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Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : Laptop showing less than actual RAM [Resolved]

mendhak
Oct 23rd, 2003, 12:34 PM
This is about my destitute laptop.

I right click on "My Computer", go to properties, and it shows my RAM as 192 MB.

I go to the System Info feature with WinXP, and it shows 256 MB.

Why does the My Computer Properties display show less RAM than there actually is? This doesn't happen on my desktop PC.
Crunch
Oct 23rd, 2003, 04:06 PM
That's weird, my PCs have never done that. What does Task Manager -> Performance say in Physical Memory?
Admiral Michael
Oct 23rd, 2003, 09:04 PM
On board video perhaps? It steals main memory for video memory.
Crunch
Oct 23rd, 2003, 10:19 PM
^^ very good point, the S3 ProSavage, Trident Cyberblade, Radeon IGP and various other laptop video adapters are built that way.
Admiral Michael
Oct 23rd, 2003, 10:26 PM
Yep, I have a Compaq Presario 2100 (2180CA) and it has shared video memory. It came set to 64MB but I dont play alot of game and dont need it that high, so I set it to 8MB.
mendhak
Oct 23rd, 2003, 10:36 PM
Admiral, how did you set it to 8MB? I'd like to reduce the amount of RAM my graphics card eats up, I don't play many games either.
Admiral Michael
Oct 23rd, 2003, 11:10 PM
Its in the BIOS, something about video memory or something.
mendhak
Oct 23rd, 2003, 11:14 PM
I'll have a look at this when I get home (in about 6 hours). Don't move! :p
Admiral Michael
Oct 23rd, 2003, 11:26 PM
Im going to bed, hope it works 4 u. If u have probs email me
mendhak
Oct 24th, 2003, 09:28 AM
You hit it straight on, Admiral. Apparently, as Crunch had listed, I have a Radeon graphics card, and some of my RAM gets shared with it. I had no ****ing idea such a thing could happen. I've never seen it happen on any desktop PC.

I went into BIOS, and set it to 16MB. There's a definite performance improvement here. :)

Thanks a lot guys, much appreciated. :afrog:
Admiral Michael
Oct 24th, 2003, 12:03 PM
No Problem, happy to help.