Tipex Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 I recently upgraded the memory in my old laptop from 2gb to 4gb with 2x2gb crucial memory cards. All went perfectly well, computer still works, not massively faster but noticeably a bit quicker, however when checking in the windows (8.1) system screen, it says installed memory 4gb, but 3.0gb useable. Is there any way of getting it to use the full 4 GB? If it's any help it's an Acer 5920G with 2.0 ghz core 2 duo cpu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 IIRC, max memory that can be used is 3GB, dependent on which version of W8 you're running. Stuff here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted June 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 It's 8.1 32 bit I think. I'm also having trouble with failed updates, but that started before I put more memory in, temporarily resolved by turning off automatic update while I wait for my free upgrade to win 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torino101 Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 The 32bit 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, ACPI and a few other bits and pieces. On system fitted with 4GB of RAM and a modest graphics card with say 512MB of on-board memory the end user normally sees about 3GB of installed system RAM. So what this means is that the realistic upper RAM limit for a 32-bit OS is more like 3GB. If you're adding big graphics cards with larger amounts of RAM then you'll need to be seriously thinking about a 64-bit OS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 (edited) Mook and Torino gave the answers. There are tweaks you can make but it'll make no difference to the performance you see. The most important point is to look at the RAM your machine is using, not what is available to it. I would wager you'll find it is well under 3gb. Go to 64-bit or buy a Mac. There is a very good one for sale in the General Marketplace, from, ironically, Mac... Edited June 18, 2015 by NewNiceMrMe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 Boring and poorly formatted explanation here. Get a Mac. Everyone needs a Mac, even when they don't 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted June 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 I would love to buy Macs Mac, I umm'd and Ahh'd about it, but I don't have £700 spare at the moment unfortunately. The laptop has a 1GB N-Vidia graphics card, and also 1GB Turbo memory, so I was hoping it'd make use of the 4gb but if it's not to be then it's not to be. Can I put a 64bit OS on it? My knowledge of 'bits' dates back to the Sega and Nintendo 8/16 bit days, I assumed my laptop was 32 bit and therefore a 64 bit OS wouldn't work on it? When the free Windows 10 download is available, should I attempt to download a 64 bit version or just go with whatever it says I should have? Many thanks for the replies by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 64 bit everytime. Only very old processors now won't support 64 bit. It'll tell you immediately as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted June 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 Okey dokey, many thanks, I'll have a look when I get home tonight and see if I can work out if it'll support 64bit or not. While I've got you here, any idea why updates keep failing and it 'undoes the changes'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 General flow-through support article here. Some specific items here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 The laptop has a 1GB N-Vidia graphics card, That'll be it - reduce it's memory aperture, you'll get some RAM back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted June 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 That'll be it - reduce it's memory aperture, you'll get some RAM back. How would one go about doing such a thing? I'm guessing as I don't play games on it I don't need that much graphics memory then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 It'll be in the BIOS somewhere. 'Video aperture' or 'video ram' or similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 So you'll see 'hit F2 for setup' or some crap during its boot. Yonks since I've looked at this stuff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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