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Name: Jesse (by mooneyjess1999)
This question refers to both Windows XP Pro and Windows Vista Ultimate (both 32-bit), so that is why I put this under hardware. Right now my PC has 3GB of memory (2x1024MB sticks + 2x512MB sticks). My computer runs on PC 3200 DDR Ram. I have been doing reading on Google searches, and other discussions within computing.net, and from what I understand if one has a 32-bit version of either XP or Vista and one tries to put in 4 GB of ram it will actually show up as less, because of devices such as video cards and etc. So basically windows can only deal with 4GB including all devices.
Now for my question, I have a Pentium 4 HT processor; it shows up as 2 processors in the device manager. In one search I found that it is 4GB for each processor. So in theory could my computer take up to 8GB before I started having problems? If not would upgrading from 3GB to 4 GB be beneficial or would it just be wasted ram (that extra 1 GB)? I am aware that 64-bit versions of windows can run a very large amount of ram (I believe in the terabytes), but I have a x86 processor, so that would not be an option.
Thank You,
Jesse
Read why Full 4GB RAM will never be made available to users use by Windows HERE - at least for now. Who knows M$ WinHEC 2008 may change all that.
i_Xp/VistaUser
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Also, even though your Pentium 4 HT processor shows up as 2 processors in device manager, that does not double the total amount of RAM recognized by Windows or allowed by your motherboard. That is true even with a dual core processor. You certainly cannot get more RAM than what is on your motherboard. It might be less, though, as the previous post indicates.
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There seem to be some work arounds to access more than 4GB of RAM when using a 32 bit system. Seems to be many conditions attached and doesn't seem to be very practical. The OS is the limiting factor, not the processor. Remember, your dual core processor is 64 bit. In addition to the OS your MBoard must support more than 4GB of RAM. Many controllers only support 4GB, other 8GB, which is the limit for WinXP64 or Vista64.
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Just one point of clarification: A Pentium 4 processor with HT may show up as 2 processors in device manager, but it is not a dual core processor.
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So basically, 32 bit windows no matter what processor you have will not accept 4 GB of RAM. I have a 512MB video card, so if I had 4GB of DDR ram, and lets forget about the other devices for now, the most the memory-mapped I/O will allow, is 3.5GB? That would make a very small difference in the performance upgrading from 3 to 3.5GB.
That is interesting that 64 bit Vista only goes up to 8GB, by about 2009 or 2010 that will be a real problem, since by that 8 GB will probably be a standard.
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It's all explained in the MSKB I posted in the other thread.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929...
i_Xp/VistaUser
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OtheHill,
You did write: "your dual core processor is 64 bit", so I just thought I would offer a clarification. Perhaps you were referring to dual core processors in general, and not that of the OP?
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I was just reffering to 64 bit processors in general.
These misunderstandings happen once in awile. This is why I can't for the life of me understand the attraction of text messaging on cell phones. If this thread was a conference call on phones any misunderstanding would be cleared up in no time. I yell at the TV everytime a phone provider commercial comes on that is hawking texting. I even prefer in person to telephone.
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"In addition to the OS your MBoard must support more than 4GB of RAM. Many controllers only support 4GB, other 8GB, which is the limit for WinXP64 or Vista64."
Not even close!
The max RAM on an XP Prof. 64bit system is 128GB! http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...
For Vista 64bit versions, only the Home Basic has a limit of 8GB. The Home Premium has a limit of 16GB, and the other three versions (Business, Ultimate & Enterprise) support 128GB+.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pr...Also, these limits are engineered into the OS, probably for QA/Control purposes. The theoretical max memory a 64bit system could support would be 16 exabytes (16 billion gigabytes)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window...Michael J
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Would it actually make the computer run slower, Having the 4GB of DDR ram vs. 3GB (on a 32-bit platform)? Since I would be going over the memory-mapped I/O limitations?
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Remember, the hardware it self can access 64gb's of ram(pentium 4's core 2's, 36 bit addressing)
MS choose to limit the ram in all of their OS's Why?? I have NO freaking idea, but that is Microshaft for you. As said, there are work arounds, tricks, and projects to deal with this BS issue that MS is putting in place, but none make up for what MS has done on purpose.
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Outlander, also remember the memory controller on most enthusiast boards will only handle 2GB to 8GB of RAM.
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Why would MS limit the max memory? Several valid reasons.
1) Product placement. Vista home is not meant to be used for a high-end system. While synthetically limiting a resource is a "cheap" (cost effective and slightly underhanded) way of product placement, it is valid. It's no different than automobiles where some minor features are only available on much higher priced models.
2) With the exception of the two low end Vista versions, all the 64 Windows version support 128GB of memory. That should be more than enough headroom until the next version of Windows is released. And I would think the home Premium (16GB max) should suffice as well. The Home version my be a little undersupported.
Michael J
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Bottom line is 4gb of ram is a total waste on a 32bit OS. The upside is if you have a 64bit processor you can bite not having that extra gb of ram until you upgade to 64bit. For anyone else that has a 32bit processor, putting 4gb of ram in was a total waste of money considering you will never see that 4gb of ram ever.
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One good question is this: Does Linux, or any Unix variants take advantage of the 36bit address bus and the total (possible) amount of 64gb's?
Core 2 Duo 1.86
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