi all,
>>>>
>>>>I just got tablet pc with 4GB RAM but I only can see 3GB. Is this
>>>>supposed to be?
>>>>if not, how do I make it to see 4GB RAM?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks.
>>
>>
>>
>
4GB RAM support 
Linear Mode
