Why is it only 3 GB usable?


  1. Muz
    Posts : 25
    Windows 10
       #1

    Why is it only 3 GB usable?


    The system is Dell Optiplex 330, the RAM in the system configuration says only 3 GB is usable, the installed RAM is 4 GB. Is there a solution to this?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 920
    Windows 10 Pro
       #2

    Does it use integrated graphics? if so I would imagine 1Gb is reserved for graphics. You could check the BIOS and see if you can lower the reserve if it is integrated.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 31,465
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #3

    Muz said:
    The system is Dell Optiplex 330, the RAM in the system configuration says only 3 GB is usable, the installed RAM is 4 GB. Is there a solution to this?
    32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10? If 32-bit, then that is normal. 32-bit address space is a maximum of 4GB, and about 1GB will be 'hardware reserved' for use by the video adapter.

    Why is it only 3 GB usable?-x86-4gb-ram.png
      My Computers


  4. Muz
    Posts : 25
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    All 32 bit Windows only use 4 GB of capacity? Graphic card is NVIDIA Geforce 9500 GT. How do I know this graphic card is using the 1 GB?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 7,724
    3-Win-7Prox64 3-Win10Prox64 3-LinuxMint20.2
       #5

    Hi,
    32 bit is often less than 4gb's
    My 32 bit has 3gb's another one only has 2gb's

    Just depends on the manufactures hardware used.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 31,465
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #6

    Muz said:
    All 32 bit Windows only use 4 GB of capacity?

    Correct. The total address space x86 Windows can use is 4GB, so the video RAM has to occupy some of that. A clean install of x64 would be able to map the video RAM above the 4GB installed RAM, using only about 100MB as Hardware reserved.

    Graphic card is NVIDIA Geforce 9500 GT. How do I know this graphic card is using the 1 GB?

    Run the System Information app. Look under Components > Display. Also look at Hardware Resources > Memory.

    See System Information in Windows 10
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 4,511
    several
       #7

    Unless you are using Windows Server 2003 enterprise x86 which can support 64gb ram
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 31,465
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #8

    SIW2 said:
    Unless you are using Windows Server 2003 enterprise x86 which can support 64gb ram
    That is true, but perhaps a little unlikely in the OP's case.
      My Computers


 

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