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    32bit Windows Vista-Ram Question

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by BattleDuck, Jul 14, 2008.

  1. BattleDuck

    BattleDuck Notebook Geek

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    Hi, I just ordered an Alienware m15x with Vista Home Premium and want to upgrade the ram via newegg.
    I read about 32bit OS's not being able to read more than ~3gb ram.

    Question: If I want to stick with 32bit but get the most ram possible, I would get 2x 2gb for 4gb ram, and it would use the max of 3gb allowed for 32bit OS's, correct? I'm wondering if there is any performance decrease or heat increase because of the extra ram not being recognized. If not, then I will opt for the 4gb of ram, but if it runs less efficient because of the "useless" memory, i might just upgrade to 2gb (2x 1gb) sticks.
    Too bad I can't do 3gb since there are only 2 channels in the laptop.
    Thanks in advance for the help
     
    BattleDuck, Jul 14, 2008
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  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    That is incorrect. The unused RAM does not have an address, so NOTHING can access it.
     
    Greg, Jul 14, 2008
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  3. BattleDuck

    BattleDuck Notebook Geek

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    Thank you VERY much for the help! I will opt for the 4gb of ram since the money difference is not very much. I just wanted to know if it was somehow "hurting" my laptop to put "too much" in it. And since it isn't, I'll just go for the best in case I decide to run vista ultimate!
    Thanks again,
    Cheers
     
    BattleDuck, Jul 14, 2008
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  4. Mikelx215

    Mikelx215 Notebook Evangelist

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    You don't need Vista Ultimate to access more than four Gigabytes of RAM. What you need is a 64-bit operating system.

    There are 64-bit versions of Home Premium and up. I'd think Alienware would give you the install CD so you can install whatever flavor of Home Premium you want.
     
    Mikelx215, Jul 14, 2008
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  5. BattleDuck

    BattleDuck Notebook Geek

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    Ah, didn't know home premium came with 64bit versions, I'll go ask microsoft about the upgrade in the near future then, thanks
     
    BattleDuck, Jul 14, 2008
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  6. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Have you ever taken a course is microprocessor architecture? If not, maybe you should consider it. I don't mean to sound rude, but I've worked on this kind of stuff for a while now.

    If the address is being used by the I/O of a device, that address is NOT available to the RAM. It CANNOT be used to address RAM.

    The rest of the address space is used by the I/O devices...not the RAM itself. Two for one specials are not possible with today's computers.
     
    Greg, Jul 14, 2008
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  7. BattleDuck

    BattleDuck Notebook Geek

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    Ok, I'm thinking about getting 3gb, which is a 2gb stick and a 1gb stick..would that cause any matching problems with the dual channel?
     
    BattleDuck, Jul 15, 2008
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  8. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Well, the m15x does provide support for dual channel memory..!! So if you install two identical modules, you will kinda see some performance advantages offered by dual-channel systems..!! If you can't get a 64-bit OS, stick to 3GB, since you can also install different densities of modules....!!
     
    Andy, Jul 15, 2008
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  9. BattleDuck

    BattleDuck Notebook Geek

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    So let's say i won't upgrade to 64-bit (I don't think i have much need for it..)
    And money isn't an issue
    Should i go 4gb dual channel
    or 3gb (2+1)?
     
    BattleDuck, Jul 15, 2008
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  10. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    4GB dual channel.. :D
     
    Andy, Jul 15, 2008
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  11. BattleDuck

    BattleDuck Notebook Geek

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    Yeah that's what I was thinking..ok thanks for all the help :)
     
    BattleDuck, Jul 15, 2008
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  12. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    4GB dual channel...I think everyone agrees on that. You won't get 100% of the RAM, but it is very cheap and you'll get more than 3GB for sure.
     
    Greg, Jul 15, 2008
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  13. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    1 stick of ram - single channel

    2 sticks of ram - asymetrical dual channel

    2 sticks of same size ram - Symetrical (true) dual channel
     
    flipfire, Jul 15, 2008
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