Tech Question: XP X64 Only Recognizes 3.25 GB Memory - GoFuckYourself.com

ModelPerfect · 06-24-2008, 10:57 AM

So I'm building a new system with a Core2Quad Q6600 processor, 512 MB NVidia 8800GT, and 4 GB RAM (the Asrock 4Core1600P35-WiFi+ motherboard actually supports 8 GB). I did some researching and was under the impression that I needed a 64-bit OS to recognize the full amount of RAM. Not wanting to go to Vista, I opted for XP Pro X64 and upgraded to SP2.

The BIOS does indeed recognize the full amount of RAM, but the OS only sees 3.25 GB, which is what most people said would be the case under a 32 bit OS. I have already have the latest version of BIOS, but it doesn't have a memory remap option (something some articles mentioned).

Anyone have any clue what's going on, and how to get my system to recognize the full amount of RAM? If I can't get full use of the 4 GB, is there any advantage to using a X64 system, rather than my trusty old XP Pro X86 version? What's the GFY gurus take on Vista X64?

Thanks a lot in advance....

-Logan

farkedup · 06-24-2008, 11:07 AM

there's a boot line that you can add thats a bit of a "hack" but your 512Mb video card counts towards that 4Gb limitation

_Richard_ · 06-24-2008, 11:11 AM

i don't know much about it, but i heard that 2G is the basic limit for this? i thought everything above that didn't work so well yet

farkedup · 06-24-2008, 11:11 AM

oh you installed the 64bit already? doesn't sound like it... the 64 bit installs I've done have all recognized 4Gb RAM properly and even the 8Gb one I was running

64 bit windows simply isn't worth it yet. Just stick with XP 32 bit where you only "need" 2Gb RAM and avoid Vista where you "need" 3Gb.

If you seriously have to do things that need much more than 3Gb RAM you'll have to go OSX or linux. I have a 64 bit ubuntu installed and it works GREAT in my media server/encoding box in the corner.

ModelPerfect · 06-24-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farkedup

there's a boot line that you can add thats a bit of a "hack" but your 512Mb video card counts towards that 4Gb limitation

There's a /PAE hack for the 32-bit system, which I tried with the x64, but it didn't work either. There shouldn't be a 4 GB limit on a x64 OS...in fact, I think the limit is supposed to be 128 GB or something ridiculous like that.

ModelPerfect · 06-24-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farkedup

oh you installed the 64bit already? doesn't sound like it... the 64 bit installs I've done have all recognized 4Gb RAM properly and even the 8Gb one I was running

64 bit windows simply isn't worth it yet. Just stick with XP 32 bit where you only "need" 2Gb RAM and avoid Vista where you "need" 3Gb.

If you seriously have to do things that need much more than 3Gb RAM you'll have to go OSX or linux. I have a 64 bit ubuntu installed and it works GREAT in my media server/encoding box in the corner.

I'm actually considering going back to 32-bit, if I can't resolve the 4 GB issue...

ModelPerfect · 06-24-2008, 11:31 AM

Oh yeah, I also ran memtest, so I'm pretty sure there's no errors in the RAM...

Marky333 · 06-24-2008, 11:33 AM

my advice: go back to 32 bit

tranza · 06-24-2008, 12:12 PM

Why 32 bit?

JOKER · 06-24-2008, 12:30 PM

Same happened to me... in the end I installed the latest bios and tada - 8GB visible in x64 and usable as well - the bios always recognized it though, just didn't work within the OS.

Turned out the bios upgrade switched memory remap to automatic (I didn't see any option before) so this did the trick.

Nothing additional in the boot.ini / boot line either.

Your solution lies within the memory remap, or whatever it's called in your bios.

Good luck man, I know it's frustrating

ModelPerfect · 06-24-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranza

Why 32 bit?

Yeah, I'd like to see explanations with recommendations myself.

BUT, if memory wasn't an issue with 32-bit, I'd definitely go that route, because it's simply more compatible with what's out there, and doesn't require as many resources.

One issue I'm not sure about is if the quadcore processor is as effectively used on a 32 bit system...

ModelPerfect · 06-24-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOKER | JOKEREMPIRE Inc.

Same happened to me... in the end I installed the latest bios and tada - 8GB visible in x64 and usable as well - the bios always recognized it though, just didn't work within the OS.

Turned out the bios upgrade switched memory remap to automatic (I didn't see any option before) so this did the trick.

Nothing additional in the boot.ini / boot line either.

Your solution lies within the memory remap, or whatever it's called in your bios.

Good luck man, I know it's frustrating

Yeah, I've searched and searched, but can't find anything related to memory remap in the BIOS. I downloaded the latest BIOS, but it's the same version I currently have, so I doubt that'll help me... I emailed AsRock tech support, but nothing back yet...

ModelPerfect · 06-24-2008, 12:54 PM

Woohoo! I searched BIOS again, and finally found the memory remap feature (don't know how I missed it before...). Turned it on and all my memory is recognized.

JOKER · 06-25-2008, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModelPerfect

Woohoo! I searched BIOS again, and finally found the memory remap feature (don't know how I missed it before...). Turned it on and all my memory is recognized.

Congrats

digifan · 06-25-2008, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModelPerfect

There's a /PAE hack for the 32-bit system, which I tried with the x64, but it didn't work either. There shouldn't be a 4 GB limit on a x64 OS...in fact, I think the limit is supposed to be 128 GB or something ridiculous like that.

