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I'm using a 64-bit release. But, my PC doesn't seem to show the full 4GB of RAM that is installed. It shows about 3.4 to 3.6GB of RAM (please see attached picture).
I thought that if I could install a 64-bit OS that would mean that I have a 64-bit capable processor. I thought using a 64-bit release would show all 4GB or RAM on my PC.
What am I doing wrong? My CPU is a Pentium 4 Prescott DT 630.
The problem is in either the motherboard or the BIOS, not in the OS.
This is discussed in many other threads at LQ.
If it is not a motherboard issue, there is likely a BIOS setting that can be changed to fix the problem. But the details vary a lot by BIOS version, so it would be hard to guide you to the correct BIOS setting even if it exists.
Detailed motherboard info, or better yet a link to an online copy of the motherboard manual, would make it easier for someone to help you.
Some related threads:
Here the OP started by looking in many of the right places to verify that what is usually a BIOS or motherboard issue actually was. In the unusual case shown in that thread, the problem actually wasn't BIOS/Motherboard: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...6/#post4313393
This thread touches on two of the common topics within this issue: Ram used by the integrated graphics, and motherboard specs claiming to support 4GiB when they really support slightly less. I don't see a clear final answer in this thread: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...my-ram-867990/
Here is one of the (unfortunately unusual) cases in which someone I encouraged to look for the setting in his BIOS not only found it, but also reported back to the thread what he found: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...2/#post3150066
you have a AMD 64 bit kernel for a INTEL cpu ???????
"AMD64", in most cases, simply refers to the x86_64 architecture, whether the chip itself is made by AMD, Intel, or some other manufacturer…
Also, if this is the OP's CPU, then it indeed has 64-bit capability. It's doubtful the 32/64-bit difference has anything to do with this problem, though, as theoretically even a 32-bit kernel can address 4 GiB of memory.
Last edited by MrCode; 06-04-2011 at 04:41 PM.
Reason: Just remembered: PAE is only required for addressing more than 4 GiB
I didn't know that the motherboard might be the issue. Below is the output of dmidecode and it indicates "Maximum Capacity: 4 GB"
Output from dmidecode:
Code:
$ sudo dmidecode -q
BIOS Information
Vendor: Dell Inc.
Version: A07
Release Date: 01/08/2007
Address: 0xF0000
Runtime Size: 64 kB
ROM Size: 512 kB
Characteristics:
PCI is supported
PNP is supported
APM is supported
BIOS is upgradeable
BIOS shadowing is allowed
Boot from CD is supported
Selectable boot is supported
EDD is supported
Japanese floppy for Toshiba 1.2 MB is supported (int 13h)
Print screen service is supported (int 5h)
8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h)
Serial services are supported (int 14h)
Printer services are supported (int 17h)
ACPI is supported
USB legacy is supported
LS-120 boot is supported
BIOS boot specification is supported
Function key-initiated network boot is supported
System Information
Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Product Name: Dell DXP051
Version: Not Specified
Serial Number: CPM4Q81
UUID: 44454C4C-5000-104D-8034-C3C04F513831
Wake-up Type: APM Timer
Base Board Information
Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Product Name: 0YC523
Version:
Serial Number: ..CN7082159AG0H8.
