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    How much RAM is supported by 32-bit OS?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by dmdmdm, Nov 29, 2008.

  1. dmdmdm

    dmdmdm Notebook Enthusiast

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    3GB? 3.5GB? (4GB-shared memory used by GPU)?
     
    dmdmdm, Nov 29, 2008
    #1
  2. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    correct 4gb total. so 3-3.5 of your actual ram.
     
    nizzy1115, Nov 29, 2008
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  3. dmdmdm

    dmdmdm Notebook Enthusiast

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    are there another hardware parts which uses parts of the RAM, or only the GPU?
     
    dmdmdm, Nov 29, 2008
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  4. Hep!

    Hep! sees beauty in everything

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    You have 4GB of address space, not 4GB of memory. Each byte of memory requires an address, so that uses the most, but all hardware in the system will use address space. Memory gets last priority for addresses, so depending on your hardware will depend on how much memory is seen.
     
    Hep!, Nov 29, 2008
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  5. John Kotches

    John Kotches Notebook Evangelist

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    BIOS gets loaded into the highest addresses as well.
     
    John Kotches, Nov 29, 2008
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  6. wywern209

    wywern209 NBR Dark Knight

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    um.. what they said. and if u havea graphics card that needs 4gb of ram, then u best get a 64 bit OS and get more ram
     
    wywern209, Nov 29, 2008
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  7. iaTa

    iaTa Do Not Feed

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    Referring specifically to Vista 32-bit:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605

    However, Microsoft have had the ability to use more than 4GB RAM in a 32-bit OS for some time. The facility is available in both Windows Server 2003 and Server 2008, although it has been crippled in Vista. However there is a way to overcome the software lock that MS have put in place (although you might as well just install 64-bit):

    http://www.tipandtrick.net/2008/how...-physical-ram-memory-in-32-bit-windows-vista/
     
    iaTa, Nov 29, 2008
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  8. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    As said, memory addressed will depend upon the H/W and BIOS config. GPU, Wireless card, BIOS Roms, etc will use some of the physical address space.

    And shared memory has nothing to do with the x86-limitation. GPU Shared memory will still show up in windows.
     
    Andy, Nov 29, 2008
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  9. dmdmdm

    dmdmdm Notebook Enthusiast

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    does XP have RAM limit as vista's 3.12GB limit?
     
    dmdmdm, Nov 30, 2008
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  10. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    No. In vista or XP 32, you'll see anywhere from 2.5GB to 3.75GB (reported values) depending upon the notebook configuration.
     
    Andy, Nov 30, 2008
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  11. Pnanasnoic

    Pnanasnoic Notebook Enthusiast

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    4gb total system value.
     
    Pnanasnoic, Nov 30, 2008
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  12. Hep!

    Hep! sees beauty in everything

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    Regardless of the amount of VRAM you have, your graphics card will only use 256mb of address space in a 32 bit OS.
     
    Hep!, Nov 30, 2008
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  13. Colton

    Colton Also Proudly American

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    In 32-bit Vista OS, the system will only recognize UP TO 3.8GB of RAM.
     
    Colton, Nov 30, 2008
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  14. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    It has nothing to do with xp vs vista. It is 32 bit vs 64 bit. There are both version of each os as well.
     
    nizzy1115, Nov 30, 2008
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  15. Hep!

    Hep! sees beauty in everything

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    quoted for truth
     
    Hep!, Nov 30, 2008
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  16. iaTa

    iaTa Do Not Feed

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    Did you not read my post?

    The reason 32-bit XP is being compared to 32-bit Vista is that they handle 4GB of RAM very differently. Read the thread.
     
    iaTa, Nov 30, 2008
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  17. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    There was a user who saw 3.75GB addressed on a M1530 w/8400M w/Vista Ultimate 32. And a XP 32; Vostro user as well, who saw 3.75 GB addressed.

    And handling memory within the OS is different from memory-addressing. This is not related to Vista 32 or XP 32, but is due to the x86 (32-bit) limitation, irrespective of the OS.
     
    Andy, Nov 30, 2008
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  18. Warudo Hero

    Warudo Hero Newbie

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    i have 4 gigs (2 2gig sticks) in windos XP 32 bit. is there any special setting to make the system see more of it? in system config it shows only 2gigs
     
    Warudo Hero, Nov 30, 2008
    #18
  19. miro_gt

    miro_gt Notebook Deity

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    ^ then you probably have 2x1GB stick in it.

    mine shows 2.9 GB
     
    miro_gt, Nov 30, 2008
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  20. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Checkout this post.
     
    Andy, Dec 1, 2008
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  21. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Just by the way - in Empire Earth my NVidia 8400GS showed up as having 1GB of Video memory...

    But honestly:
    Could someone write a sticky thread about RAM?

    This debate is getting tiredsome as I see it over and over again...
     
    DetlevCM, Dec 1, 2008
    #21