HP DV& RAM Upgrade

[sailorgeek]

I purchased a hp pavilion DV7 2213TX last year and upgraded its RAM from its original 4gb to 8gb using teh following modules as suggested by HP Singapore.   AT913AA#UUF HP 4-GB DDR3 1333 MHZ PC3-10600 SODIMM

Though the RAM successfully got recognised, the usable gb in the system properties still shows as 2.97gb as it was before the upgrade. Howevere the total RAm shown is 8gb. Also the experience figure has not changed..thought it would. There is no affect on my system performance negative or positive.

I run windows 7 premium and an Intel core2 duo.

Please advise what wrong....

[banhien]

Hi,

What is the version of Windows 7 ? 32 or 64 bit ? Where do you see this: "Howevere the total RAm shown is 8gb" ?

Regards.

[sailorgeek]

hi,

I am running a 32 bit OS and the information is found in the system properties windows within which you can also see the experience index.

 Here it shows Installed memory as 8gb but in brackets shows only 2.97 as usable. This was the case even when i had the oroginal 4gb rams.

If i can upload a screenshot maybe my point will be much clear but don't know how to upload one in this forum.

cheers

[sailorgeek]

hi,

I am running a 32 bit OS and the information is found in the system properties windows within which you can also see the experience index.

 Here it shows Installed memory as 8gb but in brackets shows only 2.97 as usable. This was the case even when i had the oroginal 4gb rams.

If i can upload a screenshot maybe my point will be much clear but don't know how to upload one in this forum.

cheers

Got it...here it is

[Huffer]

You need a 64 bit OS to run more than 3 gigs of memory

[sailorgeek]

Thats odd, cause the original memory included from factory was 4gb...i.e 2gb x 2 and i have the modules still with me and this repolacement part was recommended by HP Singapore when i was there and thus i went ahead and procurred same. Is tehre some other tweaking possible for it to recognise the additional memory.

[Huffer]

With an advanced user configurable BIOS you can trick a 32 bit OS into recognizing close to 4 gigs of RAM with memory mapping, but there is no such BIOS on an HP or just about any other laptop. It does make some sense to run 2 x 2 gigs even if only 3 or 3.25 gigs is recognized because with 2 identical modules you get the benefit of dual channel memory which you do not get by using a 2 gig plus a 1 gig.There is no magic that will make a 32 bit OS recognize 8 gigs. It is a mathematical limit of the 32 bit concept. The same is true of 32 bit Linux or any other operating system. Without a 64 bit OS you wasted your money on 8 gigs of RAM. 

[sailorgeek]

Great, now i know that i lost good money on bad stuff....so no joy there...thanks brother...really appreciate the eye opener...

cheers....

[Huffer]

It would not be a waste to now install 64 bit Windows 7. You can even get the new Windows 8 consumer preview in 64 bit for free. 

[sailorgeek]

BETA win8,...will that have any effects on my underlying win7 premium or can i try it as a dual boot system and see what clicks.