Memory amount inaccuracies in OEM systems

[archcommus]

I noticed that in all OEM systems BB sells (HP, Sony, eMachines, etc.), if you check System Properites, the amount of memory listed is not the amount advertised. However, it's not an entire step lower, so it really doesn't make any sense. For example, most systems advertised as having 1 GB of memory actually display 896 MB in System Properties.

Can anyone explain this?

 

[PurdueRy]

Onboard video uses the ram that is "missing"

 

[alimoalem]

that or they stick in a 512mb stick, a 256mb stick, and a 128mb stick . i'm with purdue on this one

 

[bamacre]

OP, you work at Best Buy?

That would explain a couple of things.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

256MB-32MB for shared video=222MB. Which seems odd if you don't realize it. The number will vary by how the drivers are set.

 

[archcommus]

Doh, didn't even think of that. Of course they all have onboard video, but I never thought it actually showed you the memory that's allocated for it.