ram question

[xr4man]

i ran the windows experience index again and for some reason my ram number has changed from 6.9 to 5.4. i also saw that it is reporting only about 3.5G of ram.

running windows 7 64x and 4g of ocz ram. why would it suddenly only show 3.5? do you all think a ram stick could be going bad?

[TheMainMan]

Try running memtest86+ (http://www.memtest.org/#downiso) if you're concerned about whether you've got ram issues or not. If you do, I find it helps the RMA process if you write down the results so that you can tell them to tech support when they ask you how you know it's the ram.

[xr4man]

cool thanks, i couldn't remember the name of that. or if it was a built in windows feature or something.

not trying to get an rma, this thing is way past the warranty.

[TheMainMan]

Windows 7 does have a built in ram test that you can run after a restart but I have no idea how well it compares to memtest. Also, have you looked at what your BIOS reports as installed/usable ram during POST?

[xr4man]

ok, my initial symptoms report was slightly off. windows is reporting 4g ram installed, but only 3.25 usable. memtest found no problems when i ran it last night. cpu-z reports 4g or ram installed.

i have a discrete video card, so the on board video shouldn't be sucking up any ram.

[TheMainMan]

What model motherboard do you have? And have you checked the BIOS to see if Memory Remapping or Physical Address Extension are enabled? Glad to hear it isn't a ram failure.

[xr4man]

it's an asus m4a89gtd-pro. it should have the latest bios installed. i don't remember seeing anything about memory remapping or physical address extension. i'll go and look now.


all i saw was something like "memory hole remapping". i disabled that. however i am still reporting 3.25g usable memory.

[AmEv]

Is the .75GB what 7 is using?

[xr4man]

ok, i guess this must be normal for win7 then.

i just checked my laptop and htpc that are running 7 and have 4g of ram.

the laptop is an hp dv7 with win7 pro and it reports 4g ram 2.75g usable.

the htpc has a msi mobo with amd e-350 processor and win 7 home. it reports 4g ram and 3.62g usable.

i guess i just must never have noticed it before.

thanks for setting me straight.

[Twigsoffury]

4GB installed, 4GB available here

x64 windows 7 ultimate.


Sure its x64 operating system and not a 32 bit version of 7


you can check your total available memory with dxdiag.

(just type dxdiag into the start bar)

[nevermind1534]

4GB installed, 4GB available here

same here



not trying to get an rma, this thing is way past the warranty.

It looks like it's not a memory problem, but OCZ does have a lifetime warranty on memory. They don't manufacture memory anymore, so they usually try to push an SSD on you as a replacement now, though.

[xr4man]

Sure its x64 operating system and not a 32 bit version of 7


you can check your total available memory with dxdiag.

(just type dxdiag into the start bar)

i'm absolutely sure they are all 64x. the only computers i have running 32 bit are the main htpc with xp and a couple of laptops.

weird thing is though that it is reporting different amounts on different computers. maybe i'll switch out a harddrive and do a fresh win7 install and see what it says.

[xr4man]

i figured it out.

i had checked the "maximum memory" box in the msconfig - boot tab - advanced window and it was limiting the amount of usable ram i had available. all fixed now.