Hi there long time member looking for advice

My current rig is

Case HAF 922 +2 extra side fans

MOTHERBOARD M4N98TD EVO

RAM 8 gig of ddr3

CPU amd phenomn 695 deneb

GPU bfg gts 250

GPU xfx gts 250 modded with a zalman 2000 heatsink and fan

LSX 750 watt PSU

3 Sata HDD and one IDE HDD

total fans spinning 11

Windows 7 Premuim 64 bit

Reason I'm sharing this is I would like to upgrade my system from its direct x10 limits and I'm open to suggestions I play all kinds of games old and new and I think its just time to change the gpu

I welcome any and all suggestions

Thank you

[QUOTE="Ravenscythe"]

The 4GB limit refers to total addressable memory space and not just the RAM installed. It's a total made up of system RAM, graphics RAM, PCI memory range, ACPIand a few other bits and pieces. Generally the 32bit OS will see the 4gig if you have the PAE (Physical Address Extension) on in the bios but will only be able to use about 3gb depending how much vram you got and some other things like pci cards ect.

Theres no real downside to vista/win7 64bit so may as well use that if you really need the ram space, not many people really need that much they just think they do since lack of ram used to be a major issue. Unless your doing alot of high ram usage tasks like photoshoping high rez pics or running afew VM's.

EDIT: To the guy above make sure PAE is ON in your bios and you should be ok.

cleet123

I am not saying everyone here hasn't made good points but heres the breakdown. I was 3 gig two sticks of 2 gig each no biggie I heard alot about how windows can't say a full 4 gig is there that aside the videocards I've upgraded never before budged my 3 gig ram down. I had some issues like alot of avast users then gained more issues after they fixed their ( Avast) end of it. Still 3 gig ram PAE is on according to my computer properties... and 1 gig videocard. Then fake anti spyware installed and ran itself forcing me to try a safe mode boot to wipe it out...guess what? It refused to boot at all even in safe mode

this being my only computer I use right now had no choice tried a windows repair issue was still there the fake one so I redid my xp without formatting still lost alot of saved games data. but 2.5 gig videocard has not shown any signs gameplay has weakened. So now I want my 4 gig to read 3 gig again not 2.5

I just had a thought does it matter if my XP is OEM?

I just trying to figure this out. So far not loss any graphics ability seems clear

The 4GB limit refers to total addressable memory space and not just the RAM installed. It's a total made up of system RAM, graphics RAM, PCI memory range, ACPIand a few other bits and pieces. Generally the 32bit OS will see the 4gig if you have the PAE (Physical Address Extension) on in the bios but will only be able to use about 3gb depending how much vram you got and some other things like pci cards ect.

Theres no real downside to vista/win7 64bit so may as well use that if you really need the ram space, not many people really need that much they just think they do since lack of ram used to be a major issue. Unless your doing alot of high ram usage tasks like photoshoping high rez pics or running afew VM's.

EDIT: To the guy above make sure PAE is ON in your bios and you should be ok.

Ravenscythe

I am not saying everyone here hasn't made good points but heres the breakdown. I was 3 gig two sticks of 2 gig each no biggie I heard alot about how windows can't say a full 4 gig is there that aside the videocards I've upgraded never before budged my 3 gig ram down. I had some issues like alot of avast users then gained more issues after they fixed their ( Avast) end of it. Still 3 gig ram PAE is on according to my computer properties... and 1 gig videocard. Then fake anti spyware installed and ran itself forcing me to try a safe mode boot to wipe it out...guess what? It refused to boot at all even in safe mode

this being my only computer I use right now had no choice tried a windows repair issue was still there the fake one so I redid my xp without formatting still lost alot of saved games data. but 2.5 gig videocard has not shown any signs gameplay has weakened. So now I want my 4 gig to read 3 gig again not 2.5

[QUOTE="farrell2k"][QUOTE="violian"]

No, he has a dedicated gfx card, so XP should still report 3GB. Even if he's using integrated gfx, it should still say 3GB. You said you just installed XP again, and I think that's the problem. Depending on how old the XP disc is, the disc might only contain SP1 and SP2 on it. My XP install disc was made in 2006 and it doesn't have SP3. You need SP3 installed in order to use more than 2GB of RAM. SP3 allows XP to recognize more than 2GB of RAM. So, you'd have to go to Microsoft's page, and download SP3. If you have Windows Automatic Update turned on, it'll eventually download and install the update itself.

cleet123

Ok I didn't change anything in bios so all the settings there should be the same from my pior install of xp. I also already have service pack 3 installed. Would windows reenable my onboard video if I had it off for a card after a year of card video use? I am just trying to understand what I can do.

I tried changing a memory hole mapping setting in bios that did nothing so I gotta put that back.

At a loss of ideas here

Oh and NO I don't like Vista I had it never again.:)

[QUOTE="violian"]

[QUOTE="Lonehwolf1"]

It's kinda late, I'm sick, and I just swiftly skimmed through your post so maybe I read wrong... but to quickly answer your question... GFX Card and RAM memories are shared... so 2.5gig RAM is being detected while the remaining is being taken in by your GFX card. There are definitely exceptions to this, but if you really wanna fix your issue, the solution is all very simple:

64 bit Operating System. Win xp 64 (Don't really suggest it) or Win 7 64 bit is your real options. Vista? Haha. Period. No, bad boy... don't think of vista. I'd suggest you a Win 7 64 bit OS. This should detect all of your RAM and GFX Card memories and fully utilize them as is necessary.

Good luck. :)

farrell2k

No, he has a dedicated gfx card, so XP should still report 3GB. Even if he's using integrated gfx, it should still say 3GB. You said you just installed XP again, and I think that's the problem. Depending on how old the XP disc is, the disc might only contain SP1 and SP2 on it. My XP install disc was made in 2006 and it doesn't have SP3. You need SP3 installed in order to use more than 2GB of RAM. SP3 allows XP to recognize more than 2GB of RAM. So, you'd have to go to Microsoft's page, and download SP3. If you have Windows Automatic Update turned on, it'll eventually download and install the update itself.

Ok I didn't change anything in bios so all the settings there should be the same from my pior install of xp. I also already have service pack 3 installed. Would windows reenable my onboard video if I had it off for a card after a year of card video use? I am just trying to understand what I can do.

I tried changing a memory hole mapping setting in bios that did nothing so I gotta put that back.

At a loss of ideas here

I been using this pc its been good till a few days ago anyways before that was using two sticks making 4 gig of ddr2 800.. but Winxp can only see 3 fine no problem. I get a videocard a evga 7200 PCI E still 3 gig ram. I upgrade further to a ATI HD 4350 still 3 gig of ram decent video but lack of open gl support got myself a 1 gig Nvidia card still 3 gig system ram alot of crap occured had to redo my windows now I am still on 1 gig videocard but instead of 3 gig ram I had its now only 2.5??? I've searched asked for help and since for me this is a major gaming issue more so then anything I know it should be 3 gig. not 2.5 gig. Any ideas?

I'm open to whatever suggestions people can gave me I know it was 3 gig with a 1 gig videocard so it still should be in my system as 3 gig not 2.5 service pack I am at a complete loss.