Dell Dimension E510 RAM problem

cmas1148 · 09-22-2011, 02:57 AM

I have a Dell Dimension E510 with 4GB of RAM installed, yet when I go to System Properties Windows 7 reports 4GB installed but only 3.25 usable?

Specs are
Windows 7 64 bit
4GB DDR2 RAM
Radeon HD 3450 256MB PCIe
320GB Maxtor SATA2 HDD
945G Chipset

PLEASE help this is so annoying

cascade9 · 09-22-2011, 04:57 AM

Windows problems dont go into 'linux' sections of this forum. Reported for moving.

3.25GB from 4GB, thats due at least in part to how windows deals with video card memory-

Quote:

For example, if you have a video card that has 256 MB of onboard memory, that memory must be mapped within the first 4 GB of address space. If 4 GB of system memory is already installed, part of that address space must be reserved by the graphics memory mapping. Graphics memory mapping overwrites a part of the system memory. These conditions reduce the total amount of system memory that is available to the operating system.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605

You will also be losing some RAM to onboard devices.

colucix · 09-22-2011, 06:40 AM

Moved: This thread is more suitable in General and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.