RAM Amount

DEHawk · 08-24-2009, 02:43 PM

"Food for thought; The 32bit version of Win XP is for the most part maxed out using 2gigs of memory, even gaming. Don't buy more than you need!
Windows Vista however runs better at the starting points of 2 gigs and runs even better with more! There is no configuration to get 3 gigs to run in dual mode configuration, 2 gigs of ram in dual channel mode will run just as fast as 3 gigs in single channel mode, so; more is better is not always true."

Just so I am clear on this, I am running XP Pro and I have 6GB of RAM,
And when I open System under the control panel
where is what it tells me in the General Tab under Computer:
Intel Core i7 CPU
975@ 3.33Hz
1.59 GHz, 2.49 GB of RAM

Is this reading correct, even thought I have 6 GB of RAM. Is it telling me only the amount that XP is capable of running or do I have a problem?

I eventually will upgrade to Windows 7 after some of the bugs are fixed, the reason for all the extras.

Motherboard:EVGA X58
CORSAIR DOMINATOR-GT 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 15000)

Thank you.

makinu1der2 · 08-24-2009, 03:52 PM

Basically you will need a 64-bit version to fully utilize the memory.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3124

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000811.html

Phædrus2401 · 08-24-2009, 04:41 PM

A 32-bit OS will only see up to 3.5GB of RAM, usually with XP it sees 3.25GB. 2.5GB is lower than what is usually seen, but it's true either way that you will need a 64-bit OS to see more than 3.5GB.

DEHawk · 08-25-2009, 06:40 AM

Thank you.
So should I be concerned the XP only shows 2.94GB?
Is it the way the RAm is installed on the mother board.
My board has 6 RAM slots and I have 3 sticks of RAM each 2GB apiece.
I have installed them the way EVGA suggested, in slots 1,3,5.
I do have some older RAM
4-Cosair CM2X1024-8500C5D 1GB apiece. Should I use this instead?

Now wasn't there a way in the bios to make XP recognize more physical RAM up to the the max that the OS could use? Or was that just an option in older motherboards.

I realize that I need either XP64, to get use of all the RAM.
How about Vista 32, it the same thing as XP 32.

Last any one been using the new windows 7?
Any better then any version of Vista, better than XP?

Thanks again

**Tyree** · 08-25-2009, 07:38 AM

Vista 32 Bit has the same limitations as XP 32 Bit.

Phædrus2401 · 08-25-2009, 08:21 AM

There's no reason not to go 64-bit. It runs just as fast (if not faster) than 32-bit operating systems. XP 64 is no longer supported by Microsoft and never had very good drivers anyway, so I advise against that. Vista x64 is tolerable, and Windows 7 x64 is decent. Plus you can see up to 128GB of RAM.

AlienMenace · 08-25-2009, 09:46 AM

I am still getting updates with the Windows XP Pro x64, so that is still supported by MS. And it is much faster than 32 bit. Windows 7 x64 is by far a lot better than Vista. I will migrate to that when my Windows xp pro x64 is no longer upgradable. Granted, if you would think about the xp x64, do your research, especially on the drivers. It is a very good OS. It is not the OS's fault that some programs and hardware does not work. It is the companies that is slow on the up keep of programs and drivers. And don't take advice from people that says Windows xp pro x64 is no good, in less they had run the program. I run duel boot, xp x64 for my main OS, and Windows 7 x64 RC1 for my secondary. Till March 2010, when I have to take it out. I will probably buy it in the fall of 2010.

You should be getting at least 3.25gb of ram with 32bit OS, if not. Then you might have a bad ram in one or 2 of the slots.

pallepr · 08-25-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlienMenace

You should be getting at least 3.25gb of ram with 32bit OS, if not. Then you might have a bad ram in one or 2 of the slots.

It is very often much lower than that.

