Cable Forum - Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Cable Forum (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/index.php)

- General IT Discussion (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/forumdisplay.php?f=19)

- - Vista Ultimate & Memory questions (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33644635)

alferret

19-01-2009 16:48

Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Asus P5B motherboard with 2001 bios.
E6750
4x1gb Corsair XMS2 PC6400 (2x matched pairs)
512mb PCI-EX 9800gt
Vista Ultimate 32bit.

If I enable memory remap in the bios, the bios see's 4gb Vista reports 2gb but CPU-Z reports 4gb.

If I disable memory remap in the bios, the bios see's 3008mb and Vista reports 3008mb, CPU-Z reports 4gb.

I am aware of the 32bit issue so I would have expected to see 3.3gb or there abouts.

Anyone shed some light on this for me, is there a bios setting I need to change.

Cheers

Al

damien c

19-01-2009 16:54

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

if you dont have service pack 1 installed then it will only show 3gb in windows but with service pack, 1 it will show 4gb in windows i would try installing sp1 with memory remap enabled see what it shows then try with it disabled and see what it shows.

also see if your bios is up to date.

CHiLL

19-01-2009 16:59

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

It's a problem with 32-bit operating systems. Windows does actually see all 4GB of physical memory, but 32-bit operating systems can only address 4GB of RAM, which includes physical, graphical and maybe page file.

An example, is I have 4GB of RAM, and 768MB on my graphics card. So Windows XP displays that I only have 2.25GB of physical RAM.

To sort the problem and make full use of ALL you RAM, you'd need a 64-bit operating system.

zing_deleted

19-01-2009 17:04

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

yeah really you need to be running 64 bit Vista but its at a cost

Your results are strange as Memory remapping should be enabled to use all the ram so I am sat here shrugging

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605

Quote:

The BIOS must support the memory remapping feature. The memory remapping feature allows for the segment of system memory that was previously overwritten by the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) configuration space to be remapped above the 4 GB address line. This feature must be enabled in the BIOS configuration utility on the computer. View your computer product documentation for instructions that explain how to enable this feature. Many consumer-oriented computers may not support the memory remapping feature. No standard terminology is used in documentation or in BIOS configuration utilities for this feature. Therefore, you may have to read the descriptions of the various BIOS configuration settings that are available to determine whether any of the settings enable the memory remapping feature.

alferret

19-01-2009 17:32

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Its strange I know.
P5B has latest BIOS.
Vista Ultimate with sp1

If I go into system from ctrl pnl it now shows 4gb regardless of remap enabled or disabled. All 3rd party programs show 4gb regardless.

BIOS shows 3008mb with remap disabled and windows actually utilizes 3006mb according to task manager.

BIOS shows 4096mb with remap enabled and windows actually utilizes 2048mb according to task manager.

Will get some screenies up in about half hour.

---------- Post added at 16:32 ---------- Previous post was at 16:29 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb (Post 34718453)

yeah really you need to be running 64 bit Vista but its at a cost

Your results are strange as Memory remapping should be enabled to use all the ram so I am sat here shrugging

Yup I know 64bit should be my way to go. Might see how the pennies are at the weekend.

zing_deleted

19-01-2009 17:36

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

you do not need screenies we believe you lol

CHiLL

19-01-2009 18:06

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Could that be a problem with your BIOS if it doesn't recognise all 4GB without mapping? Mine isn't mapped, and it recognises all 4GB.

alferret

19-01-2009 18:09

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb (Post 34718476)

you do not need screenies we believe you lol

LOL ok ;)

---------- Post added at 17:09 ---------- Previous post was at 17:08 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHiLL (Post 34718491)

Could that be a problem with your BIOS if it doesn't recognise all 4GB without mapping? Mine isn't mapped, and it recognises all 4GB.

Dont know, think i'll browse the asus forums see if I can find out anything.

EDIT
Just looked at me screenies AFAIK (and I will prob be corrected) but to have DC interleaved you need (on asus) A1 & B1 populated as those are the only 2 slots than can be dual channel, but I have A1,A2,B1,B2 populated yet both screen shots show memory as dual channel :erm: and not asymmetrical

CHiLL

19-01-2009 22:18

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by alferret (Post 34718494)

LOL ok ;)

---------- Post added at 17:09 ---------- Previous post was at 17:08 ----------

Dont know, think i'll browse the asus forums see if I can find out anything.

EDIT
Just looked at me screenies AFAIK (and I will prob be corrected) but to have DC interleaved you need (on asus) A1 & B1 populated as those are the only 2 slots than can be dual channel, but I have A1,A2,B1,B2 populated yet both screen shots show memory as dual channel :erm: and not asymmetrical

I don't know why yours is messing around. I have an Asus motherboard, and I just stuck my 4x 1GB sticks of RAM, in dual channel format, and my BIOS picked them all up fine.

idi banashapan

19-01-2009 22:44

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

just remember, if you do buy 64Bit Ultimate, install it with only 2Gb in the system and add the rest after the OS is installed, otherwise it plays silly buggers when trying to install!!!

CHiLL

19-01-2009 23:05

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender (Post 34718644)

just remember, if you do buy 64Bit Ultimate, install it with only 2Gb in the system and add the rest after the OS is installed, otherwise it plays silly buggers when trying to install!!!

I never had any problems. I installed Windows Vista Ultimate x64 with all 4GB in, and it worked perfectly, still does.

zing_deleted

19-01-2009 23:06

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender (Post 34718644)

just remember, if you do buy 64Bit Ultimate, install it with only 2Gb in the system and add the rest after the OS is installed, otherwise it plays silly buggers when trying to install!!!

never come across that either

Bender BTW whats that Quad channel ram you have that does not exist ;)

idi banashapan

20-01-2009 00:39

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

well it doesn't like 8Gb during install!!!!

