Raspberry Pi 2 Model B only shows 371 MB total RAM

Some of the memory on all Raspberry Pi models is reserved for video memory and will not show up as usable memory. The amount memory to reserve for video is found in a file called config.txt using the format gpu_mem=xxx

(where xxx is the amount of memory in MB to reserve). This file is found on the first partition of the SD card which is formatted in DOS format and should be readable using Windows or Linux. I believe it can be found in the /boot

directory when running Raspbian. You can read the file (use cat /boot/config.txt | grep gpu_mem command to see the current value for gpu_mem) but you must use su to modify it and write it back to the SD card.

The amount of available memory you show seems to indicate either you are using a LOT of memory for video, that there is a hardware problem with the memory or that the Pi you have is a standard model B with 512 MB RAM (which

seems to be the most likely answer). If there are two fairly large chips on the bottom of the Pi near the processor (the largest chip on the top) then it is a Pi 2 and you should be seeing more usable memory (700+ MB if gpu_mem=256

which I believe is the default reserved for video).

Gary Stewart wrote:

 

Some of the memory on all Raspberry Pi models is reserved for video memory and will not show up as usable memory. The amount memory to reserve for video is found in a file called config.txt using the format gpu_mem=xxx

(where xxx is the amount of memory in MB to reserve). This file is found on the first partition of the SD card which is formatted in DOS format and should be readable using Windows or Linux. I believe it can be found in the /boot

directory when running Raspbian. You can read the file (use cat /boot/config.txt | grep gpu_mem command to see the current value for gpu_mem) but you must use su to modify it and write it back to the SD card.

 

The amount of available memory you show seems to indicate either you are using a LOT of memory for video, that there is a hardware problem with the memory or that the Pi you have is a standard model B with 512 MB RAM (which

seems to be the most likely answer). If there are two fairly large chips on the bottom of the Pi near the processor (the largest chip on the top) then it is a Pi 2 and you should be seeing more usable memory (700+ MB if gpu_mem=256

which I believe is the default reserved for video).

I do believe this solves the mystery.  I bought a Pi 2 ... says so on the invoice.  I have a standard Model B.  Will be talking to tech support/customer service on Monday.

Thank you again.

EDIT:

Mystery solved.  Neighbor brought over his standard model b and it got mixed up with my Pi 2.  He took mine home with him by mistake.

Here is free -m:

pi@raspberrypi ~ $ free -m

             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached

Mem:           863        130        733          0         15         62

-/+ buffers/cache:         52        810

Swap:           99          0         99

pi@raspberrypi ~ $

Sheesh .. do I feel stoooooopid.

Gary Stewart wrote:

 

Some of the memory on all Raspberry Pi models is reserved for video memory and will not show up as usable memory. The amount memory to reserve for video is found in a file called config.txt using the format gpu_mem=xxx

(where xxx is the amount of memory in MB to reserve). This file is found on the first partition of the SD card which is formatted in DOS format and should be readable using Windows or Linux. I believe it can be found in the /boot

directory when running Raspbian. You can read the file (use cat /boot/config.txt | grep gpu_mem command to see the current value for gpu_mem) but you must use su to modify it and write it back to the SD card.

 

The amount of available memory you show seems to indicate either you are using a LOT of memory for video, that there is a hardware problem with the memory or that the Pi you have is a standard model B with 512 MB RAM (which

seems to be the most likely answer). If there are two fairly large chips on the bottom of the Pi near the processor (the largest chip on the top) then it is a Pi 2 and you should be seeing more usable memory (700+ MB if gpu_mem=256

which I believe is the default reserved for video).

I do believe this solves the mystery.  I bought a Pi 2 ... says so on the invoice.  I have a standard Model B.  Will be talking to tech support/customer service on Monday.

Thank you again.

EDIT:

Mystery solved.  Neighbor brought over his standard model b and it got mixed up with my Pi 2.  He took mine home with him by mistake.

Here is free -m:

pi@raspberrypi ~ $ free -m

             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached

Mem:           863        130        733          0         15         62

-/+ buffers/cache:         52        810

Swap:           99          0         99

pi@raspberrypi ~ $

Sheesh .. do I feel stoooooopid.