Windows 7 64-bit RAM usage

[Bob Costello]

Upgraded to Windows7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit. Added RAM to 5GB (reason
I upgraded to 64 bit was to get around the 3GB 32 bit limitation.) Now
system shows 5GB but only 3.3GB available for use. Task manager shows
5.12GB installed, 3.326GB available or cached and 1.794GB "hardware
reserved"(?). Is this 1.794 not available for software? If not, how to
make it available for software?

I really wanted the performance improvement of 64 bit and increased RAM.
How do I get Windows7 64 bit to utilize the full 5 GB?

System is HP running 64 capable 2.13 hz dual core Intel.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Bob.

Are you SURE you are running Win7 x64? It's quite possible to install
32-bit Windows on 64-bit hardware. In fact, many 64-bit computers have
32-bit Windows pre-installed.

On the System Properties page, right in the middle, it should say:
System type: 64-bit Operating System

The symptoms you describe are just what I would expect from 32-bit Windows
on 64-bit hardware.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64

 

[Ken Blake]

Upgraded to Windows7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit. Added RAM to 5GB (reason
I upgraded to 64 bit was to get around the 3GB 32 bit limitation.) Now
system shows 5GB but only 3.3GB available for use. Task manager shows
5.12GB installed, 3.326GB available or cached and 1.794GB "hardware
reserved"(?). Is this 1.794 not available for software? If not, how to
make it available for software?

I really wanted the performance improvement of 64 bit and increased RAM.
How do I get Windows7 64 bit to utilize the full 5 GB?

System is HP running 64 capable 2.13 hz dual core Intel.

Read RC White's answer. Like him, I suspect that you are running
32-bit Windows 7.

Moreover, bear the following in mind:

1. 64-bit Windows will provide a performance benefit *if* you are
running 64-bit applications, and do next to nothing for you if you are
not. Since there are very few 64-bit applications yet, it will do very
little for performance.

2. Increased RAM will provide a performance benefit *if* you are
running applications that make use of that much RAM.

3. I'm running 64-bit Windows7 Ultimate with 6GB of RAM here. At the
moment, I am using just under half the RAM (2942MB, and that's the
typical amount I use).

I'm in favor of running 64-bit Windows, since it gets you prepared for
the future. But don't expect a performance improvement from it now.

 

[Andy]

I see "Installed memory (RAM): 4Gb (3.84Gb usable)" on my new 64-bit Win7-
64bit 'puter.

If that means anything.

I didn't know it was Win7 or 64-bit until I took it home. I was sold on the
white key caps. Vaio laptop, with tax, $720.

I have jumped through a few hoops ever since. Need to brush up on file
permissions, etc., etc.

Best,

Andy

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Andy.

Did you read my Reply to Bob Costello, the OP in this thread?

Another way to check if you have 64-bit Windows installed is to look in
Windows Explorer. You should see a folder named "C:\Program Files", of
course. Do you see ANOTHER folder named "C:\Program Files (x86)"?

If you DO have the folder with "(x86)" in the name, then Windows x64 is
running. If that second folder does not exist, then you are running 32-bit
Windows - EVEN IF you have 64-bit hardware.

If you need an explanation of this, please post back.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64

 

[Andy]

Hi, Andy.

Did you read my Reply to Bob Costello, the OP in this thread?

Another way to check if you have 64-bit Windows installed is to look
in Windows Explorer. You should see a folder named "C:\Program
Files", of course. Do you see ANOTHER folder named "C:\Program Files
(x86)"?

If you DO have the folder with "(x86)" in the name, then Windows x64
is running. If that second folder does not exist, then you are
running 32-bit Windows - EVEN IF you have 64-bit hardware.

If you need an explanation of this, please post back.

RC

RC,

I'm well aware of 64-bits.

Best,

Andy

 

[Bob Costello]

Upgraded to Windows7 64 bit from Vista 32 bit. Added RAM to 5GB (reason
I upgraded to 64 bit was to get around the 3GB 32 bit limitation.) Now
system shows 5GB but only 3.3GB available for use. Task manager shows
5.12GB installed, 3.326GB available or cached and 1.794GB "hardware
reserved"(?). Is this 1.794 not available for software? If not, how to
make it available for software?

I really wanted the performance improvement of 64 bit and increased RAM.
How do I get Windows7 64 bit to utilize the full 5 GB?

System is HP running 64 capable 2.13 hz dual core Intel.

I am definitely running 64 bits. Did a clean install and it shows it is
running 64 bits. Board is ASUS Tek Leonite 5.00 and the bios is Phoenix
Tech LTD 5.09. The computer is an HP Media Center with 2.13 GHz Intel
Core 2 HP-Pavilion RT680AA-ABA m7747c.

Sounds like it is a BIOS limitation. I see no option in Bios to change
anything related to this.

 

[Sam]

I am definitely running 64 bits. Did a clean install and it shows it is
running 64 bits. Board is ASUS Tek Leonite 5.00 and the bios is Phoenix
Tech LTD 5.09. The computer is an HP Media Center with 2.13 GHz Intel
Core 2 HP-Pavilion RT680AA-ABA m7747c.

Sounds like it is a BIOS limitation. I see no option in Bios to change
anything related to this.

