[SOLVED] amount of ram recognised by 32 bit OS

yoyojoe · 04-13-2009, 05:40 PM

first I'd just like to say 'thank you linderman' for your stickie regarding due considerations to be noted when buying memory - should save me some grief in due course.

now my question:-
does XP Pro have a limitation regarding the amount of installed memory that it is able to recognise due to it being a 32 bit OS?

I'm currently in research mode for a 'new build' (quad core) and anticipate installing 4+ gig of memory, will I need a 64 bit OS to make use of all installed memory?

thanks for your input.

regards,

yoyojoe

**sobeit** · 04-13-2009, 05:49 PM

you will need a 64 bit os if you want to use all four gigs.

**wrench97** · 04-13-2009, 06:02 PM

32 bit o/s's can address up to 4gig including any memory needing address space from the video cards and other add in cards, it will report between 2.8-3.5 as usable usually around 3.2Gig. The big thing is that XP will not actually need to use that much you'll run out of CPU before filling that much ram.
We usually say to get 2, 2Gig sticks because it's usually cheaper then 2, x1Gig and 1 X512Meg and since a 1Gig and a 2Gig stick use about the same amount of power to run 2 sticks of 2gig each are easier on the system to run then 4 sticks.
64Bit XP is somewhat the redheaded stepchild the driver support for is still pretty bad.

yoyojoe · 04-14-2009, 03:36 AM

sobeit, wrench97 - thank you for your post.

as I understand it then, I'll need to invest in a 64 bit OS if I wish to make use of 4, 6, or 8 gig of ram to be installed on a new quad core mobo (to be used for 3D rendering and some online gaming).

**wrench97** · 04-14-2009, 12:45 PM

Yes you would need a 64 Bit OS.

yoyojoe · 04-14-2009, 03:38 PM

ty wrench97,

all is clear, I'm now sorted on this item :)

Pillowfight · 04-14-2009, 03:41 PM

Yeah, Windows XP will only recognize 3 - 3.5, however, Windows 7 (which is in beta and is easy to get) can see more than that with no problem. The main difficulty with the XP 64 bit version is compatibility and drivers...it's nice in theory but not all software will run on it and there are still limited drivers for it, at least for older hardware.

**wrench97** · 04-14-2009, 04:32 PM

32 Bit Os's can mathematically only address 4Gig total nothing changes with win 7 when it becomes legally available to the general public, only the 64 bit version will support over 4Gig.

As of now it is only legally available through Microsoft to selected Beta testers.

04-13-2009, 05:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
yoyojoe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: the Matrix Posts: 152 OS: XPsp2, 2ksp4	[SOLVED] amount of ram recognised by 32 bit OS first I'd just like to say 'thank you linderman' for your stickie regarding due considerations to be noted when buying memory - should save me some grief in due course. now my question:- does XP Pro have a limitation regarding the amount of installed memory that it is able to recognise due to it being a 32 bit OS? I'm currently in research mode for a 'new build' (quad core) and anticipate installing 4+ gig of memory, will I need a 64 bit OS to make use of all installed memory? thanks for your input. regards, yoyojoe __________________ . . . yea, I have a future proof pc! well, the power plug is so far :)

04-13-2009, 05:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: amount of ram recognised by 32 bit OS you will need a 64 bit os if you want to use all four gigs. __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

04-13-2009, 06:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,661 OS: Win7	Re: amount of ram recognised by 32 bit OS 32 bit o/s's can address up to 4gig including any memory needing address space from the video cards and other add in cards, it will report between 2.8-3.5 as usable usually around 3.2Gig. The big thing is that XP will not actually need to use that much you'll run out of CPU before filling that much ram. We usually say to get 2, 2Gig sticks because it's usually cheaper then 2, x1Gig and 1 X512Meg and since a 1Gig and a 2Gig stick use about the same amount of power to run 2 sticks of 2gig each are easier on the system to run then 4 sticks. 64Bit XP is somewhat the redheaded stepchild the driver support for is still pretty bad. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

04-14-2009, 03:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
yoyojoe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: the Matrix Posts: 152 OS: XPsp2, 2ksp4	Re: amount of ram recognised by 32 bit OS sobeit, wrench97 - thank you for your post. as I understand it then, I'll need to invest in a 64 bit OS if I wish to make use of 4, 6, or 8 gig of ram to be installed on a new quad core mobo (to be used for 3D rendering and some online gaming). __________________ . . . yea, I have a future proof pc! well, the power plug is so far :)

04-14-2009, 12:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,661 OS: Win7	Re: amount of ram recognised by 32 bit OS Yes you would need a 64 Bit OS. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

04-14-2009, 03:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
yoyojoe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: the Matrix Posts: 152 OS: XPsp2, 2ksp4	Re: amount of ram recognised by 32 bit OS ty wrench97, all is clear, I'm now sorted on this item :) __________________ . . . yea, I have a future proof pc! well, the power plug is so far :)

04-14-2009, 03:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
Pillowfight Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CA Posts: 86 OS: WinXP Pro My System	Re: amount of ram recognised by 32 bit OS Yeah, Windows XP will only recognize 3 - 3.5, however, Windows 7 (which is in beta and is easy to get) can see more than that with no problem. The main difficulty with the XP 64 bit version is compatibility and drivers...it's nice in theory but not all software will run on it and there are still limited drivers for it, at least for older hardware. Last edited by Pillowfight; 04-14-2009 at 03:45 PM.

04-14-2009, 04:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,661 OS: Win7	Re: [SOLVED] amount of ram recognised by 32 bit OS 32 Bit Os's can mathematically only address 4Gig total nothing changes with win 7 when it becomes legally available to the general public, only the 64 bit version will support over 4Gig. As of now it is only legally available through Microsoft to selected Beta testers. __________________ Power Supply and Selection