OS 32bit only up to 3gig

Mine says 3.49gig.

Have you put them in the right sockets?  They are probably matched pairs, 1+3 and 2+4, at a guess.

In theory, a 32bot OS can manage 4BG of memory. But the RAM is not the only memory counted in this value, the GC VRAM is included, and other various memory spreaded across the PC.

what OS are you running?

Try the following from HP to see if you did everything correctly...

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph03886&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=459895#N818

Update: I have the 2 gig RAM sticks in their matched pair slots, because they're matched pairs. I've removed my old RAM, and the computer still works with the new RAM.

It still only recognizes 2.87 gigs of RAM.

I'm running

Microsoft Windows XP

Media Center Edition

Version 2002

Service Pack 3

Reply to Shelbygt, I've actually used that site. That's where I found me computer info and the RAM I can support. Thanks though, that website is helpful.

SSAF

It's because you have a 32bit OS.  32bit OSes have a max of 4gig addressable memory.  Subtract from that your graphics card ram and some other accessories, and you should be close to your 2.87 gigs.  What graphics card do you have?

I dont think VRAM is included in that.

I have 1GB VRAM on my ati 4670, yet my computer recognizes 3070MB of RAM

1024 x 3 = 3072... pretty close to 3070, lol (but no, I don't think vram matters or SLI/Crossfire systems would rape main memory, lol.

To the OP > You don't need a 4 GB of ram. I have a few computers and I have a Dual Core with 2GB of ram and a 4830 that runs above 5sim speed all the time (usually 8 or 9 at the beginning of a game)

Bios? Static electricity when you snapped those in?

Yes, Video RAM is subtracted from the total. You see, it's all about adressable memory. It simply doesn't have enough addresses for all of that memory. You have to address RAM on your Video card as well.

Interesting, I haven't really looked into that. So by this rational, a computer thats SLI/Crossfire two 1GB cards can only have 2GB ram on 32bit system?

Mobo dictates whatever maximum RAM can be addressed. VRAM is an independant pipeline.