What exactly in your system makes you think that you're running a 64bit
operating system? If you look at "System" window in your control panel,
what exactly does the "System Type" say? If it doesn't say "64-bit
Operating System" then you're not running 64 bit, no matter what
hardware you have. To get 64 bit, you have to install Win7 with a disk
that says 64-bit on it. The fact that your memory says "only 3.3GB
available for use" sounds very much like what a 32-bit system would do.

Sam

 

[Andy]

What exactly in your system makes you think that you're running a 64bit
operating system? If you look at "System" window in your control panel,
what exactly does the "System Type" say? If it doesn't say "64-bit
Operating System" then you're not running 64 bit, no matter what
hardware you have. To get 64 bit, you have to install Win7 with a disk
that says 64-bit on it. The fact that your memory says "only 3.3GB
available for use" sounds very much like what a 32-bit system would do.

Sam

http://i37.tinypic.com/2ykhoww.jpg

Andy

 

[Dabbler]

1. 64-bit Windows will provide a performance benefit *if* you are
running 64-bit applications, and do next to nothing for you if you are
not. Since there are very few 64-bit applications yet, it will do very
little for performance.

I had the impression that with a 64-bit OS you can't even run 32-bit
apps. From what you are implying here, I was mistaken. In other words, I
may not have to wait till all my must-have apps are available in 64-bit
versions till moving to a 64-bit Win7 on my HP notebook that runs the
AMD Turion 64 X2 dual core CPU. I could do it now and able to run (most
of?) my 32-bit apps, too. Am I getting it right?

 

[Andy]

I had the impression that with a 64-bit OS you can't even run 32-bit
apps. From what you are implying here, I was mistaken. In other words, I
may not have to wait till all my must-have apps are available in 64-bit
versions till moving to a 64-bit Win7 on my HP notebook that runs the
AMD Turion 64 X2 dual core CPU. I could do it now and able to run (most
of?) my 32-bit apps, too. Am I getting it right?

My 64-bit Intel 'puter and the Win 64-bit OS are way faster, evidenced by
the two blue screens I've gotten in the midst of personalization. ((

It wrote the dump (which I forwarded on) in maybe 10 seconds, compared to
minutes on WinXPpro.

Andy

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I had the impression that with a 64-bit OS you can't even run 32-bit
apps. From what you are implying here, I was mistaken.

Yes, you are mistaken. I run 64-bit Windows 7 here, and just about
*all* my application are the old 32-bit ones.

You can run 32-bit applications under a 64-bit operating system, but
you can *not* run 64-bit applications under a 32-bit operating system.

In other words, I
may not have to wait till all my must-have apps are available in 64-bit
versions till moving to a 64-bit Win7 on my HP notebook that runs the
AMD Turion 64 X2 dual core CPU.

Right.


I could do it now and able to run (most
of?) my 32-bit apps, too. Am I getting it right?

*Exactly* right. "Most of" may even be an overstatement. You can
probably run them all. In general, the only ones you are likely not to
be able to run are a few utilities.

 

[Dabbler]

Yes, you are mistaken. I run 64-bit Windows 7 here, and just about
*all* my application are the old 32-bit ones.

You can run 32-bit applications under a 64-bit operating system, but
you can *not* run 64-bit applications under a 32-bit operating system.

Hm, that's interesting. I used to be involved with Unix application
programming and when we moved to a 64-bit OS there, several of our old
apps did not work, mainly because integer variables were the size of a
computer word, 32 bits, and when the apps called system routines there
was a problem; the new system routines expected 64-bit integers. After
rebuilding the apps in the new system, the problem usually disappeared.

Be that as it may, I'm glad I stumbled on your post in time before
deciding which Win7 I should go with. I'm buying a new HD for my laptop
that I will use with a clean install. That way I can still have my Vista
setup, just in case. ;-)

 

[___Reap3R___]

I am having the same issue as Andy; I have 3 PC's at home all with Windows 7 x64 installed on them and none of them show the full amount of the installed ram as usable. I find this a little strange as the RC did show all ram.

Any help on this would be appreciated as it annoying having 6GB installed and only utilizing half of it.

Just incase anyone asks, I installed the x64 OS from DVD myself, the system properties show as a 64 bit system running also... the OS is 64 bit so I am lost as with XP & Vista all the RAM was usable.

Thanks in advance.

Main PC setup:

MB: Asus P5K-E Wi-fi
CPU: Q6600 G0 Stepping (3.43Ghz OC)
Cooling: Thermalright +120 eXtreme
RAM: 6GB G.Skill Trident 5 5 5 15 1.8v 1066Mhz
Video: Zotac GTX275 896MB DDR3
Capture Card: Compro T750F
PSU: CoolerMaster 700W Silent Pro
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium OEM 64 Bit
Keyboard/ Mouse: Logitech G19/ Razor Copperhead
Tower: Customised Thermaltake Soprano

 

[___Reap3R___]

I have done some playing around and found a possible fix for you Bob. (it has worked for my PC’s)

Go into msconfig (Windows + R to bring up RUN and enter msconfig if you didn’t know how to get there quickly)

Select the “BOOT” tab and click on the “Advanced” button about halfway down on the left.

In here you have on the right side at the top a check box for the maximum amount of RAM allowed. Uncheck this box if it is checked.

While you are there check the box above the number of processors and use the dropdown box to select the maximum number given (in my case it is 4 as I run a quad core CPU). This is meant to speed up boot times among other things; it was published on the PC Authority website a while back.

Anyway I hope this helps you as it worked for me.