Windows Vista Forums

Win 7 64Bit install. 4GB RAM showing as (3.50GB usable)

  1. #1


    Alan Kent Guest

    Win 7 64Bit install. 4GB RAM showing as (3.50GB usable)

    Hi All

    I have successfully installed my MSDN 64Bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate on
    a DELL Dimension 9100 PC.

    The problem I am having is with the RAM. The PC has 4GB of ram that shows up
    fine within the BIOS. When I go into the Windows 7 System Control Panel it
    shows as 4.00GB (3.50 usable). I can understand this will happen with a
    32bit operating system, but this is a new install of the 64bit version of
    Windows 7 Ultimate. I have the latest BIOS version installed. My system spec
    is as follows:

    DELL Dimension 9100
    Intell(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz 2.79GHz / Dual Processor
    64Bit (Intel EM64T)
    4 x 1GB DDR2 SDRAM

    When I use the full 4GB the 7 System Control Panel shows as 4.00GB (3.50
    usable).
    When I remove 2GB the 7 System Control Panel shows as 2.00GB.

    Is this a bug, and if so is there a workaround? Maybe this is normal and
    should happen.

    Please help
    Alan




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Bobby Johnson Guest

    Re: Win 7 64Bit install. 4GB RAM showing as (3.50GB usable)

    I don't think it's a bug, I think it's the limitations of the hardware.
    According to the Dell documentation your hardware limit is 4GB. The
    1/2GB lost may be taken up by the motherboard or assigned to the video,
    or any number of reasons. I think you're just going to have to live
    with what you've got.


    Alan Kent wrote:

    > Hi All
    >
    > I have successfully installed my MSDN 64Bit version of Windows 7
    > Ultimate on a DELL Dimension 9100 PC.
    >
    > The problem I am having is with the RAM. The PC has 4GB of ram that
    > shows up fine within the BIOS. When I go into the Windows 7 System
    > Control Panel it shows as 4.00GB (3.50 usable). I can understand this
    > will happen with a 32bit operating system, but this is a new install of
    > the 64bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate. I have the latest BIOS version
    > installed. My system spec is as follows:
    >
    > DELL Dimension 9100
    > Intell(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz 2.79GHz / Dual Processor
    > 64Bit (Intel EM64T)
    > 4 x 1GB DDR2 SDRAM
    >
    > When I use the full 4GB the 7 System Control Panel shows as 4.00GB (3.50
    > usable).
    > When I remove 2GB the 7 System Control Panel shows as 2.00GB.
    >
    > Is this a bug, and if so is there a workaround? Maybe this is normal and
    > should happen.
    >
    > Please help
    > Alan

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Dominic Payer Guest

    Re: Win 7 64Bit install. 4GB RAM showing as (3.50GB usable)

    To have all 4GB available to use you would have to find and enable a
    Memory Remap setting in the BIOS. But I think the Dimension 9100 was
    only sold with XP, a 32-bit OS, so the setting probably does not exist
    even though the hardware is capable of using all 4GB.


    On 01/09/2009 16:26, Alan Kent wrote:

    > Hi All
    >
    > I have successfully installed my MSDN 64Bit version of Windows 7
    > Ultimate on a DELL Dimension 9100 PC.
    >
    > The problem I am having is with the RAM. The PC has 4GB of ram that
    > shows up fine within the BIOS. When I go into the Windows 7 System
    > Control Panel it shows as 4.00GB (3.50 usable). I can understand this
    > will happen with a 32bit operating system, but this is a new install of
    > the 64bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate. I have the latest BIOS version
    > installed. My system spec is as follows:
    >
    > DELL Dimension 9100
    > Intell(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz 2.79GHz / Dual Processor
    > 64Bit (Intel EM64T)
    > 4 x 1GB DDR2 SDRAM
    >
    > When I use the full 4GB the 7 System Control Panel shows as 4.00GB (3.50
    > usable).
    > When I remove 2GB the 7 System Control Panel shows as 2.00GB.
    >
    > Is this a bug, and if so is there a workaround? Maybe this is normal and
    > should happen.
    >
    > Please help
    > Alan

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Tom Ferguson Guest

    Re: Win 7 64Bit install. 4GB RAM showing as (3.50GB usable)

    Confirm that your machine has the latest BIOS firmware installed.

    http://support.dell.com/support/down...g=en&TabIndex=

    As Dominic suggested, check for a setting to remap addresses. If all that is
    OK, you probably have as good as it gets with that MoBo and BIOS.

