how do you verify it ? I have a server running Windows 2003 Enterprise. I put in 4Gb of memory, but when I query the general computer info only 3.25GB RAM shows up.

what's the problem ??? how do I fix it.

3/16/2007 1:59:11 PM

It's a memory addressing limitation of your motherboard. Even 64bit OSs have this problem. The 32bit OS is a limitation too.

Quote :

"Microsoft Windows XP Professional, designed as a 32-bit OS, supports an address range of up to 4 GB for virtual memory addresses and up to 4 GB for physical memory addresses. Because the physical memory addresses are sub-divided to manage both the computer’s PCI memory address range (also known as MMIO) and RAM, the amount of available RAM is always less than 4 GB. The PCI memory addresses starting down from 4 GB are used for things like the BIOS, IO cards, networking, PCI hubs, bus bridges, PCI-Express, and video/graphics cards. The BIOS takes up about 512 KB starting from the very top address. Then each of the other items mentioned are allocated address ranges below the BIOS range. The largest block of addresses is allocated for today’s high performance graphics cards which need addresses for at least the amount of memory on the graphics card. The net result is that a high performance x86-based computer may allocate 512 MB to more than 1 GB for the PCI memory address range before any RAM (physical user memory) addresses are allocated. RAM starts from address 0. The BIOS allocates RAM from 0 up to the bottom of the PCI memory addresses mentioned above, typically limiting available RAM to between 3 GB and 3.4 GB."

[Edited on March 16, 2007 at 2:15 PM. Reason : nore info]

3/16/2007 2:10:36 PM

this is a pretty common issue (relative to the number of people who install 4gigs). do a google search, you'll find plenty of people with the same problem and various explanations

[Edited on March 16, 2007 at 2:11 PM. Reason : ^ pretty much]

3/16/2007 2:10:39 PM

my problem is the software application i'm attempting to download requires 4GB. there was (1GB) in there already 2 X 512mb cards. so I just added (4) 1GB cards, which should have given me 5GB total.

i'm worried that i'm going to have a problem when I load the application. its a monitoring device i'm loading thats very intensive - so I need to have the required memory.

if I proceed with downloading the software do you think i will have a problem.

3/16/2007 2:28:55 PM

What's the software?

3/16/2007 2:40:09 PM

get a better mb

3/16/2007 11:25:50 PM

To address more than 4gb of RAM you need a 64bit OS and a memory controller that can address more than 4gb.

3/17/2007 12:10:04 PM

interesting. i loaded the application, but it warned me. the application was Cisco Unified Operations Manager.

3/17/2007 1:17:31 PM