Nope, i have a standalone evga graphics card nvidia geforce 9800 gt (see screenshot in original post). My Mobo also has no onboard graphics capability. No option to deselect in BIOS either.
@tmdtmd Try these steps , then see if it fixes This problem may occur because the Maximum memory option is selected incorrectly. To fix this, follow these steps: 1. Click Start => type msconfig in the Search programs and files box => Enter 2. In the System Configuration window, click Boot tab => Advanced options 3. Click to clear the Maximum memory check box, and then click OK. Restart the computer.
Then Check box , then restart see how much the Max memory is. ortherwise, Update the system BIOS Visit the Web site of your computer manufacturer to download the BIOS update
I would do that too if I were in your shoes. I'd like to know where my ram went. One thing you could do perhaps is to disable audio temporarily if the bios allows it. Then boot to windows and check if the usable ram changes. I believe that if you knew what system function uses the ram, you wouldn't mind if it doesn't show up as part of the usable memory. *Have you tried reseating the ram modules?
question: did you read the entire PDF manual for your motherboard? may not be the answer you want, but believe it or not, I have learned very important things by reading the manual for motherboards front to back.
Dude it is most likely because your motherboard has a chipset that uses system memory. Mine does too and so does 2 friends. Do you have an x64 or x32 OS? If you have x64 have you looked inside your motherboard bios for an option called "Memory Remapping" or something like that? If you have that option, enable it(It might be in the advanced SPD timing options so look carefully). That will allow you to see your 4 GB of RAM most likely! My computer personally does not see more then 3.37 GB of ram out of 4 GB. I have an intel chipset doing that but I also do not have the memory remapping option that I mentioned in my system.
Then you probably have the same issue as I do where the chipset chip on your motherboard is using so much memory that you cannot see with the OS. Does your motherboard have any info about "Appropriated Memory" or somthing like that. You should be able to find it either in the hardware monitor section or system information.