    Tom


    "Alan Kent" <AlanKent.nospam@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:%23UE4pixKKHA.4316@xxxxxx

    > Hi All
    >
    > I have successfully installed my MSDN 64Bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate
    > on a DELL Dimension 9100 PC.
    >
    > The problem I am having is with the RAM. The PC has 4GB of ram that shows
    > up fine within the BIOS. When I go into the Windows 7 System Control Panel
    > it shows as 4.00GB (3.50 usable). I can understand this will happen with a
    > 32bit operating system, but this is a new install of the 64bit version of
    > Windows 7 Ultimate. I have the latest BIOS version installed. My system
    > spec is as follows:
    >
    > DELL Dimension 9100
    > Intell(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz 2.79GHz / Dual Processor
    > 64Bit (Intel EM64T)
    > 4 x 1GB DDR2 SDRAM
    >
    > When I use the full 4GB the 7 System Control Panel shows as 4.00GB (3.50
    > usable).
    > When I remove 2GB the 7 System Control Panel shows as 2.00GB.
    >
    > Is this a bug, and if so is there a workaround? Maybe this is normal and
    > should happen.
    >
    > Please help
    > Alan

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    Jim Guest

    Re: Win 7 64Bit install. 4GB RAM showing as (3.50GB usable)

    945's memory controller is only 32bit or something like that so your SOL.



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    Jerry Guest

    Re: Win 7 64Bit install. 4GB RAM showing as (3.50GB usable)

    If he really has a 32-bit only motherboard and cpu then how did he install
    Win7 64-bit?

    "Jim" <jim@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:u9CdncTQZNB2ygDXnZ2dnUVZ_sCdnZ2d@xxxxxx

    > 945's memory controller is only 32bit or something like that so your SOL.
    >



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  7. #7


    dennis Guest

    Re: Win 7 64Bit install. 4GB RAM showing as (3.50GB usable)

    Jerry wrote:

    > If he really has a 32-bit only motherboard and cpu then how did he install
    > Win7 64-bit?
    Because the CPU supports 64bit, but the motherbord/chipset only has a
    32bit address bus. Also, 32bit CPUs have supported 36bit addressing for
    years, but that doesn't mean all boards supports it.

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  8. #8


    Wonderman Guest

    Re: Win 7 64Bit install. 4GB RAM showing as (3.50GB usable)

    I have almost the exact same system specs in a Sony wuth the same chipset
    running Vista 64. Where are you seeing the lower memory number ?


    "Alan Kent" <AlanKent.nospam@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:%23UE4pixKKHA.4316@xxxxxx

    > Hi All
    >
    > I have successfully installed my MSDN 64Bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate
    > on a DELL Dimension 9100 PC.
    >
    > The problem I am having is with the RAM. The PC has 4GB of ram that shows
    > up fine within the BIOS. When I go into the Windows 7 System Control Panel
    > it shows as 4.00GB (3.50 usable). I can understand this will happen with a
    > 32bit operating system, but this is a new install of the 64bit version of
    > Windows 7 Ultimate. I have the latest BIOS version installed. My system
    > spec is as follows:
    >
    > DELL Dimension 9100
    > Intell(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz 2.79GHz / Dual Processor
    > 64Bit (Intel EM64T)
    > 4 x 1GB DDR2 SDRAM
    >
    > When I use the full 4GB the 7 System Control Panel shows as 4.00GB (3.50
    > usable).
    > When I remove 2GB the 7 System Control Panel shows as 2.00GB.
    >
    > Is this a bug, and if so is there a workaround? Maybe this is normal and
    > should happen.
    >
    > Please help
    > Alan

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  9. #9


    Ian D Guest

    Re: Win 7 64Bit install. 4GB RAM showing as (3.50GB usable)


    "Jerry" <ChiefZekeNoSpam@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:%239PVfI1KKHA.3708@xxxxxx

    > If he really has a 32-bit only motherboard and cpu then how did he install
    > Win7 64-bit?
    >
    > "Jim" <jim@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    > news:u9CdncTQZNB2ygDXnZ2dnUVZ_sCdnZ2d@xxxxxx

    >> 945's memory controller is only 32bit or something like that so your SOL.
    >>
    >
    >
    >
    The 945 Lakeport chipset does not support memory remapping.
    It will take a 64 bit CPU, and run a 64 bit OS, as the data bus is
    64 bits.



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  10. #10


    Curious Guest

    Re: Win 7 64Bit install. 4GB RAM showing as (3.50GB usable)

    He does not have a 32bit motherboard he has a motherboard which will support
    64 bit CPUs but which will not support more then 4MB of installed memory.

    "Ian D" <taurus@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:OOzZOSKLKHA.5992@xxxxxx

    >
    > "Jerry" <ChiefZekeNoSpam@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    > news:%239PVfI1KKHA.3708@xxxxxx

    >> If he really has a 32-bit only motherboard and cpu then how did he
    >> install Win7 64-bit?
    >>
    >> "Jim" <jim@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    >> news:u9CdncTQZNB2ygDXnZ2dnUVZ_sCdnZ2d@xxxxxx

    >>> 945's memory controller is only 32bit or something like that so your
    >>> SOL.
    >>>
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >
    > The 945 Lakeport chipset does not support memory remapping.
    > It will take a 64 bit CPU, and run a 64 bit OS, as the data bus is
    > 64 bits.
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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Win 7 64Bit install. 4GB RAM showing as (3.50GB usable)

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