Incorrect Memory: Ubuntu

ninadoak · 09-14-2011, 12:04 AM

Hi all,

When i use free-m, i get this when I have physical RAM of 4 GB.

Code:

ninad@ninad-Studio-1555:/$ free -m
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:          2862       2780         82          0         93       2214
-/+ buffers/cache:        472       2390
Swap:         6143          0       6143

My system config is:

Code:

ninad@ninad-Studio-1555:/$ uname -a
Linux ninad-Studio-1555 2.6.35-28-generic #50-Ubuntu SMP Fri Mar 18 19:00:26 UTC 2011 i686 GNU/Linux

Why my system is showing only 2.8 GB of RAM where it should be 3.8 GB?
I need this fix very urgently so as to run a heavy memory consuming program.

Thanks,

DanceMan · 09-14-2011, 01:43 AM

My guess? You probably have a 32-bit cpu and/or OS install which can only use up to something like 3.2G. The remaining missing ram is likely being used by integrated video.

If your cpu is 64-bit capable, a 64-bit install of Ubuntu would solve the issue.

ninadoak · 09-14-2011, 01:46 AM

Yes I do have a 64 bit cpu.
So this should be a problem i see. Is there anyway that I can install a new 64 bit OS with my current OS settings (updates and installs)?

DanceMan · 09-14-2011, 01:52 AM

I think you'd have to do a complete reinstall. Any 32-bit OS, Win or linux, can only address up to 3.2G or so. A 64-bit install will require 64-bit programs as well. By now availability of current programs would not be a problem, but again this would be reinstall territory.

ninadoak · 09-14-2011, 01:55 AM

Ohhk... Right..!!
Thanks a lot for letting know an imp fact.

kcbtux · 09-14-2011, 01:57 AM

any one knows how to check the version of o.s. and processor separately??

ninadoak · 09-14-2011, 02:38 AM

Try uname -p and uname -o
for details, uname --help

ninadoak · 09-14-2011, 02:59 AM

Heyy, check this out.
It says 32bit system can use up to 4 GB RAM
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-limit-707762/

cascade9 · 09-14-2011, 03:44 AM

Studio-1555? Sounds like a laptop name.

Some laptops can use huge amounts of 'main' system RAM to 'share' for use by intergrated video. That is what I would check 1st, how much RAM is allocated to video in the BIOS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanceMan

My guess? You probably have a 32-bit cpu and/or OS install which can only use up to something like 3.2G. The remaining missing ram is likely being used by integrated video.

If your cpu is 64-bit capable, a 64-bit install of Ubuntu would solve the issue.

Wrong, 32bit can use and see 4GB+ with the PAE option.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension

You're probably right about the intergrated video, but the 'missing' RAM will also be used by networking, audio, etc..

If it is the 3.something GB limit of standard 32bit, installing the PAE kernel will give you back the 'missing' RAM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcbtux

any one knows how to check the version of o.s. and processor separately??

Yes. lshw and uname.

ninadoak · 09-14-2011, 03:48 AM

How can I check what amount of my RAM is used for integrated video?
And how can I alter that usage? Is it ok to alter that?

cascade9 · 09-14-2011, 05:05 AM

You can normally set the amount of shared RAM in the BIOS settings. Since I've never played with a Dell 1555 I dont know where in the BIOS the shared RAM settings would be (and a quick search didnt show me either).

If you play games its possible that dropping the amount of shared video RAM will slow some games down.

ninadoak · 09-14-2011, 05:09 AM

well i am on linux... that underlines that i dont really play games.

so that is not a problem.
P.S.: if you know good linux games, please suggest.

cascade9 · 09-15-2011, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninadoak

P.S.: if you know good linux games, please suggest.

What sort of games?

The games I like tend to be pretty old and most have pretty basic graphics.

TobiSGD · 09-15-2011, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninadoak

if you know good linux games, please suggest.

http://www.linuxgames.com/ http://happypenguin.org/ http://www.penguspy.com/#/All/free_a...view=1/limit=0 http://www.lgdb.org/