newb ? where's my ram

Hey searched the forums for about 30 mins. I've got a compac presario
running xp serv.pk2 home addition amd Sempron 3000+ <2gig> 40g hd and what is supposed to be 256 meg of ram yet when I look at view system info it states
192 meg is there a process or processess running in back-ground that causes this or do I have a problem
Thanks in advance
korvorka


one day I will be a geek

 

Do you have onboard grahics?

 

Yes ut's a VIA/S3G unichrome IGP

 

Then that's what is using the 64 MB of system memory.

On board graphics doesn't have it's own memory like a separate graphics card.

It shares the system memory.

 

All is normal.

Onboard graphics uses some of your ram, appears to be 64mb of it which is normal.
64mb of your 256mb is reserved for your Video/Graphics

In Bios you can change the amount you have allocated, 64mb is probably the default amount, you could change to 32mb.

Consider adding another 256mb of ram XP will run better.

 

thanks I figured it was something simple already wanting to upgrade gotta talk the OL out of her CC....lol I also downloaded freeram via bysoft is this or other programs like these helpful or are they just another resorce hog is this a good program are would you recomend another?

 

Better not use those free RAM stuff.It can cause performence problems with no increase in performence.This is my experience.

 

The reason not to run one of those programs, is that ram is most efficient when fully utilized. If your ram is being dumped to the virtual memory when not needed it effectively slows the system rather than speeding it up. It is a smoke and mirror effect, because it appears your ram ois being freed up to improve performance, when the opposite is true.

 

Thanks kadavill I've already got this downloaded and running may try for a couple of days just to see what happens I love to experiment I gonna stay logged on to this post just to see what anyone else has to say what kind of problems did you experience using this type of software??

 

thanks BILLD its amazing what kind of help and info I get here geeksville here I come