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    G.Skill RAM: 32-bit vista/xp can see as 4 gig?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by vi3tscorpian, Aug 23, 2008.

  1. vi3tscorpian

    vi3tscorpian Notebook Evangelist

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    guys, i have a question:

    i read a review recently by a guy. he claimed that his laptop with 32-bit vista recognized 2 2GIG RAM sticks (dual channel) as a total of 4 gig instead of only 3 gig. is it true?

    G.SKILL RAM on newegg also noted that only Santa Rosa system will see ram as 4 gig totally.

    i just bought the G.SKILL dual channel laptop 5300 RAM from newegg for my T61.
     
    vi3tscorpian, Aug 23, 2008
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  2. Han Bao Quan

    Han Bao Quan The Assassin

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    That guy is totally bs. X32 cannot recognize more than 3Gb of ram, PERIOD.
    Santa Rosa can support up to 8Gb with some BIOS, but the OS is another story.
     
    Han Bao Quan, Aug 23, 2008
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  3. sfrohman90

    sfrohman90 Notebook Geek

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    with that question...im currently on my desktop and is the whole vist 32 cant see 4gb memory just a laptop thing??? because im using g.skill 4x1 gb sticks in this puppy with vista ultimate 32 bit and it recognizes 4gb just fine...
     
    sfrohman90, Aug 23, 2008
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  4. vi3tscorpian

    vi3tscorpian Notebook Evangelist

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    so you say 32-bit vista could see 4 gig? cool!!!

    btw, is G.SKILL RAM good in performance?

    also i have this link regarding the RAM and SYSTEM

    http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000811.html
     
    vi3tscorpian, Aug 23, 2008
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  5. Han Bao Quan

    Han Bao Quan The Assassin

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    Han Bao Quan, Aug 23, 2008
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  6. Tony

    Tony Nissan ftw!

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    the OS SHOWS 4gb of ram
    but a 32bit OS can only USE 3gb of ram

    you can go to task manager and see how many gb of ram is actually available for use
     
    Tony, Aug 23, 2008
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  7. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

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    With Vista SP1, it will "report" all 4 GB yes, but it doesn't mean you're able to use it all. 32-bit Windows can use from 2.75 - 3.5 GB, depending on the hardware and BIOS combination.

    Read this article by a Microsoft Software Test Engineer:

    http://blogs.msdn.com/hiltonl/archive/2007/04/13/the-3gb-not-4gb-ram-problem.aspx

    With some of his quotes here:

    http://news.softpedia.com/news/Vist...imitation-of-32-bit-Windows-Vista-75309.shtml

    Some systems can use up to 3.5 GB even with 32-bit Windows.

    http://blogs.msdn.com/hiltonl/archive/2007/04/13/the-3gb-not-4gb-ram-problem.aspx
     
    stewie, Aug 23, 2008
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  8. sfrohman90

    sfrohman90 Notebook Geek

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    ehhh your right now that i check...it shows 4.0 GB but the free and used only add up to 3.5 GB...whatever not a big deal to me...
     
    sfrohman90, Aug 23, 2008
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  9. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

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    Good to know the T400 can use 3.5 and not only 3. :)
     
    stewie, Aug 23, 2008
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  10. BinkNR

    BinkNR Knock off all that evil

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    Seconded. While these 32 bit Windows OSs can see the 4GB of RAM, the most they can actually us is 3.16GB of it.
     
    BinkNR, Aug 23, 2008
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  11. sfrohman90

    sfrohman90 Notebook Geek

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    Oh sorry haha im not on my T400 UNFORTUNATLY...i have to wait even longer for my baby because of stupid lenovo and their delays...im just on my custom built desktop, sorry to get you excited haha
     
    sfrohman90, Aug 23, 2008
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  12. vi3tscorpian

    vi3tscorpian Notebook Evangelist

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    last question: what happens to the remaining amount of RAM that's not listed? will it affect system's stability?

    thanks all for all the info :)
     
    vi3tscorpian, Aug 23, 2008
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  13. Tony

    Tony Nissan ftw!

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    I don't really know the answer to your question.
    But I think the rest of the ram can be shared with the GPU.. I think

    and one advantage of having 4GB over 3GB is that 4GB of ram enables synchronous dual channel memory access which is about 10% faster
     
    Tony, Aug 23, 2008
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  14. Han Bao Quan

    Han Bao Quan The Assassin

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    It wouldn't affect the system, just your pocket.
     
    Han Bao Quan, Aug 23, 2008
    #14