Win 7: Increase Physical Memory?

Not entirely true... Depending on the version of Windows you have, it will only recognize certain amounts of RAM. Win 7 Home Premium I believe tops out at around either 8 or 16GB, then Pro would be around 32GB, and Ultimate/Enterprise is 64GB. Don't quote me on the specific numbers, but there are limits built into the different versions of Windows. So while a 64-bit OS is capable of handling quite a bit more memory, Microsoft introduced artificial limits into Windows 7, and probably the same with Vista. Also, not that it will become an issue for a couple of years at least, but all Intel and AMD 64-bit CPUs using the x86-64 or x64 as it is sometimes colloquially known, are only capable of 48-bit memory addressing. Without getting too far into the weeds, it's a necessary tradeoff to have both 32 and 64-bit process execution. Still, for every additional bit, IIRC, you basically exponentially increase the amount of RAM that can be addressed. So even 48-bit addressing gets well into the TB range.

If you check the MSDN website you'll see that a 64 Bit OS (Enterprise,Professional,Ultimate) can hold up to 192 GB. Home Premium 64 Bit is limited to 16 GB. All 32 Bits are limited to 4 GB even though it will only recognize 3.25 GB.

There are long discussions why.

Like I said: don't quote me on the specific numbers. It was something I noticed while skimming through a MCITP Windows 7 book. Wasn't really aiming to commit it to memory. So down boy, you win. You clearly are willing to spend a minute or two with Google to find the specific numbers where I am not. Mostly because I was making a point that there are artificial limits put into Windows by Microsoft, so the specific limits would be secondary. But hey, it's not like I noticed your overeager attempt to try and prove me wrong on a point I wasn't trying to make, and made some comment about it!

Plus I never disputed anything you said about 32-bit versions of Windows. I'm actually with Microsoft on their decision not to support PAE, instead insisting that people migrate to a 64-bit platform. Much better long-term strategy IMO. Of course technically they will recognize all 4GB, they just will only be able to utilize ~3.25GB because of the overhead from protected mode operation which makes the GPF errors those of us who used Windows 3.x probably still remember, a thing of the past.

And of course Bob also has a point about how integrated video chipsets can siphon off RAM for their own use, and make the number even smaller on a 32-bit OS. Another good reason why it's better to suffer some teething pains now in making the transition to a 64-bit OS rather than a band-aid solution like PAE.

As some memory is used for the display and most apps can only use 2.0GB RAM your laptop is using the RAM to its best potential today.

Maybe you wanted to ask a different question such as why does my PC use RAM for my video display but that was not your question.
Bob

I don't see any issue. The OS and the programs you run use memory, so part of the total memory is not available for other programs when you look.

Kees