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As far as I am aware, one can view the RAM Size in System Properties:

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?

Michael Frank
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Graviton
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9 Answers9

26

It's because your OS is 32-bit. Check out Dude, Where's My 4 Gigabytes of RAM?

JP Alioto
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http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

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
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5

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
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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

Community
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MicTech
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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
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Or try the Crucial system scanner.

Martin
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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:

SIW - System Information for Windows

1

Another way to check the memory size is:

  1. Click the Start Menu and choose Run.
  2. Type msinfo32.exe and press return.
Gareth
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My Shopping Genie
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0

Download CPU-Z... Will detect whatever is in your slot... ;)

Pit
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