Windows XP and 4GB memory

I have a PC with a AMD 7850 and Windows XP SP3. It had one 2 GB DDR2 DIMM and now I added a second.

System properties is only showing 2.75 GB. I read on different sites that XP 32 can use 4 GB. On another site it talked about how the displayed memory will be less 3 GB aftr SP2 came out but with PAE it can address more.

So do I not worry about it? Or do I need to do something to make sure it is using all 4GB? Another memory monitoring program?

Also I'm not sure if I need to do anything to enable dual channel mode. The user manual for my Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H says the bios will automatically detect the memory but it doesn't say it automatically enables Dual Cannel Mode.

 

Well with the 4 GB ram max they mean 4gb of max ram. That means if you have 4gb ram and a 512mb video card you will only see 3.5 in windows 32bit.

When you right click My comptuer and then proprieties does it say

Physical Address Extension

You may also want to check how much memory your video card is using. Do you have a integrated video card?

 

I have integrated video at the moment. I'm looking at getting the ATI4850. I figured I'd be ready for when I upgrade to 7.

The graphics hardware is HD3200 with 700 MB of HYPER Memory.

The CATALYST CONTROL CENTER gives this:

[System Summary]

Item Value
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.03 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.59 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

 

Does windows say you have 2 or 2.75 GB?

 

My Computer - Properties shows
2.75 GB of RAM
Physical Address Extension

 

I think your video card is eating a lot of ram.

 

The integrated video? That's not necessarily bad then is it?

 

Well integrated video cards don't provide much performance for gaming and video intensive applications.

 

ANY 32-bit OS can only see a max of some 3.3GB, it varies but that's about the average. If you want to use all 4GB, then you need a 64-bit OS. Since you have onboard video say using 512MB RAM, which is normal for integrated video to use your RAM, your figure of 2.75GB available is spot on as the video RAM is reserved. Also, dual channel should be enabled automatically if you put the second stick in the proper slot but I doubt you'd notice it if your a regular user.