---------- Post added at 23:39 ---------- Previous post was at 23:31 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb (Post 34718660)

Bender BTW whats that Quad channel ram you have that does not exist ;)

It's Geil Black Dragon - that does exist.

zing_deleted

20-01-2009 02:35

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

you are right I have found specification of it on the Skull trail mobo unless you are running one of those or another such server board you will only be running dual channel and your memory was sold as quad channel to mislead you

idi banashapan

20-01-2009 14:17

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

it was no more expensive than anything else at the time. I knew my board wasn't quad channel, but also knew it would run it, even if it was in dual. the reviews were good and I wanted 8gb for Vista. Works nicely and fast, plus when newer boards come out in the future that support quad, it should slip in nicely, but to be perfectly honest, I will probably just buy newer RAM. The amount of components I have knocking about is silly. I should recycle them really, but i've no need for any more machines at this time - 4 is plenty plus another machine sat under my desk that I don't even use.

zing_deleted

20-01-2009 15:19

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Dude listen to me there are no Quad channel boards other than the SKulltrail and I am not 100% sure on that. They label it Quad channel but all it really means is 4 matched sticks.
DDRIII will run Tri channel on x58 boards and thats it

idi banashapan

20-01-2009 23:07

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

dude, seriously, it doesn't bother me... I'll just buy new RAM.... I'm not disputing what you are saying, I just really don't care. The RAM works for me just fine. I wanted 8Gb in matching 4s and these were available, so I bought them... later this year, I will likely have newer, better faster RAM... it really doesn't matter!!!

zing_deleted

20-01-2009 23:12

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Just informing you mate thats all

Mr_love_monkey

22-01-2009 23:48

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

i installed Vista 64bit ultimate with 12gb of ram no problem

idi banashapan

22-01-2009 23:52

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_love_monkey (Post 34720410)

i installed Vista 64bit ultimate with 12gb of ram no problem

damn you!!! lol!!! ;)

damien c

23-01-2009 00:14

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

i install vista ultimate 64bit with 4gb no probs

Joxer

23-01-2009 00:42

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHiLL (Post 34718451)

There are 32bit Linux kernels that can access 64GB of ram, albeit not quite all of it as some is used for address mapping (though you lose some with 4GB as well).

CHiLL

23-01-2009 11:05

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joxer (Post 34720434)

There are 32bit Linux kernels that can access 64GB of ram, albeit not quite all of it as some is used for address mapping (though you lose some with 4GB as well).

Oh, so it is just 32-bit Microsoft Operating system then?

alferret

25-01-2009 10:09

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Well I tried 64bit and although it showed the full 4gb and used it, it wasnt very stable (dont know why) So I have gone back to Vista 32bit and will wait patiently for W7.

EDIT**

Just found this on the incredibly slow ASUS site.

http://support.asus.com/faq/faq.aspx...Language=en-us

Quote:

If you installed total 4GB memory, the system will detect less than 4GB of total memory because of address space allocation for other critical functions, such as:

- System BIOS (including motherboard, add-on cards, etc..)
- Motherboards resources
- Memory mapped I/O
- configuration for AGP/PCI-Ex/PCI
- Other memory allocations for PCI devices

Different onboard devices and different add-on cards (devices) will result of different total memory size.
e.g. more PCI cards installed will require more memory resources, resulting of less memory free for other uses.

On a SLI system, since PCI-Ex graphic cards will occupy around 256MB, another 256MB will be occupied after you install a 2nd PCI-Ex graphic card. Hence, 2.75GB memory left only if two SLI cards installed on A8N-SLI Premium while 3.0GB memory left with one graphic card without other add-on devices.

This limitation applies to most chipsets & Microsoft Windows 32-bit version operating systems.

If you install Windows 32-bit version operating system, we recommend that you install less than 3GB of total memory. If more than 3GB memory is required for your system, then below two conditions must be met:
1. The memory controller which supports memory swap functionality is used. Chipsets later than Intel 975X, 955X, Nvidia NF4 SLI Intel Edition, Nvidia NF4 SLI X16, and AMD K8 CPU architecture support memory swap function.
2. Windows 64-bit OS which can address more than 4GB memory.

So it seems that my 2 & a half year chipset is by and large underspec to see the correct amount of memory when the BIOS is remapped or not.

idi banashapan

25-01-2009 13:37

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

the stability might be down the the voltages set in the BIOS. if you up them a bit, you'll probably see some more stability, though obviously, a 32bit OS will still only be able to map 4Gb max across all allocations. the fact you cannot see the full 4Gb memory on 32bit is not the fault of your board, it is the fact you are using 32bit. using 64bit will show the lot as it can allocate more memory.

alferret

25-01-2009 17:07

Re: Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender (Post 34721912)

the stability might be down the the voltages set in the BIOS. if you up them a bit, you'll probably see some more stability, though obviously, a 32bit OS will still only be able to map 4Gb max across all allocations. the fact you cannot see the full 4Gb memory on 32bit is not the fault of your board, it is the fact you are using 32bit. using 64bit will show the lot as it can allocate more memory.

Upped the mem from 1.9V to 2.0V and ran the CPU @ 1.4v with no difference to how the machine\OS behaved and this was at stock speed's.

There are others with the same problem posting on the P5B forum section on ASUS. No one has posted a fix or an as to why this is happening as regards the 32bit situation.

As 32bit can only address a max of 4gb if you take into account a 512mb GC and allow an extra overhead of 100mb by my reckoning Windows should show around 3.3-3.4gb. RE my first post, 4gb=2gb or 3gb=3gb. Anyways its something thats gonna have to wait for a new mobo, an that wont be till W7 shows its retail face.

Thanks for the input tho :)

All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:39.