Not Reading All My RAM (3.5 usable)

[aaronjbc1234]

Having a problem, I just upgraded from windows 7 32 bit to 64 bit, and figured it would enable me to use more memory. But it is still (3.5gig usable). I put another stick in up to 5gigs, but it is still just the 3.5gig usable.

I've read some things I googled, most are just people using 32 bit, but common thing seems to be something called memory mapping in the BIOS, but I don't see that option anywhere. I'm using the GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX motherboard. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128059)

It says 8gig maximum on that specifications, but that doesn't seem to be the case, for me.

 

[TheStu]

I have that same board, with 4GB memory, all usable in 7 64bit... I don't recall doing anything special in the BIOS.

What version of the BIOS are you using?

 

[aaronjbc1234]

I have that same board, with 4GB memory, all usable in 7 64bit... I don't recall doing anything special in the BIOS.

What version of the BIOS are you using?

SMBIOS version 2.4?

Typed in msinfo32 in the Run prompt, not sure how else to get it.

 

[dfuze]

according to a quick google search, you can find the version in your registry

search your registry for

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWAR\EDESCRIPTION\System

 

[aaronjbc1234]

according to a quick google search, you can find the version in your registry

search your registry for

Thank you, it says version F7

Also, I downloaded the newest BIOS from the gigabyte site, but when I try to use it it says it's not compatible with my OS. There's no option from their site when selecting BIOS to specify your OS

 

[Devilpapaya]

When you say upgrade, do you mean fresh install on a clean formatted drive, or and in-place upgrade?

 

[aaronjbc1234]

When you say upgrade, do you mean fresh install on a clean formatted drive, or and in-place upgrade?

Put in the install disc, chose custom and installed. I thought that you had to fresh install to upgrade from 32bit to 64?

 

[dfuze]

You are correct, when moving from 32 to 64 bit you can't "upgrade" but have to do a complete reinstall

 

[aaronjbc1234]

I upgraded my BIOS to latest version, still nothing changed, no additional option to change any memory setting.

 

[Gunbuster]

First of all how much RAM does it report in the BIOS?

 

[aaronjbc1234]

First of all how much RAM does it report in the BIOS?

It reads

Base Memory: 640k
Extended Memory:3582
Total Memory: 3584

 

[Gunbuster]

Your Motherboard does not like your RAM or it's not fully seated. Windows is never going to see it if the motherboard cant.

Try one stick at a time and check to see if it registers the correct amount.

 

[kalrith]

A quick Google search yielded the following thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/254176-30-asus-p5kpl-installed-bios-shows-3584

Nope, because the Intel G31/P31 chipset is hard-limited to 4GB (32-bit) total address space and does not support memory remapping over 4GB.

The "missing" 512MB of RAM is due to the BIOS mapping the space needed by PCI bus.

Go into your BIOS at boot by pressing Del, Go to Advanced then Chipset.
Select North Bridge Configuration and ENABLE Memory Remap Feature

This will give back your missing 512Mb totaling it out to 4 GB.

This has worked out for others with the same mobo, it will help u too.

It looks like your chipset might be limiting you to 4GB of RAM, and your PCI bus is using 512MB of RAM, which results in 3.5GB.

 

[aaronjbc1234]

A quick Google search yielded the following thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/254176-30-asus-p5kpl-installed-bios-shows-3584



It looks like your chipset might be limiting you to 4GB of RAM, and your PCI bus is using 512MB of RAM, which results in 3.5GB.

Yes, I looked at that as well, but the chipset is P35 and it says on the specifications that 8gig is the maximum. I'll test the memory individually now

 

[TheStu]

A quick Google search yielded the following thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/254176-30-asus-p5kpl-installed-bios-shows-3584



It looks like your chipset might be limiting you to 4GB of RAM, and your PCI bus is using 512MB of RAM, which results in 3.5GB.

As I said earlier though, I have that exact same board, with that same BIOS actually, and I can use 4GB no problem. That page was talking about G31 a modified chipset.

 

[tcsenter]

As I said earlier though, I have that exact same board, with that same BIOS actually, and I can use 4GB no problem. That page was talking about G31 a modified chipset.

And the author of that post had no idea what he was talking about. haha

I've since learned that P31/G31 does indeed support memory remapping but only supports a max of 4GB RAM, allowing the use of all 4GB if memory remapping is enabled. Problem being, many (if not most) G31 boards simply did not implement or support it in the BIOS.