LinuxQuestions.org
Visit Jeremy's Blog.
Home Forums Tutorials Articles Register
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Hardware
User Name
Password
Linux - Hardware This forum is for Hardware issues.
Having trouble installing a piece of hardware? Want to know if that peripheral is compatible with Linux?

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 08-22-2007, 06:40 AM   #1
danielsbrewer
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Aug 2007
Posts: 18

Rep: Reputation: 0
Intel 945 chipset and 4GB of memory


I have just upgraded my memory to a total of 4GB but only about ~3.4GB seems to be available to linux i.e.
dbrewer@HCC122J:~> cat /proc/meminfo
MemTotal: 3607500 kB
MemFree: 2970608 kB
...

I am running the 64bit version of opensuse 10.2.

I found out that the problem is that my motherboard has got a Intel 945 chipset (DELL optiplex GX620) and so only has 32 bit addressing. This means that due to PCI addresses etc. taking out about 0.7 GB of addresses I lose that amount of memory.

Has linux got any way of overcoming this BIOS enforced limit?

I find it very frustrating that 4GB memory limit does not mean 4GB.
 
Old 08-23-2007, 01:20 AM   #2
macemoneta
Senior Member
 
Registered: Jan 2005
Location: Manalapan, NJ
Distribution: Fedora x86 and x86_64, Debian PPC and ARM, Android
Posts: 4,593
Blog Entries: 2

Rep: Reputation: 344Reputation: 344Reputation: 344Reputation: 344
In order to access the full 4GB, you must meet the following criteria:

One of the following chipsets (and any later with greater than 4GB support):
• Intel 975X
• Intel P965
• Intel 955X on Socket 775
• Chipsets that support AMD processors that use socket F, socket 940, socket 939, or socket AM2. These chipsets include any AMD socket and CPU combination in which the memory controller resides in the CPU.

The CPU must support the x64 instruction set. The AMD64 CPU and the Intel EM64T CPU support this instruction set.

The BIOS must support the memory remapping feature. The memory remapping feature allows for the segment of system memory that was previously overwritten by the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) configuration space to be remapped above the 4 GB address line. This feature must be enabled in the BIOS.

You must be running an x86_64 (64-bit) OS.
 
Old 08-23-2007, 03:25 AM   #3
danielsbrewer
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Aug 2007
Posts: 18

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
So I guess the answer is no then.

A case for mis-advertisement I think.
 
  


Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Resolution issues - Dell D620 Intel 945 chipset dkinfl Linux - Hardware 18 04-12-2007 04:13 PM
FC6 - Intel 945 - 1280x800 Resolution vsridhars Fedora - Installation 1 02-03-2007 08:10 AM
Intel 945 Recognition MattJUK Linux - Distributions 2 01-10-2007 01:11 AM
installing intel 945 chipset on slackware 10.1 ToverLi Slackware - Installation 1 09-22-2006 12:31 AM
need information about Intel 915GM and intel 945 graphics chipsets mechmg93 Debian 1 04-15-2006 06:53 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Hardware

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:16 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration