RAM usage in Windows 7 64 bit

Upgraded to Windows7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit. Added RAM to 5GB (reason
I upgraded to 64 bit was to get around the 3GB 32 bit limitation.) Now
system shows 5GB but only 3.3GB available for use. Task manager shows
5.12GB installed, 3.326GB available or cached and 1.794GB "hardware
reserved"(?). Is this 1.794 not available for software? If not, how to
make it available for software?

I really wanted the performance improvement of 64 bit and increased RAM.
How do I get Windows7 64 bit to utilize the full 5 GB?

System is HP running 64 capable 2.13 hz dual core Intel.

Bob Costello

Whatever it is it's something you would be better off asking HP, or
reading up on the specs of your computer. It could be a BIOS setting,
reserved memory for a plug-in card (especially video RAM), etc.

Did you do a clean install of Win 7 x64?

It's not a clear cut answer not knowing exactly what your hardware is.
Some systems have limited memory capability by design. I have a Dell
1501 laptop with 4GB DDR2 installed. Win 7 tells me only 2.25GB of the
4GB is available for the system. That's something Dell designed into
the system. The 2.25GB limitation doesn't cause me any problem though
since I have a SSD and installed a RAMDisk and now have a virtual drive.


Bob Costello wrote:
> Upgraded to Windows7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit. Added RAM to 5GB (reason
> I upgraded to 64 bit was to get around the 3GB 32 bit limitation.) Now
> system shows 5GB but only 3.3GB available for use. Task manager shows
> 5.12GB installed, 3.326GB available or cached and 1.794GB "hardware
> reserved"(?). Is this 1.794 not available for software? If not, how to
> make it available for software?
>
> I really wanted the performance improvement of 64 bit and increased RAM.
> How do I get Windows7 64 bit to utilize the full 5 GB?
>
> System is HP running 64 capable 2.13 hz dual core Intel.

Bobby Johnson

There should a setting in your BIOS for address redirection or offset (it's
called different things in different BIOSs.) What it does is move the
various hardware reserved memory addresses up out of the 4 GB boundary,
allowing you to fully utilize your RAM. Otherwise, you end up with the
memory addresses that your RAM would use being taken up with things like
your network card, your video card, etc.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel




"Bob Costello" <> wrote in message
news:z20Jm.4288$...
> Upgraded to Windows7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit. Added RAM to 5GB (reason I
> upgraded to 64 bit was to get around the 3GB 32 bit limitation.) Now
> system shows 5GB but only 3.3GB available for use. Task manager shows
> 5.12GB installed, 3.326GB available or cached and 1.794GB "hardware
> reserved"(?). Is this 1.794 not available for software? If not, how to
> make it available for software?
>
> I really wanted the performance improvement of 64 bit and increased RAM.
> How do I get Windows7 64 bit to utilize the full 5 GB?
>
> System is HP running 64 capable 2.13 hz dual core Intel.

Charlie Russel - MVP

I'm having the same problem with my copy of windows 7 64-bit. I've got 4GB
of ram installed but windows says only 3 is usable. My motherboard is a
Biostar PT880 Pro-A7 but I can't find the bios setting you described. Any
help would be greatly appreciated.

"Charlie Russel - MVP" <> wrote in message
news:#...
> There should a setting in your BIOS for address redirection or offset
> (it's called different things in different BIOSs.) What it does is move
> the various hardware reserved memory addresses up out of the 4 GB
> boundary, allowing you to fully utilize your RAM. Otherwise, you end up
> with the memory addresses that your RAM would use being taken up with
> things like your network card, your video card, etc.
>
> --
> Charlie.
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>
>
>
>
> "Bob Costello" <> wrote in message
> news:z20Jm.4288$...
>> Upgraded to Windows7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit. Added RAM to 5GB (reason
>> I upgraded to 64 bit was to get around the 3GB 32 bit limitation.) Now
>> system shows 5GB but only 3.3GB available for use. Task manager shows
>> 5.12GB installed, 3.326GB available or cached and 1.794GB "hardware
>> reserved"(?). Is this 1.794 not available for software? If not, how to
>> make it available for software?
>>
>> I really wanted the performance improvement of 64 bit and increased RAM.
>> How do I get Windows7 64 bit to utilize the full 5 GB?
>>
>> System is HP running 64 capable 2.13 hz dual core Intel.
>

Endlessknight

Sorry, no familiarity with Biostar mobos or their BIOS.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel




"Endlessknight" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I'm having the same problem with my copy of windows 7 64-bit. I've got
> 4GB of ram installed but windows says only 3 is usable. My motherboard is
> a Biostar PT880 Pro-A7 but I can't find the bios setting you described.
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <> wrote in message
> news:#...
>> There should a setting in your BIOS for address redirection or offset
>> (it's called different things in different BIOSs.) What it does is move
>> the various hardware reserved memory addresses up out of the 4 GB
>> boundary, allowing you to fully utilize your RAM. Otherwise, you end up
>> with the memory addresses that your RAM would use being taken up with
>> things like your network card, your video card, etc.
>>
>> --
>> Charlie.
>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Bob Costello" <> wrote in message
>> news:z20Jm.4288$...
>>> Upgraded to Windows7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit. Added RAM to 5GB (reason
>>> I upgraded to 64 bit was to get around the 3GB 32 bit limitation.) Now
>>> system shows 5GB but only 3.3GB available for use. Task manager shows
>>> 5.12GB installed, 3.326GB available or cached and 1.794GB "hardware
>>> reserved"(?). Is this 1.794 not available for software? If not, how to
>>> make it available for software?
>>>
>>> I really wanted the performance improvement of 64 bit and increased RAM.
>>> How do I get Windows7 64 bit to utilize the full 5 GB?
>>>
>>> System is HP running 64 capable 2.13 hz dual core Intel.
>>

Charlie Russel - MVP

It also depends on exactly which version of the board you have. There
are 3 editions of the PT880 Pro-A7 and the specs for 2 of them is only
2GB of RAM is supported. Now, even though they say only 2GB is
supported you may realize a bit more than that but not all 4GB. Dell
says my 1501 laptop only supports 2GB. With 4GB in the laptop Dell has
it configured so that Win 7 only sees 2.25GB.



Endlessknight wrote:
> I'm having the same problem with my copy of windows 7 64-bit. I've got
> 4GB of ram installed but windows says only 3 is usable. My motherboard
> is a Biostar PT880 Pro-A7 but I can't find the bios setting you
> described. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <> wrote in
> message news:#...
>> There should a setting in your BIOS for address redirection or offset
>> (it's called different things in different BIOSs.) What it does is
>> move the various hardware reserved memory addresses up out of the 4 GB
>> boundary, allowing you to fully utilize your RAM. Otherwise, you end
>> up with the memory addresses that your RAM would use being taken up
>> with things like your network card, your video card, etc.
>>
>> --
>> Charlie.
>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Bob Costello" <> wrote in message
>> news:z20Jm.4288$...
>>> Upgraded to Windows7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit. Added RAM to 5GB
>>> (reason I upgraded to 64 bit was to get around the 3GB 32 bit
>>> limitation.) Now system shows 5GB but only 3.3GB available for use.
>>> Task manager shows 5.12GB installed, 3.326GB available or cached and
>>> 1.794GB "hardware reserved"(?). Is this 1.794 not available for
>>> software? If not, how to make it available for software?
>>>
>>> I really wanted the performance improvement of 64 bit and increased
>>> RAM. How do I get Windows7 64 bit to utilize the full 5 GB?
>>>
>>> System is HP running 64 capable 2.13 hz dual core Intel.
>>

Bobby Johnson

Bob Costello wrote:
> Upgraded to Windows7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit. Added RAM to 5GB (reason
> I upgraded to 64 bit was to get around the 3GB 32 bit limitation.) Now
> system shows 5GB but only 3.3GB available for use. Task manager shows
> 5.12GB installed, 3.326GB available or cached and 1.794GB "hardware
> reserved"(?). Is this 1.794 not available for software? If not, how to
> make it available for software?
>
> I really wanted the performance improvement of 64 bit and increased RAM.
> How do I get Windows7 64 bit to utilize the full 5 GB?
>
> System is HP running 64 capable 2.13 hz dual core Intel.


I am definitely running 64 bits. Did a clean install and it shows it is
running 64 bits. Board is ASUS Tek Leonite 5.00 and the bios is Phoenix
Tech LTD 5.09. The computer is an HP Media Center with 2.13 GHz Intel
Core 2 HP-Pavilion RT680AA-ABA m7747c.

Sounds like it is a BIOS limitation. I see no option in Bios to change
anything related to this.

Bob Costello

The motherboard manual says max ram is 4GB.

"Bobby Johnson" <> wrote in message
news:...
> It also depends on exactly which version of the board you have. There are
> 3 editions of the PT880 Pro-A7 and the specs for 2 of them is only 2GB of
> RAM is supported. Now, even though they say only 2GB is supported you may
> realize a bit more than that but not all 4GB. Dell says my 1501 laptop
> only supports 2GB. With 4GB in the laptop Dell has it configured so that
> Win 7 only sees 2.25GB.
>
>
>
> Endlessknight wrote:
>> I'm having the same problem with my copy of windows 7 64-bit. I've got
>> 4GB of ram installed but windows says only 3 is usable. My motherboard is
>> a Biostar PT880 Pro-A7 but I can't find the bios setting you described.
>> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <> wrote in message
>> news:#...
>>> There should a setting in your BIOS for address redirection or offset
>>> (it's called different things in different BIOSs.) What it does is move
>>> the various hardware reserved memory addresses up out of the 4 GB
>>> boundary, allowing you to fully utilize your RAM. Otherwise, you end up
>>> with the memory addresses that your RAM would use being taken up with
>>> things like your network card, your video card, etc.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Charlie.
>>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Bob Costello" <> wrote in message
>>> news:z20Jm.4288$...
>>>> Upgraded to Windows7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit. Added RAM to 5GB
>>>> (reason I upgraded to 64 bit was to get around the 3GB 32 bit
>>>> limitation.) Now system shows 5GB but only 3.3GB available for use.
>>>> Task manager shows 5.12GB installed, 3.326GB available or cached and
>>>> 1.794GB "hardware reserved"(?). Is this 1.794 not available for
>>>> software? If not, how to make it available for software?
>>>>
>>>> I really wanted the performance improvement of 64 bit and increased
>>>> RAM. How do I get Windows7 64 bit to utilize the full 5 GB?
>>>>
>>>> System is HP running 64 capable 2.13 hz dual core Intel.
>>>

Endlessknight

Then you need to find the setting in Memory for a "Memory Hole" and
change the setting.


