Computer Help Needed (Disappearing Memory!)

[Nehkara]

Hey guys!

I just upgraded my buddy's computer. His motherboard has onboard video capability that (I believe) is stealing 750 MB of RAM from his system. He has a good video card installed so I am trying to shut off the onboard video.

Do you guys know how I can turn this off and recover the RAM for his system?

The mobo is M3A78-CM.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[sureLoss]

usually the options for disabling onboard video are found in the BIOS

one other thing i might be (if its a 32-bit operating system): http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000811.html

[PsYcNeT]

Intel UMA is notorious for 'reserving' memory. Right click the little Intel Video thing in the taskbar, and there should be a memory option (if that motherboard allows it, some don't).

Barring that, tell him to buy a video card for 50$ and disable the stupid thing.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

usually the options for disabling onboard video are found in the BIOS

one other thing i might be (if its a 32-bit operating system): http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000811.html

That was the problem. Thanks man.

[Hack&Lube]

Ah, yes that's a common mistake people make. They don't realize that Windows XP, Vista 32, etc. just can't do 4GB of ram if you put it in.

32-bit operating systems don't have the address space. They can at most see and use about 3GB and the rest is taken up by devices and legacy support.

Unfortunately, it's not something you can "fix" unless you switch him to a 64-bit operating system.

[Vulcan]

So does anyone know for sure if you can use a 32 bit Vista OEM key on a 64 bit OS?
I want to change and where can I get a copy if I can?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

So does anyone know for sure if you can use a 32 bit Vista OEM key on a 64 bit OS?
I want to change and where can I get a copy if I can?

I think my buddy used this link to upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit... I forget if his Vista was OEM or not but try using your Product key. (if it works you will have to pay shipping/handling fees)

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvist...a/default.mspx

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

I think my buddy used this link to upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit... I forget if his Vista was OEM or not but try using your Product key. (if it works you will have to pay shipping/handling fees)

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvist...a/default.mspx

It wouldn't work for me. I think it's only for retail copies.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Ah, yes that's a common mistake people make. They don't realize that Windows XP, Vista 32, etc. just can't do 4GB of ram if you put it in.

32-bit operating systems don't have the address space. They can at most see and use about 3GB and the rest is taken up by devices and legacy support.

The only thing to keep in mind is that you want to retain dual-channel memory access. This means that if your motherboard only has two DIMM slots, you want to add a pair of 2 gig DIMMs, not 1x1 and 1x2. Sucks to not have access to the extra memory, but dual channel access is a good way to get a 10-15% performance boost out of your machine compared to single channel.

RAM is cheap, and any of the 32 bit operating systems run fine with 3.x gigs of RAM available to them, so don't fret too much over wasting some of it.

[kermitology]

Underpants gnomes have moved on to RAM

[cal_guy]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

The only thing to keep in mind is that you want to retain dual-channel memory access. This means that if your motherboard only has two DIMM slots, you want to add a pair of 2 gig DIMMs, not 1x1 and 1x2. Sucks to not have access to the extra memory, but dual channel access is a good way to get a 10-15% performance boost out of your machine compared to single channel.

RAM is cheap, and any of the 32 bit operating systems run fine with 3.x gigs of RAM available to them, so don't fret too much over wasting some of it.

That's not entirely true, some Intel chipsets provide support for a mode called "flex mode" which allows for partial dual channel even with mismatched dimms.

http://www.intel.com/support/motherb.../cs-011965.htm