Hello, I have the Asus N70SV B1. Full Specs:( http://www.asus.com/Notebooks/Multimedia_Entertainment/N70Sv/#specifications ) *No issues with Windows Vista 64bit recognizing 4gb RAM. *After upgrading to Windows 7 64bit I seen this: 4gb installed / 3gb usable RAM issue. I have also checked/done and verified the following. 1. I am running 64 bit windows 7 NOT 32 bit I wouldn't be able to run Adobe After Effects® CS5.5 and Adobe Premiere® Pro CS5.5 elsewise. 2. The unusable 1gb RAM is not being used by the OS, it's hardware reserved 3. The video card, Nvidia GT 130m 1gb, shouldn't need that RAM - it certainly didn't on the factory install of windows it's dedicated RAM. 4. I have tried disabling and enabling msconfig - boot - Max memory settings, neither option fixes the problem. 5. There are no memory options in the BIOS settings to disable memory caching / memory shadowing. 6. Reinstalled bios version for Windows Vista 64bit. *I used the Windows Vista 64bit drivers for the sound to work correctly with Windows 7 64bit. So I figured that the bios version of Windows Vista 64bit may as well fix the 4/3gb usable problem. So, I flashed the bios back to Windows Vista 64bit and that still did not solve the problem. Although the system did seem faster, it still only shows 3gb usable. There shouldn't be an issue with that version of the bios seeing that with Vista's 64bit OS recognized all 4gb. I'm stumped and have no clue where to go from here. Please Help!

According to a post in the ASUS Community forum the exact same condition exists with Vista: http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?board_id=3&model=N70Sv&id=20090707203904406&page=1&SLanguage=en-us Having a problem finding out information on vid card ram. Have a N70sv-x1 laptop with 4 Gigs of ram and a GT 130m nVidia card that said 1Gb VRAM. Checked the Vista 64 info on assigning ram etc so not too concerned that 4gigs shows installed and 3gigs available. My question concerns the vid card, It shows 2gigs assigned. Does the 130M actually have 1 gig on the card and another 1 gig assigned as dedicated? Seems like that would waste 1gig of ram. wrote to Asus and they referred me to an 800# but so far have not got through for an answer. Cannot find any more info on vid card other the the specs listed. Additonally, system ram is listed at 4 gigs max. I have seen several custom builders that offer up to an 8 gig option. Has anyone installed more than 4 gigs? There are limited bios settings so it looks like it would have to run on the Asus factory settings unless these companies have the ability to hack the bios??? This is the first laptop I have used for any gaming (as normally use a home built desktop with asus mobos) so not too familiar with laptop configurations.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

This is expected behavior. Read explanation in MS knowledge base article here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978610/en-us For deeper dive into Windows internals read book written by Mark Russinovich ( & Solomon....) This spring will appear the 6th edition. Regards Milos

I'm positive that with the Vista 64bit I didn't have the 1gb reserved. I had all 4gb, only after upgrading to Windows 7, does this problem occur. Thanks, Alex Haberer

I've seen this forum, but this doesn't acknowledge why Vista 64bit was showing 4gb without any hardware reserved RAM, while Windows 7 does. Plus I tried using the bios from the previous version Vista 64bit, and that didn't help. The only difference is the OS system, if the hardware and the bios are that of Vista 64 and they work with the Vista 64bit OS. Why wouldn't the same hardware and drivers work with Windows 7 and why would it create a hardware reserved RAM if it wasn't needed with the previous version of Windows? Also if what I'm reading is correct from that forum (64bit) I would be caped at 3gb's if I was running a 32bit OS, but I'm not. So if I installed 8gb would there be ~1.xxx for reserved RAM leaving me ~6.xxx for usable RAM? OR If I where to install 8gb RAM would it show 8gb installed / 4gb usable??? * I know the chipset is spose to be caped at 4gb, but that's just manufactures safety specs not what the actual chipset can read. *The computer recognized the bios version for Windows Vista 64bit. But that didn't create a fix. Any ideas?Thanks, Alex Haberer

The answer to your question is entirely dependent on exactly what ASUS wrote into the BIOS about RAM allocation for dedication to the video. If ASUS programmed in fixed amount, then you would still lose 1GB for the video. If ASUS programmed the BIOS to allocate a percentage, then conceivably you could lose as much as 2GB (25%) to the video. Windows 7 does not allocate the RAM to video, the BIOS allocates the RAM to video.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

If that is so... In Windows 7 while running Windows Vista's bios why would I not see the total of 4gb then??? While if I'm running Windows Vista I would???Thanks, Alex Haberer

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605 (Workaround) *This article clearly states that my computer would have a motherboard/chipset & bios that would support more then 8GB, seeing that I was able to see all 4gb when I had Windows Vista 64bit installed. So, seeing this I should be able to upgrade my RAM on Windows 7 64bit, but what would happen? A. 8gb Installed / 3gb Usable - Faulty configuration causing this (possibility) B. 8gb Installed / 4gb Usable - Supposed caped chipset (clearly false, according above article, but I seen weirder things happen) C. 8gb Installed / 6.xxxgb Usable - Hoping for the best. Any ideas???Thanks, Alex Haberer