Endlessknight wrote:
> The motherboard manual says max ram is 4GB.
>
> "Bobby Johnson" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> It also depends on exactly which version of the board you have. There
>> are 3 editions of the PT880 Pro-A7 and the specs for 2 of them is only
>> 2GB of RAM is supported. Now, even though they say only 2GB is
>> supported you may realize a bit more than that but not all 4GB. Dell
>> says my 1501 laptop only supports 2GB. With 4GB in the laptop Dell
>> has it configured so that Win 7 only sees 2.25GB.
>>
>>
>>
>> Endlessknight wrote:
>>> I'm having the same problem with my copy of windows 7 64-bit. I've
>>> got 4GB of ram installed but windows says only 3 is usable. My
>>> motherboard is a Biostar PT880 Pro-A7 but I can't find the bios
>>> setting you described. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>>>
>>> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <> wrote in
>>> message news:#...
>>>> There should a setting in your BIOS for address redirection or
>>>> offset (it's called different things in different BIOSs.) What it
>>>> does is move the various hardware reserved memory addresses up out
>>>> of the 4 GB boundary, allowing you to fully utilize your RAM.
>>>> Otherwise, you end up with the memory addresses that your RAM would
>>>> use being taken up with things like your network card, your video
>>>> card, etc.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Charlie.
>>>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Bob Costello" <> wrote in message
>>>> news:z20Jm.4288$...
>>>>> Upgraded to Windows7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit. Added RAM to 5GB
>>>>> (reason I upgraded to 64 bit was to get around the 3GB 32 bit
>>>>> limitation.) Now system shows 5GB but only 3.3GB available for use.
>>>>> Task manager shows 5.12GB installed, 3.326GB available or cached
>>>>> and 1.794GB "hardware reserved"(?). Is this 1.794 not available
>>>>> for software? If not, how to make it available for software?
>>>>>
>>>>> I really wanted the performance improvement of 64 bit and increased
>>>>> RAM. How do I get Windows7 64 bit to utilize the full 5 GB?
>>>>>
>>>>> System is HP running 64 capable 2.13 hz dual core Intel.
>>>>

Bobby Johnson

It was already set to "disable" setting to "enable" did nothing of note

"Bobby Johnson" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Then you need to find the setting in Memory for a "Memory Hole" and change
> the setting.
>
>
> Endlessknight wrote:
>> The motherboard manual says max ram is 4GB.
>>
>> "Bobby Johnson" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> It also depends on exactly which version of the board you have. There
>>> are 3 editions of the PT880 Pro-A7 and the specs for 2 of them is only
>>> 2GB of RAM is supported. Now, even though they say only 2GB is
>>> supported you may realize a bit more than that but not all 4GB. Dell
>>> says my 1501 laptop only supports 2GB. With 4GB in the laptop Dell has
>>> it configured so that Win 7 only sees 2.25GB.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Endlessknight wrote:
>>>> I'm having the same problem with my copy of windows 7 64-bit. I've got
>>>> 4GB of ram installed but windows says only 3 is usable. My motherboard
>>>> is a Biostar PT880 Pro-A7 but I can't find the bios setting you
>>>> described. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>>>>
>>>> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <> wrote in
>>>> message news:#...
>>>>> There should a setting in your BIOS for address redirection or offset
>>>>> (it's called different things in different BIOSs.) What it does is
>>>>> move the various hardware reserved memory addresses up out of the 4 GB
>>>>> boundary, allowing you to fully utilize your RAM. Otherwise, you end
>>>>> up with the memory addresses that your RAM would use being taken up
>>>>> with things like your network card, your video card, etc.
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Charlie.
>>>>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Bob Costello" <> wrote in message
>>>>> news:z20Jm.4288$...
>>>>>> Upgraded to Windows7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit. Added RAM to 5GB
>>>>>> (reason I upgraded to 64 bit was to get around the 3GB 32 bit
>>>>>> limitation.) Now system shows 5GB but only 3.3GB available for use.
>>>>>> Task manager shows 5.12GB installed, 3.326GB available or cached and
>>>>>> 1.794GB "hardware reserved"(?). Is this 1.794 not available for
>>>>>> software? If not, how to make it available for software?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I really wanted the performance improvement of 64 bit and increased
>>>>>> RAM. How do I get Windows7 64 bit to utilize the full 5 GB?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> System is HP running 64 capable 2.13 hz dual core Intel.
>>>>>

Endlessknight