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OFFICIAL maximum RAM in an E1705

post #1 of 24
10/4/06 at 7:57pm
Thread Starter 
Well, no one has tried it, so I did. I put two 2GB SODIMM's in my E1705. The results were not bad, but not good!

In the BIOS, the system shows 4096MB installed, but 3071MB available!

Drats!

Booted into Windows XP, where I had hoped XP's maximum of 3.5GB would be seen, but nope, just 3GB.

So, those of you out there with more money than you know what to do with, don't waste it on 2 x 2GB DIMM's for your E1705!

What's odd, is it must be a BIOS-limited amount, as the M1710 supports the full 4GB, doesn't it?

Now, what to do with the 2GB sticks?
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post #2 of 24
10/4/06 at 8:08pm
I don't think it's the E1705...

It's the OS.
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post #3 of 24
10/4/06 at 8:15pm
If it's the OS, then how come his BIOS only reports 3071MB available?
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post #4 of 24
10/4/06 at 8:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Swordmaszter
I don't think it's the E1705...

It's the OS.
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post #5 of 24
10/4/06 at 8:17pm
Thread Starter 
I know Windows XP will see 3.5Gb out of 4GB total installed. I've done it on my desktop system, plus i've researched it in the past.

Plus, like WackyT said, the BIOS sees 4GB, says only 3GB is available for use.
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post #6 of 24
10/4/06 at 8:31pm
If the bios shows 4096MB then open your boot.ini file (Hidden& Read-Only in the root of your boot partition) and add the /PAE switch. The will enable physical address extension in the NT kernal (addresses memory using 64 bit) and the it _may_ show all or cloase to all 4 GB. The real problem you have is only apps like SQL server etc. that can take advantage of PAE will actually use the memory. I have to do this with my development machines, if the /3GB switch is in the boot.ini, delete it before saving and rebooting.

Quote:
Originally Posted by lancorp
Well, no one has tried it, so I did. I put two 2GB SODIMM's in my E1705. The results were not bad, but not good!

In the BIOS, the system shows 4096MB installed, but 3071MB available!

Drats!

Booted into Windows XP, where I had hoped XP's maximum of 3.5GB would be seen, but nope, just 3GB.

So, those of you out there with more money than you know what to do with, don't waste it on 2 x 2GB DIMM's for your E1705!

What's odd, is it must be a BIOS-limited amount, as the M1710 supports the full 4GB, doesn't it?

Now, what to do with the 2GB sticks?
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post #7 of 24
10/4/06 at 8:41pm
This will explain it better: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system...AE/PAEdrv.mspx
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post #8 of 24
10/4/06 at 9:42pm
Thread Starter 
I read the microsoft article, and I haven't checked my boot.ini yet, but I do remember when I look at PROPERTIES of MyComputer, it says 3GB RAM and Physical Address Extension. Does that imply that PAE is already enabled?

I also thought i'd try booting up Vista real quick and see what it says...
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post #9 of 24
10/4/06 at 10:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lancorp
What's odd, is it must be a BIOS-limited amount, as the M1710 supports the full 4GB, doesn't it?

This is identical to the M1710 and M90 systems. My M90 reports the same.

4096 - total
3071 - available
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post #10 of 24
10/4/06 at 10:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lancorp
I know Windows XP will see 3.5Gb out of 4GB total installed.

The amount XP(32bit) can see is based on how many devices are using memory mapped space that is allocated by the BIOS. I have never been able to use more than ~3.2 - 3.3gb in the many workstations I have setup with 4gb of memory.
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post #11 of 24
10/4/06 at 10:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by yellowlt4
This is identical to the M1710 and M90 systems. My M90 reports the same.

4096 - total
3071 - available

Wow!

So an M90 system purchased with 4GB of RAM (and a second mortgage), the laptop (not Windows, mind you, because the BIOS even says 3071MB available) will only utilize 3GB (25% wasted)???

And, that's the same for M1710? Hmmmmmm.....
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post #12 of 24
10/5/06 at 3:15am
If the BIOS says 4096 installed with only 3071MB available, how do you guys think Windows could possibly get 3.5GB out of that? 1024 x 3 = 3072, which is one MB more than the BIOS says is available. Why isn't it acceptable for Windows to say 3GB of RAM when the BIOS already told you there was 3GB available? If the BIOS had said 3584MB available, then I would expect Windows to agree.

This gives me the opinion that it's not Windows, it's the BIOS. I'm sure there have to be people on here using WinXP Pro on a new Core 2 Duo or some such hotrod that are showing 4GB available in the BIOS and Windows.

3GB couldn't possibly be dual-channel, either, could it?
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post #13 of 24
10/5/06 at 5:19am
32 bit only has enough memory addresses to allocate to a total of 4GB of memory across the whole system. This isn't just mapped to the RAM but also to other devices such as those on the PCI bus and other peripherals.

Therefore neither the BIOS or windows 32bit could recognise 4GB of ram as that would mean that no memory addresses were allocated to any other devices in the system.
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post #14 of 24
10/5/06 at 9:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by betafrog
Therefore neither the BIOS or windows 32bit could recognise 4GB of ram as that would mean that no memory addresses were allocated to any other devices in the system.

Yes, we (I) know that. I think the point, maybe, isn't clear here. I wasn't expecting to be able to get 4GB in Windows. Like I stated in my original post, I was hoping to get XP's maximum of 3.5GB. I know that is possible, as i've had desktop systems with 4GB installed (back when RAM was cheap!), and Windows sees 3.5GB.

In any case, since the BIOS only sees 3GB available, it's either a hardware limitation, or a BIOS limitation.

What was surprising is that M1710 and M90 systems report the same thing, and they can be sold with 4GB at a very costly expense!
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post #15 of 24
10/5/06 at 12:37pm
Don't worry lancorp. When Vista comes out, you'll be sure to utilize all the 4GB of RAM. Also, I recommend you Merom processor, then you can take advantage of it now with XP x64. It is indeed an OS limitation enforced in SP2 due to some sort of vulnerability.
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post #16 of 24
10/5/06 at 12:44pm
...Trying to picture just how much multitasking you'd be doing to need 4 GB of ram. Hmm...
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post #17 of 24
10/5/06 at 12:48pm
You don't necessary need to multitask to consume this much RAM. Video editing (especially in HDV) will use the maximun available as well as rendering.
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post #18 of 24
10/5/06 at 2:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by .PoNeH
Don't worry lancorp. When Vista comes out, you'll be sure to utilize all the 4GB of RAM. Also, I recommend you Merom processor, then you can take advantage of it now with XP x64. It is indeed an OS limitation enforced in SP2 due to some sort of vulnerability.

Seems there is a need to worry. Just installed VISTA Build 5728 (32-bit), and it only sees 3GB also.

Bummer.
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post #19 of 24
10/5/06 at 2:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by zzpulp
...Trying to picture just how much multitasking you'd be doing to need 4 GB of ram. Hmm...

It's funny why people who don't have 4GB of RAM seem to find it necessary to have the one who does justify why they need it! It seems to be a popular response in various threads about using 4GB RAM.

Who cares? I have it-- regardless if I bought it, stole it, or borrowed it. And, i'm posting my experience with it in my notebook, because others have inquired but no one has tried it (or at least has posted about it). It's often asked what the RAM capacity of the E7105 is, so I thought since I have the opportunity, i'd post about it.

Why doesn't anyone speculate on one's needs to have a 7900GTX video card or a 160GB HDD (who would need that much space?)?

Personally, I'll probably wind up selling it (or at least 1 of the sticks and keeping one in my E1705), but right now, i'm using the time to experiment with the different OS's, and share the information with others.
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post #20 of 24
10/5/06 at 7:58pm
I just installed sisoft sandra on my 1705 and it lists maximum supported memory at 4GB (as read from the A02 bios I assume). I think you are only seeing the 3.xGB due to PCI mapping etc., if I could afford it I'd throw it in just for the 3 available.
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