Chassis Information
Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Type: Tower
Lock: Not Present
Version: Not Specified
Serial Number: CPM4Q81
Asset Tag:
Boot-up State: Safe
Power Supply State: Safe
Thermal State: Safe
Security Status: None
Processor Information
Socket Designation: Microprocessor
Type: Central Processor
Family: Pentium 4
Manufacturer: Intel
ID: 43 0F 00 00 FF FB EB BF
Signature: Type 0, Family 15, Model 4, Stepping 3
Flags:
FPU (Floating-point unit on-chip)
VME (Virtual mode extension)
DE (Debugging extension)
PSE (Page size extension)
TSC (Time stamp counter)
MSR (Model specific registers)
PAE (Physical address extension)
MCE (Machine check exception)
CX8 (CMPXCHG8 instruction supported)
APIC (On-chip APIC hardware supported)
SEP (Fast system call)
MTRR (Memory type range registers)
PGE (Page global enable)
MCA (Machine check architecture)
CMOV (Conditional move instruction supported)
PAT (Page attribute table)
PSE-36 (36-bit page size extension)
CLFSH (CLFLUSH instruction supported)
DS (Debug store)
ACPI (ACPI supported)
MMX (MMX technology supported)
FXSR (Fast floating-point save and restore)
SSE (Streaming SIMD extensions)
SSE2 (Streaming SIMD extensions 2)
SS (Self-snoop)
HTT (Hyper-threading technology)
TM (Thermal monitor supported)
PBE (Pending break enabled)
Version: Not Specified
Voltage: 1.3 V
External Clock: 800 MHz
Max Speed: 4000 MHz
Current Speed: 3000 MHz
Status: Populated, Enabled
Upgrade: ZIF Socket
Cache Information
Socket Designation: Not Specified
Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 1
Operational Mode: Write Back
Location: Internal
Installed Size: 16 KB
Maximum Size: 16 KB
Supported SRAM Types:
Other
Installed SRAM Type: Other
Speed: Unknown
Error Correction Type: None
System Type: Data
Associativity: 8-way Set-associative
Cache Information
Socket Designation: Not Specified
Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 2
Operational Mode: Varies With Memory Address
Location: Internal
Installed Size: 2048 KB
Maximum Size: 2048 KB
Supported SRAM Types:
Other
Installed SRAM Type: Other
Speed: Unknown
Error Correction Type: Single-bit ECC
System Type: Unified
Associativity: 8-way Set-associative
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: USB1
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB)
Port Type: USB
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: USB2
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB)
Port Type: USB
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: USB3
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB)
Port Type: USB
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: USB4
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB)
Port Type: USB
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: USB5
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB)
Port Type: USB
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: USB6
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB)
Port Type: USB
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: USB7
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB)
Port Type: USB
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: USB8
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB)
Port Type: USB
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: ENET
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: RJ-45
Port Type: Network Port
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: MIC
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: Mini Jack (headphones)
Port Type: Audio Port
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: LINE-OUT
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: Mini Jack (headphones)
Port Type: Audio Port
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: LINE-IN
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: Mini Jack (headphones)
Port Type: Audio Port
Port Connector Information
Internal Reference Designator: HP-OUT
Internal Connector Type: None
External Reference Designator: Not Specified
External Connector Type: Mini Jack (headphones)
Port Type: Audio Port
System Slot Information
Designation: PEG
Type: x16 PCI Express
Current Usage: In Use
Length: Long
ID: 10
Characteristics:
3.3 V is provided
PME signal is supported
System Slot Information
Designation: SLOT1
Type: x1 PCI Express
Current Usage: Available
Length: Long
ID: 1
Characteristics:
3.3 V is provided
PME signal is supported
System Slot Information
Designation: SLOT3
Type: 32-bit PCI
Current Usage: In Use
Length: Long
ID: 3
Characteristics:
5.0 V is provided
3.3 V is provided
PME signal is supported
System Slot Information
Designation: SLOT4
Type: x4 PCI Express
Current Usage: Available
Length: Long
ID: 4
Characteristics:
