G1S-Recent Upgrade to 4GB Ram

Hey everybody. It seems that every third day I'm coming in here to post about computer confusion... but I mostly just want to figure out as much as I need to optimize my computer's performance for the future (college in a few months).

I have read disputes over whether in 4GB setups the "stolen" RAM by a 32-bit Vista is actually, completely, totally unusable. People have said that the 3.3GB RAM issue was prevalent in the early days of Vista, but has since been fixed... and others say that with the help of SP1 (I assume that stands for Service Patch/Pack 1 for Windows Vista), the extra RAM can be shunted over to any GPU using TurboCache (a technology which borrows RAM to use as vRAM).

If anyone knows definitively how to clarify the following questions:

1. Is the 3070MB of RAM displayed in DirectX Diagnostic truly all my computer is able to use from its 4GB?
2.Does my G1S-A1's nVIDIA 8600mGT, 256mb GDDR3 (with 1008mb total using TurboCache), utilize any of the missing RAM not shown in my DX Diagnostic, with or without the help of Service Patch 1?
3. If either of the above two problems can be solved (i.e. If me installing SP1 will allow TurboCache to access the stolen RAM), does anyone have the time to write out steps for solving them?

...I would be forever indebted to them.

Cheers,
Batman

 

You need 64 bit vista to use all 4GB ram

 

There is a difference between RAM and VRAM

Yes, RAM can allocate some unused resources for video but does not take anything from VRAM/TurboCache

 

OP: I don't know the answer, in his last video review, Geared2Play seems to indicate that the extra GB of RAM is used by the GPU; but that was disputed on the same thread I think. Use the search box in the top-right corner to find the thread, I don't remember now what model it was reviewing.

 

The answers to the OP's questions are as follows:

1. The amount shown in the DirectX Diagnostic is the amount your 32-bit Vista is able to address. You do not see all 4GB because, due to the way hardware is made (simplest way to put it). In order for your operating system to be able to use the hardware, it must first address the device. This then allows for processes/programs to call upon the hardware/component by referencing some location in memory. At the same time, this addressing allows each device to talk to the operating system. Because hardware is prioritized in addressing before actual RAM is addressed (I believe the term for this is memory mapped) and since a 32-bit operating system can only assign 4GB worth of addresses, only about 3 GB is available for actual use. The remaining 1 GB cannot be used because the operating system has run out of available addresses.

2. The 8600M GT with turbocache will only use the 3 GB that has been addressed by the operating system. Devices can only see what the operating system sees.

3. I recommend you switch to a 64-bit operating system if you want to use all the 4GB. A 64-bit operating system has about ten million times more address space than a 32-bit operating system. There are several methods to make Vista 32-bit see the 4GB of RAM, but it will not be able to use it. Devices can only use RAM that the operating system itself can use.


Hope this helps.

 

32bit OS can not use all 4gb of ram period (minus PAE and thats not even available on laptops as far as I know)

Vista SP1 now can see all 4gb of ram installed and will show it on the main system specs screen however it is only notifying you of how much ram is installed, now how much of it is available or accessible to the computer.