I have 2GB RAM, Why does mint report ~1051

[stephenrb81]

Hello, I'm having a little issue with Mint and my reported memory. I have 2GB installed, but Mint reports 1015MB (311MB Used) Earlier it showed ~900MB Total system memory. Am I missing something? My "TOTAL" memory keeps changing (verified TOTAL, not what's being used)

My BIOS shows the 2gb total system, Win7 shows 2GB. Linux mint only shows ~900-1050 (Again, it fluctuates...and again it's TOTAL system, not what I'm using). Does linux mint shadow any ram? Just scratching my head wondering what is going on. I've been out of the linux-loop for a couple years so not sure if this is something that is suppose to happen.

[Midnighter]

How are you checking this? Where is it showing you this?

edit: Also , What hardware are you running this on? I've never had any issues with RAM being seen properly.

[piratesmack]

You can try using the 'mem' boot parameter to force the kernel to use 2GB

Edit /etc/default/grub

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gksu gedit /etc/default/grub

Find the line that starts with 'GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=' and change it to:

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GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash mem=2048M"

Save and run:

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sudo update-grub

Then reboot

[viking777]

If you are looking at it in something like conky that only tells you how much is in use, not how much you have got.

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inxi -I 

Will tell you how much is detected (that is a capital I (the one between u and o on the keyboard), not a small letter l (the one next to k on the keyboard).

Of course it rather depends if the inxi script is installed by default. I think it is.

[stephenrb81]

Hi. Thanks for the replies so far. I was using the System Profiler that came default with Mint. In Summary it currently shows "Memory 2050MB (252MB Used)" Strange as I always thought of 2GB as 2048Mb. If I check it again in an hour or so it will report something along the lines of ~1000 (~200-300 Used).

Interestingly enough, at the same time System Profiler reports 2050Mb (252 Used) the inxi script shows 210.1/2002.9MB

I haven't had any odd behavior out of the system yet (no crashes/lockups/freezes) this is just messing with my mind

[Craig_Dem]

When it says 2GB, the actual formatted value can differ, my HDD is 500 GB but is actually 500.1 GB

[Midnighter]

When it says 2GB, the actual formatted value can differ, my HDD is 500 GB but is actually 500.1 GB

Uh, they're discussing RAM, not hard disks. 2GIG would normally show as roughly 2048MB.

[Craig_Dem]

When it says 2GB, the actual formatted value can differ, my HDD is 500 GB but is actually 500.1 GB

Uh, they're discussing RAM, not hard disks. 2GIG would normally show as roughly 2048MB.

My post was to show the difference between advertised and actual amounts of a product, I used HDD because I actually have had that happen with one of mine.

[deleted]

You probably have an onboard video card?
-Hinto