3.3 V is provided
PME signal is supported
System Slot Information
Designation: SLOT5
Type: 32-bit PCI
Current Usage: In Use
Length: Long
ID: 5
Characteristics:
5.0 V is provided
3.3 V is provided
PME signal is supported
System Slot Information
Designation: SLOT6
Type: 32-bit PCI
Current Usage: Available
Length: Long
ID: 6
Characteristics:
5.0 V is provided
3.3 V is provided
PME signal is supported
On Board Device Information
Type: Ethernet
Status: Enabled
Description: Intel PRO/100 VE Network Connections
On Board Device Information
Type: Sound
Status: Disabled
Description: Intel(R) High Definition Audio Controller
OEM Strings
String 1: www.dell.com
BIOS Language Information
Installable Languages: 1
en|US|iso8859-1
Currently Installed Language: en|US|iso8859-1
System Event Log
Area Length: 2049 bytes
Header Start Offset: 0x0000
Header Length: 16 bytes
Data Start Offset: 0x0010
Access Method: Memory-mapped physical 32-bit address
Access Address: 0xFFF81000
Status: Valid, Not Full
Change Token: 0x0000000F
Header Format: Type 1
Supported Log Type Descriptors: 3
Descriptor 1: POST error
Data Format 1: POST results bitmap
Descriptor 2: System limit exceeded
Data Format 2: System management
Descriptor 3: Log area reset/cleared
Data Format 3: None
Physical Memory Array
Location: System Board Or Motherboard
Use: System Memory
Error Correction Type: None
Maximum Capacity: 4 GB
Number Of Devices: 4
Memory Device
Total Width: 64 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 1024 MB
Form Factor: DIMM
Set: None
Locator: DIMM_1
Bank Locator: Not Specified
Type: DDR
Type Detail: Synchronous
Speed: 667 MHz (1.5 ns)
Manufacturer: 2C00000000000000
Serial Number: E40F2DDF
Asset Tag: Not Specified
Part Number: 8HTF12864AY-667G2
Memory Device
Total Width: 64 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 1024 MB
Form Factor: DIMM
Set: None
Locator: DIMM_3
Bank Locator: Not Specified
Type: DDR
Type Detail: Synchronous
Speed: 667 MHz (1.5 ns)
Manufacturer: 2C00000000000000
Serial Number: E40F2DAE
Asset Tag: Not Specified
Part Number: 8HTF12864AY-667G2
Memory Device
Total Width: 64 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 1024 MB
Form Factor: DIMM
Set: None
Locator: DIMM_2
Bank Locator: Not Specified
Type: DDR
Type Detail: Synchronous
Speed: 667 MHz (1.5 ns)
Manufacturer: 2C00000000000000
Serial Number: E40F2D9A
Asset Tag: Not Specified
Part Number: 8HTF12864AY-667G2
Memory Device
Total Width: 64 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 1024 MB
Form Factor: DIMM
Set: None
Locator: DIMM_4
Bank Locator: Not Specified
Type: DDR
Type Detail: Synchronous
Speed: 667 MHz (1.5 ns)
Manufacturer: 2C00000000000000
Serial Number: E40F2E52
Asset Tag: Not Specified
Part Number: 8HTF12864AY-667G2
Memory Array Mapped Address
Starting Address: 0x00000000000
Ending Address: 0x000FFFFFFFF
Range Size: 4 GB
Partition Width: 0
Memory Device Mapped Address
Starting Address: 0x00000000000
Ending Address: 0x0003FFFFFFF
Range Size: 1 GB
Partition Row Position: 1
Memory Device Mapped Address
Starting Address: 0x00040000000
Ending Address: 0x0007FFFFFFF
Range Size: 1 GB
Partition Row Position: 1
Memory Device Mapped Address
Starting Address: 0x00080000000
Ending Address: 0x000BFFFFFFF
Range Size: 1 GB
Partition Row Position: 1
Memory Device Mapped Address
Starting Address: 0x000C0000000
Ending Address: 0x000FFFFFFFF
Range Size: 1 GB
Partition Row Position: 1
Hardware Security
Power-On Password Status: Enabled
Keyboard Password Status: Not Implemented
Administrator Password Status: Enabled
Front Panel Reset Status: Not Implemented
System Power Controls
Next Scheduled Power-on: *-* 00:00:00
Cooling Device
Type: Fan
Status: OK
OEM-specific Information: 0x0000DD00
Cooling Device
Type: Fan
Status: OK
OEM-specific Information: 0x0000DD01
System Boot Information
Status: No errors detected
Below is the output of dmidecode and it indicates "Maximum Capacity: 4 GB"
That usually means the max usable ram is significantly lower than 4GB (typically around 3.5GB) and there is nothing the OS can do about it.
It is still possible there is some BIOS setting to let you use significantly closer to 4GB than is now usable. But it isn't very likely.
Quote:
Output from dmesg | grep BIOS:
That unambiguously shows the problem is either motherboard or BIOS and not Linux. I assumed that from the start in this thread, but this confirms that assumption.
Quote:
I have no ability to alter RAM via BIOS on this PC.
That setting would not be in the ram or memory section of the BIOS menu. If it exists, it would be confusingly located and named.
But more likely it isn't there and you can't enable more ram than you now have.
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