Uhm? Your Operating System is more-likely going to be your limiting factor. And it will be addressing your RAM and your VRAM out of the same pool of addresses.

I am running 32 bit OS and it goes to 3.57GB so OS isn't the problem as a few have stated.

It's entirely possible you got bad sticks.

1.Verifiy Compatibility

2.Verify the slots work (By testing your old RAM)

If it's still only recognizing half the RAM is is what it looks like, You might have a bad stick. This is not uncommon at all. It could have been a manufacturing error, shipping damage, or damage while seating them in the PC.

Well I know on in my system when I was running XP it would only see 2.75gb out of 4gb. (768mb video card, but also had a sound card with onboard memory) I've heard of people with extreme systems saying XP saw as low as 2.5gb max, but I haven't actually head of anyone saying it saw lower than that. (Although it probably is possible, people just started running 64bit OS's more commonly when running more than 1gb VRAM because they were usually running 4gb minimum RAM as well)

Technically, I wonder what would happen if u tried to boot XP 32bit with dual 2gb video cards? Would the PC not see any RAM and therefore not load, or would it eventually just not see all the VRAM?

The graphics card i have is...Nvidia something. GeForce FFX 5500, I beleive.

So, you're saying that the Nvidia card could be eating up my memory? I guess that does sort of make sense.

Note about damage: I was careful to ground myself when installing the RAM sticks, and I was very careful not tooput much pressure on them, even though you kinda have to to get the locks to snap into place.

I've tested the RAM slots, by the way. They sure do work; my old RAM ran on them perfectly.

Thanks for all the replies and help,

What really counts is what your computer recommends in virtual memory

I have 2@4GB RAM and my Computer\Properties says I have 2.96GB no shared video.

Click on the advanced tab and then Perormance Settings tab, and again the advanced tab.  What does it recommend for Virtual Memory?

You must set this when adding ram or you won't get all the benefits.  Set the minimum at the recommended and the maximum at 150% of that

Cheers

 WOW my first image in this forum?

I presumed his swapping parameters were *already* handled properly by XP - but, you're right, Peter Jam... addressable RAM can show up at some lowest values in a number of "monitoring" (system properties or not) detection ways.

Out of all of this ... the 4 gb max on a 32bit wouldn't affect his monitor not turning on guys. Windows would cut off some of the RAM and allow the video card so .. it isn't that. He just simply wasted money on 4 gigs and dosen't get it.

Are you sure "DDR2 PC2-3200" is what your old ram was?

From what i am reading you prob didn't get the right RAM. If your old ram works perfect and the new one won't even boot correctly ... then it sounds like faulty ram and/or you got the wrong kind.

/shrug

Just my 2 cents

I don't know if any of this will be of help to you, I hope it is, so here goes!

Some BIOS' on motherboards have issues addressing the full amount directly when POST occurs. This can sometimes be remedied in the BIOS settings by looking for either S/W memory hole mapping or H/W memory hole mapping - that is if you have the option. This help the PC see the full amount in the BIOS (in case yours isn't).

Also a thing to bear in mind is that if you are using an Athlon 64 (or X2) that some of the processor steppings had difficulty running RAM over 3gb at 400MHz. This can sometimes be addressed by manually setting the memory timings manually depending on what the RAM should be. This can defo be hit and miss though. Not sure if you have one of these though so ignore away if not you!

These are a few of the things you can do, just be warned that if you have a temporamental Nforce4 board like mine it can be a bit of a battle getting there.

Good luck!

Make sure your BIOS is up to date. The current version for your MB is 3.28.

I have the HP m7360m, and they both use Asus motherboards. Mine is a different model than yours, but Asus is a good brand. If you are having this problem it may just be a BIOS issue. I have 3GB installed with a 256MB video card, but I show 3.0GB of RAM.

A 32-bit system uses the upper .5-1GB for system memory, which includes video RAM. Your video card has a max of 256MB, so it should not eat into what the system reports.

If after updating the BIOS you still show a lesser amount of RAM, you likely have a brand of RAM that is not fully compatible with your MB. Such was the case when I upgraded my system, but with mine it would not boot at all.

Well, I've done just about all i can with my RAM. My computer is running fast and smoothly now, and recognizes about 3 or so gigs, which is a start. And now my Nvidia card decided to asplode. Can't blame it, i've had it for seven years, and that sucker really heats up when running. It was only a matter of time. Now i'm stuck using the crappy built in computer graphics card, which makes my screen, no lies here, 640x480 pixels. So now my hard won RAM is for naught.

Anyone know what a good Nvidia card is? I was thinking about the GeForce 8800 series, but I don't really know which is best. I've never much paid attention to the hardware, just the software.

Thanks,

That new machine of mine has 3x2 = 6 gig of ram .... and a GTX285 with 1 gig.

The OS [Win7 32bit] reports, and I quote..."Installed memory[ram] - 6.0 gb [2.99 gb useable].

The limiting factor is the '32bit' referring to the OS. A 32bit OS can only address a limited amount which includes GPU ram/system ram/et al.

If you want to utilize all that is installed....and it's over '3 or 4' ...then you will need a 64bit OS.  It's adressing limit is considerably higher.

I'll be using Win7 64bit eventually....and will up the ram to 12gb....as that's still reasonably economical [The MoBO also has limits....but this one is 24gb - 6x4]...