If you ever build a 128 GB, I want one

CunningStunt · 06-25-2008, 03:33 AM

Your machine will only recognise 3.25 Gig of ram.

digifan · 06-25-2008, 03:45 AM

You should start a blog about it, it would be a success

Penny24Seven · 06-25-2008, 03:50 AM

mine said 3.25 for the longest time and now it shows 8GB , one of the updates fixed it in the last 2 weeks

munki · 06-25-2008, 04:00 AM

Just make the vista hop... I'm running 6 gbs in my main quad processor on vista ultimate 64... runs like a dream.

Bake · 06-25-2008, 06:21 AM

I have 64 and it shows 4gb and have 512 card , still not happy dosent seem any quicker than running 2 gb on 32

06-24-2008, 10:57 AM	#1
ModelPerfect Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,862	Tech Question: XP X64 Only Recognizes 3.25 GB Memory So I'm building a new system with a Core2Quad Q6600 processor, 512 MB NVidia 8800GT, and 4 GB RAM (the Asrock 4Core1600P35-WiFi+ motherboard actually supports 8 GB). I did some researching and was under the impression that I needed a 64-bit OS to recognize the full amount of RAM. Not wanting to go to Vista, I opted for XP Pro X64 and upgraded to SP2. The BIOS does indeed recognize the full amount of RAM, but the OS only sees 3.25 GB, which is what most people said would be the case under a 32 bit OS. I have already have the latest version of BIOS, but it doesn't have a memory remap option (something some articles mentioned). Anyone have any clue what's going on, and how to get my system to recognize the full amount of RAM? If I can't get full use of the 4 GB, is there any advantage to using a X64 system, rather than my trusty old XP Pro X86 version? What's the GFY gurus take on Vista X64? Thanks a lot in advance.... -Logan __________________ Logan modelperfect [at] gmail.com http://www.modelperfect.com (Proudly hosted at www.webair.com )

06-24-2008, 11:07 AM	#2
farkedup Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 2,490	there's a boot line that you can add thats a bit of a "hack" but your 512Mb video card counts towards that 4Gb limitation __________________ -- QUOTE ME IT MAKES ME FEEL SPECIAL --

06-24-2008, 11:11 AM	#4
farkedup Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 2,490	oh you installed the 64bit already? doesn't sound like it... the 64 bit installs I've done have all recognized 4Gb RAM properly and even the 8Gb one I was running 64 bit windows simply isn't worth it yet. Just stick with XP 32 bit where you only "need" 2Gb RAM and avoid Vista where you "need" 3Gb. If you seriously have to do things that need much more than 3Gb RAM you'll have to go OSX or linux. I have a 64 bit ubuntu installed and it works GREAT in my media server/encoding box in the corner. __________________ -- QUOTE ME IT MAKES ME FEEL SPECIAL --

06-24-2008, 11:31 AM	#7
ModelPerfect Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,862	Oh yeah, I also ran memtest, so I'm pretty sure there's no errors in the RAM... __________________ Logan modelperfect [at] gmail.com http://www.modelperfect.com (Proudly hosted at www.webair.com )

06-24-2008, 12:12 PM	#9
tranza ICQ: 197-556-237 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: BRASIL !!! Posts: 57,559	Why 32 bit? __________________ I'm just a newbie.

06-24-2008, 11:11 AM	#3
_Richard_ Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Earth Posts: 30,989	i don't know much about it, but i heard that 2G is the basic limit for this? i thought everything above that didn't work so well yet

06-24-2008, 11:33 AM	#8
Marky333 Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 974	my advice: go back to 32 bit

06-24-2008, 12:30 PM	#10
JOKER Facit Omnia Voluntas Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Offshore Posts: 2,105	Same happened to me... in the end I installed the latest bios and tada - 8GB visible in x64 and usable as well - the bios always recognized it though, just didn't work within the OS. Turned out the bios upgrade switched memory remap to automatic (I didn't see any option before) so this did the trick. Nothing additional in the boot.ini / boot line either. Your solution lies within the memory remap, or whatever it's called in your bios. Good luck man, I know it's frustrating __________________ Facilitation - BizDev - Traffic - Consulting - Marketing Skype: jokerempire \| Silent Circle: joker

06-24-2008, 12:54 PM	#13
ModelPerfect Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,862	Woohoo! I searched BIOS again, and finally found the memory remap feature (don't know how I missed it before...). Turned it on and all my memory is recognized. __________________ Logan modelperfect [at] gmail.com http://www.modelperfect.com (Proudly hosted at www.webair.com )

06-25-2008, 03:33 AM	#16
CunningStunt Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,594	Your machine will only recognise 3.25 Gig of ram.

06-25-2008, 03:45 AM	#17
digifan The Profiler Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: ICQ 76281726 and I'm female Posts: 14,618	You should start a blog about it, it would be a success

06-25-2008, 03:50 AM	#18
Penny24Seven So Fucking What Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: USA Posts: 6,287	mine said 3.25 for the longest time and now it shows 8GB , one of the updates fixed it in the last 2 weeks __________________ Our site is coming soon. It will be one of the best ever! I know so. Brian and Penny

06-25-2008, 04:00 AM	#19
munki Do Fun Shit. Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OC Posts: 13,393	Just make the vista hop... I'm running 6 gbs in my main quad processor on vista ultimate 64... runs like a dream. __________________ “I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.” -Oscar Wilde

06-25-2008, 06:21 AM	#20
Bake Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Outback of bumfuck Aussie Posts: 5,263	I have 64 and it shows 4gb and have 512 card , still not happy dosent seem any quicker than running 2 gb on 32 __________________ Buy great domains from drunken burned out old webmaster CHEAP bullseyeporn.com art-met.com and more. Learn how to make a easy extra $500 per week