Windows 7 64bit - 16GB Ram utilizing only 4GB?

I've got 16GB ram and running Windows 7 64bit, but for some reason I think it's utilizing only 4GB?

If I go into properties it says Installed memory: 16.0 GB, but if under some loads for example starting Dreamweaver, Photoshop and some other programs, a Windows error/notice pops up suggesting I should close some programs to prevent information loss due to low memory. If I open the task manger in that situation and add up all the running processes Memory usage, I always seem to end up at 4GB ram.

Let's say I start Photoshop 4 times, each of it will consume 1GB of the memory, this is when Windows will give me the warning that I'm running low on memory.

In msconfig, the memory limitation is not set.

Is there anything else preventing it from utilizing all of my RAM?

Image of the computer properties window enter image description here

Marius

Posted 2013-02-27T20:43:44.790

Reputation: 169

4If the programs/applications you are using are 32-bit, they will still each be subject to a 4GB addressing limitation (and less, practically speaking, because the OS reserves some of that range.) Have you tried a bona-fide 64-bit program and observed this problem? – Chris W. Rea – 2013-02-27T20:48:08.327

I haven't tried with any explicit 64bit applications, but the applications i'm using won't even reach 4GB at all, what I mean is i'm running multiple applications (let's say I start photoshop 4 times) each of it will consume 1GB of the memory, this is when windows will give me the warning that i'm low on memory. – Marius – 2013-02-27T20:50:06.867

1Ah; that's more clear. Suggest you edit your question to include that detail. – Chris W. Rea – 2013-02-27T20:55:52.263

What kind of motherboard do you have? What edition of Windows 7? – Chris W. Rea – 2013-02-27T20:57:20.327

Motherboard: MAXIMUS IV EXTREME-Z and running Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. – Marius – 2013-02-27T21:00:37.510

3Can you post a screenshot where it shows Installed Memory and System Type? It is normally the screen you see when you right click on "Computer" from the start menu and go to properties. – Scott Chamberlain – 2013-02-27T21:07:47.717

Board should support 16GB. Hmm. Tried checking your BIOS settings? Might there be a setting like "OS Install Mode" or something else potentially limiting your memory? – Chris W. Rea – 2013-02-27T21:09:52.293

[link]http://i.imgur.com/eptMUVd.jpg%5Blink] the requested screenshot. And I did search before for OS install mode, but I couldn't find such an option.

– Marius – 2013-02-27T21:14:26.733

Are you running 32-bit or 64-bit processes. – Ramhound – 2013-02-27T21:23:13.350

2open task manager and select "view", then "select columns", add GDI Objects to list. If you add up all the GDI numbers is it over or near 10,000 when you get the message? – BroScience – 2013-02-27T21:48:44.937

Can you give us a screenshot or add the exact error message that is given? Is it Windows or the application giving the warning about memory? – dmcgill50 – 2013-03-05T20:20:37.717

2I'm not talking only about Adobe, this happens with any memory intensive application, I could aswell start a game multiple times and it does run into the same problem. – Marius – 2013-02-27T20:51:19.007

yes Mrius and chris are right, but I do utilize Photoshop+premier to use more than 12gb of ram when running 64bit version of both. all in cs5 edition – Kaveh – 2013-02-27T20:54:53.987

1@Marius - this was still a valid suggestion though. You mentioned multiple Adobe products and Adobe allows a limit to be placed on the memory used cumulativly across all Creative Suite products in use. Your wording of your question made this appear to be a possibility. – AJ Henderson – 2013-02-27T22:01:46.567

Windows 7 64bit - 16GB Ram utilizing only 4GB?

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