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System settings showing "4.00 GB (1.99 GB usable)"

Anonymous
2010-07-22T01:44:34+00:00

Hi guys,

I'm using Windows 7 Professional 64-bit, with an ASUS P7P55D-E LX Motherboard and G.Skill GS-F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH 4GB (2x2gb) DDR3-1600 Dual Channel [Ripjaws] RAM (ie. 4GB of RAM). There is a slight problem however. When I look at my system settings in the System part of the Control Panel, I am told that my Installed Memory is "4.00 GB (1.99 GB usable)".

I have looked around on this forum and others and I have tried a few suggestions. For example, I have tried to shuffle around my DIMMs but the computer fails to start up, or nothing changes in the system settings when I do that. I also have the memory remapping enabled in the BIOS, and the Boot tab in msconfig has max memory unchecked. Also, when I look at my Memory with the program CPU-Z, it comes up as saying that there is a RAM stick installed in both slots 1 and 3, both being 2048 MB, thus adding up to 4096 MB of RAM, while my BIOS says I have 2048 MB of RAM installed only (from my own memory).

What is wrong here? Thanks for your reply.

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-07-22T06:36:57+00:00

    Check the Memory tab in Resource Monitor: Programs\Accessories\System Tools\Resource Monitor.

    Probably your graphics and other hardware are reserving some of the memory.

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-12-31T09:28:57+00:00

    I know its a dead post but I had the same issue and Google sent me here so I want to help the next person with this cutesy of andrern2000.

    Run Msconfig then go under the "boot" tab.

    1. click "advanced options" button
    2. uncheck "Maximum memory"
    3. reboot

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2010-07-22T08:57:52+00:00

    If you look at the In Use, Modified , Standby and Free headings you will see they add up to the 4GB you have installed.

    Some of the Hardware reserved would be released if needed.

    Yep, I can see what you mean by the first line, but I don't understand your second line here. When my RAM is taken to the limit, I don't think it does take some of the Hardware reserved. Is there a way to test this?

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-07-22T07:09:06+00:00

    If you look at the In Use, Modified , Standby and Free headings you will see they add up to the 4GB you have installed.

    Some of the Hardware reserved would be released if needed.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-07-22T06:46:54+00:00

    Thanks a bunch, it comes up as saying 2057 MB Hardware reserved, which is rather annoying but at least I see where the problem is coming from. Any idea why the hardware would take that much up? My other components are:

    ATI Radeon HD5770

    Intel Core-i5 750

    This might be beyond your scope and I might be better off asking the companies that made these, but thanks a lot anyway.

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