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HP Recommended

Hello,

  First this issue has been discussed on another forum here pretty extensively.  Its a bit long but it should explain what I'm trying to get at here.  http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/196224-4-gb-physical-memory-but-1-74-gb-usable.ht...

 

PLEASE read it if you would like to help.

 

So I've got an HP Pavilion DV6 3160us LAPTOP.  The RAM that I have installed is factory installed 4 GB total (2x 2GB sticks).  The problem is that the RAM that is being reserved for the hardware is over HALF of the total physical RAM.  I think its like 2,310 MB or something along those lines.

 

When I install one stick of memory in the hardware reserves 262 MB, but when both sticks are in it goes to over half.  I'm just trying to see if anyone else out there has dealt with this and if you could resolve the issue, because performance IS being affected when it should not have to be.  

 

Also, I was told by HP representatives (who were extremely helpful and nice) that because it is a laptop that the thing that would fix it such as memory mapping could not be done on laptops, just desktops.  I would like to know why this is set up this way.  

 

Thanks

11 REPLIES 11
HP Recommended

Hi,

Please try these steps:

  • Hold down the Windows Key and press R (or just Click Start),
  • Type msconfig in the Run box (or Search box) and hit Enter, 
  • In the System Configuration windows, click the Boot tab,
  • Click the Advanced Options button,
  • Un-stick the box next to 'Maximum Memory', 
  • Click OK,
  • Click Apply and then OK to get out,
  • Restart the notebook for the change to take effect.

Regards,

BH
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HP Recommended

Thanks for your reply, this has been done.  As demonstrated in the forums that I linked to this option was already unticked.

Also paging is ticked at allowing the system to manage page sizing. 

HP Recommended

Hi:

 

Here is the link to your PC's product specs.

 

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c02497784

 

Since there is nothing you can do about it, my recommendation is to install 8 GB of memory, and max out your machine.

 

DDR3 memory is cheap and you may as well get it now while it is.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139482

 

Paul

 

 

HP Recommended

My reservations about that is how much HR RAM jumped from one stick to two sticks.  From 262 MB being reserved to over 2GB being reserved.  I'm afraid that my system will want to gobble up more RAM from the 8GB.  

Too bad there is no way to know how much it would take.  

HP Recommended

Do you have some you can borrow from a friend who has 2 x 4 Gb of ddr3 memory?

 

Look at it this way, you will have a lot more than 1.74 GB available with 8 GB installed.

 

Paul

HP Recommended

No I'm afraid not.  Does anyone know if anyone else has run into this problem?

HP Recommended

Hi,

 

Have you checked the BIOS ? It seems to me the machine may only see one stick of RAM.

 

Regards,

BH
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HP Recommended

Yes, BIOS is showing 4 GB of installed RAM

HP Recommended

Hi:

 

Many notebook users have this issue where a good deal of memory is eaten up by the video adapter and other hardware.

 

You're lucky in that you can install 8 GB.

 

Some folks are stuck with 4 GB max, and can't install any more. leaving them with 1.74 - 2.5 GB of usable memory.

 

There is nothing wrong with your PC if that is what you are concerned about. It is what it is.

 

Paul

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