Why do you think your laptop is going to act differently than another of the exact same make, model, and series? I believe you are mistaken when you state Vista 64 reported all 4GB as available to the system. If you have a problem with what you have, then take it up with ASUS Technical Support! Microsoft will do NOTHING to make Windows 7 tell you you have 4GB available to the system. I have exactly the same situation with my Dell laptop, but I don't try to blame Windows 7 for what it reports! Go back and read http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978610/en-usPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

I wasn't trying to put a blame on Windows I was merely asking what would happen or how could I fix this if I upgrade my RAM. I don't care if some is reserved, but I don't want to spend $180.00+ on 2x4gb OR 2x8gb RAM and find out that the access over 3gb would go strait to reserved. In Windows 7 while I could certainly roll back to Vista 64bit and see that all could be allocated.Thanks, Alex Haberer

Use Process Explorer and see, how is the memory "shared". Look here http://blogs.msdn.com/b/hiltonl/archive/2007/04/13/the-3gb-not-4gb-ram-problem.aspx Regards Milos

I wasn't trying to put a blame on Windows I was merely asking what would happen or how could I fix this if I upgrade my RAM. I don't care if some is reserved, but I don't want to spend $180.00+ on 2x4gb OR 2x8gb RAM and find out that the access over 3gb would go strait to reserved. In Windows 7 while I could certainly roll back to Vista 64bit and see that all could be allocated. Thanks, Alex Haberer And the results will still depend on exactly what ASUS has programmed into the BIOS. ASUS could have programmed a hard limit of 4GB and installing 8GB or 16GB may not give you anymore system RAM. Only ASUS can answer your question because this is not controlled by Windows 7!Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

So does Vista not create a System Reserved RAM allocation while Windows 7 Does? And if so then I understand why I'm only seeing 3g usable with Windows 7. But if Windows 7 isn't creating that System Reserve then why wouldn't I see 4gb total if I'm running Windows 7 but have the Vista bios (which I'm positive I had the 4gb without a System Reserved? Another individual has the exact same issue and as well states he was able to see the 4gb in Vista until the Windows 7 upgrade, but he never tried using the other (Vista)OS bios after upgrading. Link: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-hardware/only-3gb4gb-ram-usable-after-win-7x64-reinstall/2526ed1d-963c-4c5f-a359-98b1237d50b8 Thanks, Alex Haberer

Hi folks, I used to have this problem, but me and the wife fixed it a few minutes ago. We had just upgraded our 32bit XP Pro to Win 7 Ultimate 64bit. A few weeks later the machine was experiencing random crashes. I took a look at the crash dumps and it made no sense that it was a software issue, so I decided it might be a hardware problem. I downloaded memtest86 and started scanning my 3 GB RAM and quickly found out I had a persistent memory problem. It could not pass Test #9. Through divide and conquer, we found that one of the 1 GB modules was consistently failing. Memtest86 allows you to test one module at a time if you like. The problem always followed the same module. So off we go to get another module. While selecting memory, we decided to upgrade from two 1 GB modules and two 512 MG modules all the way to the MOB of four 2 GB modules for a total of 8 GB. Being cautious, we installed the modules one at a time and ran memtest86 on each. When we had 4 GB installed, System, Resource Monitor and all others said... 4GB installed and only 3 GB usable. So, we had a clue after reading this thread. After a few attempts, we went into the BIOS and went to the ADVANCED setting and under the CHIPSET (NORTH BRIDGE) setting we found the Memory Remap Feature disabled. A quick look at the ASUS book for the P5B-Plus MOB clearly says that for a 64bit OS this setting must be ENABLED. So, we did that and rebooted. After reboot, we checked the Resource Monitor and all other indicators and indeed 4 GB was now fully available and NOT reserved. Whoo Hooo! So, if you had been using a 32bit OS with a RAM restriction and now wanted to move past that, go into the BIOS and make this change. From there you are limited by only the amount of physical RAM the MOB can support. Ours is 8GB. Oh, and as a side benefit, much more speed in boot up and shut down. So far, no crashes. Tomorrow, we will install the other modules, test and get back to video editing. Hope that help! chuck & dixie

I'm not sure but may have found the answer, the most current and original BIOS didn't have a memory re-mappable firmware. They didn't initially release the N70SV with 64bit until later, which by then changing the bios would have been a waste of time for ASUS. With the current BIOS the dedicated graphics card memory must be written into the BIOS's address system for the graphics card to work correctly with the system. So without memory remapping in the BIOS firmware the first 3gb of the 4gb installed is all that can then written into the sequence up to 4gb. I have tried finding an update for the chipset or even third party software, because frankly ASUS will not tend to the the needs of the few. This was in an article for Windows 7 and memory. But I still don't understand why with the factory BIOS with Windows Vista I was able to view 4gb install and 4gb usable? And with that same BIOS and hardware with Windows 7 I'm only seeing 3. Thanks, Alex Haberer

Hi Alex. Please see this thread they are giving you some explanation on that. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-hardware/only-3gb4gb-ram-usable-after-win-7x64-reinstall/2526ed1d-963c-4c5f-a359-98b1237d50b8 Another thing is check your resource monitor under memory tab. There is a physical memory graph that will show you alocation of memory. If the 1 gb is hardware reserved it will show there.