Windows 7 Usable Ram

Nedlamar · Jan 28, 2010

Hey guys.

Spent a while searching for an answer about this topic and all I get is really indepth explinations that are pages long so I cannot find a simple definitive answer. So I call upon the MG's once again.

I just installed Windows 7 32-bit on my sons pc.

Intel DG31PR
Q6600
4gb Ram
HD4850 512 ATI

Now I realise XP wouldn't see a full 4gbs but I was under the impression that W7 would.
It reads "System Mem 4gb (3.25 Usable)

Now I have read that some may be used for hardware etc etc

The actual question I would like answered is , the 0.75 of ram that is apparently unusable, is this extra ram being used by the OS leaving 3.25 available for software/games etc?
Or is it just not there?

I don't see how it would be used by the Video Card as many sites I've searched suggest given that the card has it's own ram and is not a shared card.

Basically, is he going to notice a difference if 1gb is removed? or is that unusable ram actually being used?

Complicated question I know, but please, a simple answer is preffered. I don't need to know how ram works or how binary code works, just where the other 0.75 mb of ram is being used if it's being used at all.

Thanks

DavidGP · Jan 28, 2010

Hi

Sadly you will still need to use 64bit Windows 7 to see full 4gb of ram as the limitations of 32bit will span all 32bit OSes,

The ram the system cannot see just wont be used, I would just leabe the full 4gb of ram in as allow the system to use what it can.

Windows Vista and Win7 can also top up if needed the gfx cards ram, so will if any spare from your 3.25GB use some of that also, to get a good picture of what Windows 7 is using navigate to this location Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Performance Information and Tools\Advanced Tools and click Open Resource Monitor then click the Memory tab to see whats being used, dont be put off by it saying that you have zero - 50mb of free ram as the bulk is held in standby for use when needed (old addage of unused ram is wasted ram)

Did have a link from technet on ram usage in Windows 7 but cannot locate it, but will post when I find it again.

But in summary that .75GB is not being used, you need a 64bit operating system to use it.

Nedlamar · Jan 28, 2010

Thank you!

Thats what I suspected but could not find a simple answer like you just gave me.
Thank you very much, it's nice to talk to people who don't feel the need to show off their emense knowledge lol, it's like "Just answer the damn question will you" lol

But yeah, I thought that was the issue, thanks again man. Very helpful

DavidGP · Jan 28, 2010

Hi Ned

Glad it helped to clear this up and yes I much far rather post a clear simple answer as its less to type

This is the article, actually its a video of Mark Russinovich who is a bit of a genius and developer of the Sysinternals tools that many use to troubleshoot their OS, he works as a tech at MSFT now and knows the kernel of Windows very well, a good vid to watch if you have spare time one day http://channel9.msdn.com/shows/Going Deep/Mark-Russinovich-Inside-Windows-7-Redux/

Nedlamar · Jan 28, 2010

Holy, thats a chunky vid lol
I will watch it though, I'm always trying to increase my knowledge about everything PC.
Spent 4 hours yesterday just reading about the in's and out's of graphics, from the execution of the file to the inticacies of AA and Filtering lol, kind of had a headache by the time I was done... but wiser for it lol

Thanks again

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Windows 7 Usable Ram

Nedlamar MajorGeek

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

Nedlamar MajorGeek

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

Nedlamar MajorGeek