Vista Ultimate & Memory questions

alferret · 19-01-2009, 16:48

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

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

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.

19-01-2009, 17:04

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

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

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.

19-01-2009, 17:36

you do not need screenies we believe you lol

CHiLL · 19-01-2009, 18:06

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

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

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

and not asymmetrical

CHiLL · 19-01-2009, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by alferret

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

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

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

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.

19-01-2009, 23:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

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

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

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

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

It's Geil Black Dragon - that does exist.

20-01-2009, 02:35

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

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.