08-24-2009, 02:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
DEHawk Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 54 OS: Windows Vista 64 Bit	RAM Amount "Food for thought; The 32bit version of Win XP is for the most part maxed out using 2gigs of memory, even gaming. Don't buy more than you need! Windows Vista however runs better at the starting points of 2 gigs and runs even better with more! There is no configuration to get 3 gigs to run in dual mode configuration, 2 gigs of ram in dual channel mode will run just as fast as 3 gigs in single channel mode, so; more is better is not always true." Just so I am clear on this, I am running XP Pro and I have 6GB of RAM, And when I open System under the control panel where is what it tells me in the General Tab under Computer: Intel Core i7 CPU 975@ 3.33Hz 1.59 GHz, 2.49 GB of RAM Is this reading correct, even thought I have 6 GB of RAM. Is it telling me only the amount that XP is capable of running or do I have a problem? I eventually will upgrade to Windows 7 after some of the bugs are fixed, the reason for all the extras. Motherboard:EVGA X58 CORSAIR DOMINATOR-GT 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 15000) Thank you.

08-24-2009, 03:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
makinu1der2 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 2,038 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1,Win XP SP3,Ubuntu 9.04,Sabayon 4,Windows 7 RC1 x64 My System	Re: RAM Amount Basically you will need a 64-bit version to fully utilize the memory. http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3124 http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000811.html __________________ "The dumbest people I know are those who know it all."

08-24-2009, 04:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,828 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: RAM Amount A 32-bit OS will only see up to 3.5GB of RAM, usually with XP it sees 3.25GB. 2.5GB is lower than what is usually seen, but it's true either way that you will need a 64-bit OS to see more than 3.5GB. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

08-25-2009, 06:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
DEHawk Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 54 OS: Windows Vista 64 Bit	Re: RAM Amount Thank you. So should I be concerned the XP only shows 2.94GB? Is it the way the RAm is installed on the mother board. My board has 6 RAM slots and I have 3 sticks of RAM each 2GB apiece. I have installed them the way EVGA suggested, in slots 1,3,5. I do have some older RAM 4-Cosair CM2X1024-8500C5D 1GB apiece. Should I use this instead? Now wasn't there a way in the bios to make XP recognize more physical RAM up to the the max that the OS could use? Or was that just an option in older motherboards. I realize that I need either XP64, to get use of all the RAM. How about Vista 32, it the same thing as XP 32. Last any one been using the new windows 7? Any better then any version of Vista, better than XP? Thanks again Last edited by DEHawk; 08-25-2009 at 06:46 AM.

08-25-2009, 07:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,673 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: RAM Amount Vista 32 Bit has the same limitations as XP 32 Bit. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

08-25-2009, 08:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,828 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: RAM Amount There's no reason not to go 64-bit. It runs just as fast (if not faster) than 32-bit operating systems. XP 64 is no longer supported by Microsoft and never had very good drivers anyway, so I advise against that. Vista x64 is tolerable, and Windows 7 x64 is decent. Plus you can see up to 128GB of RAM. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

08-25-2009, 09:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
AlienMenace Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 92 OS: Windows XP Pro x64 sp2 My System	Re: RAM Amount I am still getting updates with the Windows XP Pro x64, so that is still supported by MS. And it is much faster than 32 bit. Windows 7 x64 is by far a lot better than Vista. I will migrate to that when my Windows xp pro x64 is no longer upgradable. Granted, if you would think about the xp x64, do your research, especially on the drivers. It is a very good OS. It is not the OS's fault that some programs and hardware does not work. It is the companies that is slow on the up keep of programs and drivers. And don't take advice from people that says Windows xp pro x64 is no good, in less they had run the program. I run duel boot, xp x64 for my main OS, and Windows 7 x64 RC1 for my secondary. Till March 2010, when I have to take it out. I will probably buy it in the fall of 2010. You should be getting at least 3.25gb of ram with 32bit OS, if not. Then you might have a bad ram in one or 2 of the slots. Last edited by AlienMenace; 08-25-2009 at 09:48 AM.