Task Manager: Pgysical memory vs Available memory

[970sxxx]

When I look in Task Manager, I find that although the actual memory is shown as 512 (which is what's installed), the Available memory shows as only 256. I'm running a graphically intensive CAD program and put the extra memory in to speed it up. But it's still running at the same speed as when there was only 256 installed. Presumably this is because there is still only 256 available?

How do I make the additional 256 available?

Thankyou for your Help.

 

[jrbarnett]

Hi,

The operating system and running applications will need some of the memory for their own use. Not sure if this is the reason for your discrepancy but it may help.

Note that the major difference between physical memory and total memory is that physical memory = dimms/simms or whatever is in your PC; available memory = physical memory + virtual memory (on the hard drive).

John