Computer Shows 3GB of Ram When I Have 4GB?

Question

I have a Dell Dimension 4700 with and Intel Pentium 4 HT 3.00Ghz with an ATI Radeon HD 4650 1GB.  I recently installed 2GB into my system making a physical total of 4GB.  
Though, my computer claims I have only 3GB.  Now I know that a 32-bit version of Windows XP only recognizes up to 3GB of ram.
What I was wondering is if that 1GB of memory that windows doesn't recognize will go to use or not.  When I play a graphically intense game, will my computer use that extra memory to help performance?
Do I have 4GB for nothing?

Straight Talker · Accepted Answer

Windows XP is a 32 bit operating system, which means it is only capable of dealing with 4 GB of addressable memory. Since your Graphics card has 1 GB of RAM onboard, Windows will only be able to use 3 GB of RAM for itself. The extra 1 GB of RAM cannot be used. In actual fact, you'll be getting about 2,7GB of usable RAM as Windows needs some of that memory for it's own use. The answer is to upgrade to a 64-bit O/S (depends on your processor as well of course).

? · Answer

ideal we could do away with the crap genuinely everyone seems to be asserting here and sparkling up misconceptions and myths approximately 32 bit and sixty 4 bit working structures 32 bit working structures are in basic terms able to dealing with a optimal of 3GB of RAM (3.5GB with somewhat tweaking) that's by way of way the working reads the reminiscence and then addresses it and additionally how microsoft has limited reminiscence addressing sixty 4 bit working structures can cope with lots greater

Anonymous · Answer

theres a setting that you can change in your bios. If your bios wont allow it, the extra memory is being used for graphics. so its not wasted

Computer Shows 3GB of Ram When I Have 4GB?

3 Answers