Memory usage 3.4 instead of 4

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by usermydigitallyfe, Oct 31, 2019.

  1. usermydigitallyfe

    usermydigitallyfe MDL Member

    Oct 30, 2016
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    Why the system shows Memory usage 3.4 GB instead of 4 GB ?
     
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  2. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
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    Mainly because of x86 limitations by MSFT.

    Some amount of RAM can also be preserved for onboard GPU.
     
  3. usermydigitallyfe

    usermydigitallyfe MDL Member

    Oct 30, 2016
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    but using 64 -bit OP. system, x64 based processor

    then what is the problem ?

    I want to use full 4 GB RAM !!!
     
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  4. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

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    Then the onboard GPU probably took the missing amount of ram, check the bios settings.
     
  5. Windows_Addict

    Windows_Addict MDL Expert

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  6. usermydigitallyfe

    usermydigitallyfe MDL Member

    Oct 30, 2016
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    just a lay man ... don't know how to check BIOS settings....

    How to get step - by- step process to increase Memory usage from 3.4 GB to 4 GB.

    I think I am able to put my problem here fully understandable to all !
     
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  7. usermydigitallyfe

    usermydigitallyfe MDL Member

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    But if I have installed separate GPU of 2 GB, then what took away missing amount of RAM?
     
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  8. usermydigitallyfe

    usermydigitallyfe MDL Member

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  9. usermydigitallyfe

    usermydigitallyfe MDL Member

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  10. Windows_Addict

    Windows_Addict MDL Expert

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    Hardware Reserved memory is set by the motherboard and can't / shouldn't be changed. Don't bother trying to increase usable ram.

    *Hardware Reserved memory can be more or less depending upon the motherboard.
     
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  11. John Sutherland

    John Sutherland MDL Addicted

    Oct 15, 2014
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    Open the Resource Monitor, click the "Memory" tab, and you will see the light. :Lighten:
     
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  12. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

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    I've never seen 500MB disappear without it being reserved for GPU or other onboard hardware, on x64 OS.

    @usermydigitallyfe, can you show us the system info page?

    And run the QT from here and post the saved report here in code tags?
     
  13. Michaela Joy

    Michaela Joy MDL Crazy Lady

    Jul 26, 2012
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    @usermydigitallyfe: The answer, although quite complex, is simple.

    That little bit of RAM is simply not available to the OS. (Actually, it's not available to -any- OS)

    The processor (also known as the CPU) needs a little bit of RAM, so that it can function
    separately from whatever OS is being loaded by the system.

    The CPU starts up first by running a boot loader in the BIOS. The boot loader checks to see what OS you're trying to run. it then runs another routine in the BIOS, and does a disk load, based on which media is valid (CD/DVD,floppy, HDD, etc.)

    When the OS starts up, it only has the remainder of the RAM to use.

    That's pretty much true for -any- OS.

    So, it's a hardware thing... :)
     
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  14. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

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  15. usermydigitallyfe

    usermydigitallyfe MDL Member

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  16. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

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    #17 Enthousiast, Nov 1, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2019
    Could you please run the QT and post the saved report here in code tags? It doesn't contain privacy sensitive info.

    I still guess it's used for GPU shared memory.

    As @Michaela Joy explained, the "missing" amount of RAM is used by at least something to get your system to work, it's only not available for the running OS.
     
  17. usermydigitallyfe

    usermydigitallyfe MDL Member

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    OK. hardware reserved memory can't be changed since it's set by MB.
     
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