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Only 22% of RAM being used?

 
 
iamc3k
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      06-25-2008

Ladies and Gents

I'm running Vista64 Ultimate with a q6600 g0 processor on an Abit IP3
Pro motherboard. I've installed 8 Gb (4 x 2 Gb) of RAM (g. Skill 6400)
My system seems to recognize all 8 Gb based on the system page fro
within the Control Panel.

Going to System Information within accessories shows Installed Physica
Memory of 8.00 Gb; Total Physical Memory is _4.00 Gb_?!? Availabl
Physical Memory is 6.12 Gb. How and why are these numbers so different
(I understand how available would be less than actual, but total is les
then both installed and available?

Is my machine actually utilizing all 8 Gb or is half of it wasted

However, running my performance monitor applet on my Logitech G1
keyboard and the Reliability and Performance monitor in windows bot
show that I only ever use approximately 20-24% of the physical memory

I am, obviously, confused

Thanks for any help clarifying this for me

Regards
Ke

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iamc3k
 
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executioner
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      06-25-2008
On Jun 25, 8:36*am, iamc3k <gu...@unknown-email.com> wrote:
> Ladies and Gents,
>
> I'm running Vista64 Ultimate with a q6600 g0 processor on an Abit IP35
> Pro motherboard. I've installed 8 Gb (4 x 2 Gb) of RAM (g. Skill 6400).
> My system seems to recognize all 8 Gb based on the system page from
> within the Control Panel.
>
> Going to System Information within accessories shows Installed Physical
> Memory of 8.00 Gb; Total Physical Memory is _4.00 Gb_?!? Available
> Physical Memory is 6.12 Gb. How and why are these numbers so different?
> (I understand how available would be less than actual, but total is less
> then both installed and available?)
>
> Is my machine actually utilizing all 8 Gb or is half of it wasted?
>
> However, running my performance monitor applet on my Logitech G15
> keyboard and the Reliability and Performance monitor in windows both
> show that I only ever use approximately 20-24% of the physical memory.
>
> I am, obviously, confused.
>
> Thanks for any help clarifying this for me.
>
> Regards,
> Ken
>
> --
> iamc3k


Why are you concerned that only 22% of your memory is being used? That
is a GOOD thing. Many people don't understand the purpose of the R&P
monitor numbers. A lot of people foolishly thing the more of their
memory getting used the better their system is running. Wrong! That
would be like looking at a suitcase of money and if it is 1/4 full,
that is better than having it 3/4 full. Obviously you wouldn't think
that would you? What the number is telling you is how much more you
can do. So if you are only using 22% of your physical memory you still
have pleny left to do other things with AT THE SAME TIME. My question
to you would be WHY do you think you needed to install 8GB of RAM?
That's overkill for 99% of users and generally is foolish and wasted,
since as you see few tasks you do will use it.
 
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Mill Yanaire
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      06-25-2008

"executioner" <> wrote in message
news:1b2c35d0-c6e7-4010-91a8-...
On Jun 25, 8:36 am, iamc3k <gu...@unknown-email.com> wrote:
> Ladies and Gents,
>
> I'm running Vista64 Ultimate with a q6600 g0 processor on an Abit IP35
> Pro motherboard. I've installed 8 Gb (4 x 2 Gb) of RAM (g. Skill 6400).
> My system seems to recognize all 8 Gb based on the system page from
> within the Control Panel.
>
> Going to System Information within accessories shows Installed Physical
> Memory of 8.00 Gb; Total Physical Memory is _4.00 Gb_?!? Available
> Physical Memory is 6.12 Gb. How and why are these numbers so different?
> (I understand how available would be less than actual, but total is less
> then both installed and available?)
>
> Is my machine actually utilizing all 8 Gb or is half of it wasted?
>
> However, running my performance monitor applet on my Logitech G15
> keyboard and the Reliability and Performance monitor in windows both
> show that I only ever use approximately 20-24% of the physical memory.
>
> I am, obviously, confused.
>
> Thanks for any help clarifying this for me.
>
> Regards,
> Ken
>
> --
> iamc3k


>Why are you concerned that only 22% of your memory is being used? That
>is a GOOD thing. Many people don't understand the purpose of the R&P
>monitor numbers. A lot of people foolishly thing the more of their
>memory getting used the better their system is running. Wrong! That
>would be like looking at a suitcase of money and if it is 1/4 full,
>that is better than having it 3/4 full. Obviously you wouldn't think
>that would you? What the number is telling you is how much more you
>can do. So if you are only using 22% of your physical memory you still
>have pleny left to do other things with AT THE SAME TIME. My question
>to you would be WHY do you think you needed to install 8GB of RAM?
>That's overkill for 99% of users and generally is foolish and wasted,
>since as you see few tasks you do will use it.


