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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

my advice: go back to 32 bit

Why 32 bit?

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 :2 cents:

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...

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...

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 :thumbsup :pimp

If you ever build a 128 GB, I want one :thumbsup:party-smi

Your machine will only recognise 3.25 Gig of ram.

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

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

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