12
As far as I am aware, one can view the RAM Size in System Properties:
From the above screenshot it seems that My RAM is 3.5 GB, but as far as I can tell I actually inserted 2 two GB RAM into my motherboard.
Is it that my memory is faulty, or that the information displayed in System Properties is faulty?
Graviton
Posted 2009-08-21T07:31:32.950
Reputation: 5 006
26
It's because your OS is 32-bit. Check out Dude, Where's My 4 Gigabytes of RAM?
JP Alioto
Posted 2009-08-21T07:31:32.950
Reputation: 6 278
This answer, and the comments on it, are out of date. Modern 32-bit Windows will see and report all your RAM. It won't necessarily use all of it, but it will see and report it. – David Schwartz – 2017-03-12T21:44:59.110
1Not neccesasrily. I only have 3 GiB of my 4, due to a chipset limitation. But yes, it's probably the 32-bittiness. – Joey – 2009-08-21T10:57:14.393
1Erm, the chipset is rather irrelevant. 32-bit Windows (excepting Server editions and PAE hacks) will not see 4GB of RAM. – ThatGraemeGuy – 2009-09-17T21:00:57.150
16
This will tell you everything about the memory installed in your machine along with the cpu. It will show which slots contain what size sticks and what speed they are running at.
The link JP posted from coding horror explains exactly why you only see 3.5gb out of the 4 you have installed is because of a 32bit OS.
Troggy
Posted 2009-08-21T07:31:32.950
Reputation: 10 191
1CPUID is a great tool! – kamleshrao – 2009-08-21T09:13:09.970
1This is a fantastic tool. I use it whenever I need to know what hardware a system has. – Anthony Giorgio – 2009-09-17T20:05:43.190
6
Because you are running 32Bit Windows 3.5GB is the maximum amount of RAM you can support.
A 64bit Operating system is required to use any more RAM. So currently you are wasting 512MB of RAM.
Tom
Posted 2009-08-21T07:31:32.950
Reputation: 483
3The maximum is 4GB minus (amount of virtual address space consumed by various other devices), which isn't necessarily 3.5GB. The maximum I've seen so far is 3.75GB on a virtual server. – ThatGraemeGuy – 2009-09-17T21:03:47.083
1
Check memory with memtest86
Or use Everest or other hardware recognition software
UPDATE:
Your question is wrong. Better is "Why my XP see only 3.5GB RAM?"
Answer from JP is right
MicTech
Posted 2009-08-21T07:31:32.950
Reputation: 9 888
1
4GB Ram is the maximum allowed in 32bit operating systems.
I suspect that because your Video Card uses 1/2GB, that leaves 3.5 GB left.
seanyboy
Posted 2009-08-21T07:31:32.950
Reputation: 1 568
1
Or try the Crucial system scanner.
Martin
Posted 2009-08-21T07:31:32.950
Reputation: 2 445
1
the reason is not the operating system (which supports 4 GB), it is the 32-bit hardware architecture.
and while we're recommending software, here's another goodie:
1
Another way to check the memory size is:
msinfo32.exe and press return.
My Shopping Genie
Posted 2009-08-21T07:31:32.950
Reputation: 11
0
Download CPU-Z... Will detect whatever is in your slot... ;)
Pit
Posted 2009-08-21T07:31:32.950
Reputation: 882
2@DannySmurf, the very fact that people are still viewing this question ( presumably they are coming from Google) proves that there is a huge value in it. – Graviton – 2010-11-03T16:06:35.853
-1 asked and answered all over the place already. – TheSmurf – 2009-11-24T22:53:02.823