Obviously Adam's head is 100% full of EGO. You would think that a head
shouldn't be at 100% EGO but Adam thrives on that. The reason Adam lives in
an institution is because the room he is in is big enough for that FAT HEAD
of his. Part of Adam's reply is correct but as usual he misses the mark
because he doesn't understand compters. He just thinks he does.


The reason your memory is only 22% full is because of the processes that
Vista uses only takes up 22% of the resources. The processes include
running the Kernel of the OS which handles memory management, hard disk
management, giving time to the tasks and programs that the computer runs.

The remaining memory will be used by Vista to preform housekeeping tasks and
to run other applications that you wish. You could have many applications
open, say Word, Excel, AutoCad, Powerpoint, Photoshop, and each application
will take up more memory.

Once memory gets full, the Operating System swaps programs/processes and
data from memory to the hard drive and back. This slows down your computer.
But with the 64bit version of Vista, you can use up to 8GB of ram (minus
what Vista takes for itself).

Most people do fine with the 32bit version of Vista and 4GB of RAM is more
than enough for them.



 
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Colin Barnhorst
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Posts: n/a

 
      06-26-2008
Check the BIOS for a memory mapping setting. I have not had to do this to
get 8GB on my Vista x64 rig so I don't know the specifics but I have seen
this problem discussed in the microsoft.public.windows.64bit.general
newsgroup a few times. You might visit that ng as well.

"iamc3k" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> Ladies and Gents,
>
> I'm running Vista64 Ultimate with a q6600 g0 processor on an Abit IP35
> Pro motherboard. I've installed 8 Gb (4 x 2 Gb) of RAM (g. Skill 6400).
> My system seems to recognize all 8 Gb based on the system page from
> within the Control Panel.
>
> Going to System Information within accessories shows Installed Physical
> Memory of 8.00 Gb; Total Physical Memory is _4.00 Gb_?!? Available
> Physical Memory is 6.12 Gb. How and why are these numbers so different?
> (I understand how available would be less than actual, but total is less
> then both installed and available?)
>
> Is my machine actually utilizing all 8 Gb or is half of it wasted?
>
> However, running my performance monitor applet on my Logitech G15
> keyboard and the Reliability and Performance monitor in windows both
> show that I only ever use approximately 20-24% of the physical memory.
>
> I am, obviously, confused.
>
> Thanks for any help clarifying this for me.
>
> Regards,
> Ken
>
>
> --
> iamc3k


 
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iamc3k
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Posts: n/a

 
      06-26-2008

Colin,

Thanks. If the OS sees 8Gb of memory, per the system information
screen, doesn't that mean that the BIOS must be accessing it?

I've run Memtest and it shows 8Gb. Memtest is run on a bootdisk, so the
BIOS loads, but not the Vista OS. I'm pretty certain the BIOS is not at
issue. Of course, I _have_ looked at every BIOS parameter and I do not
see any memory mapping setting. (I have an Abit mobo.)

I'll check the link you mentioned.

Regards,
Ken


--
iamc3k
 
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Colin Barnhorst
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Posts: n/a

 
      06-26-2008
System Properties in Vista SP1 reports the amount of ram installed. Even
Vista x86 should see 8GB if installed even though Vista x86 cannot address
more than 4GB. It should agree with the POST result at startup. So yes, it
should agree with what the BIOS reports during POST. That is not to say
that the BIOS is not reserving memory on a 64bit OS that it should only do
on a 32bit OS. That's why I would look to see if there is something about
"memory hole" or "memory mapping" in the BIOS that can be toggled off.

Winver is what shows what your operating system can use.

I just don't know a whole lot about this, but Carlos and Charlie Russel in
microsoft.public.windows.64bit.general sure do. That's why I suggested your
posting the question there too.

"iamc3k" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> Colin,
>
> Thanks. If the OS sees 8Gb of memory, per the system information
> screen, doesn't that mean that the BIOS must be accessing it?
>
> I've run Memtest and it shows 8Gb. Memtest is run on a bootdisk, so the
> BIOS loads, but not the Vista OS. I'm pretty certain the BIOS is not at
> issue. Of course, I _have_ looked at every BIOS parameter and I do not
> see any memory mapping setting. (I have an Abit mobo.)
>
> I'll check the link you mentioned.
>
> Regards,
> Ken
>
>
> --
> iamc3k


 
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