The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Max RAM recognized by Vista

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by illini07, Sep 26, 2008.

  1. illini07

    illini07 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I got my SR with 4GB of RAM, and when I booted up for the first time, Vista Home Premium recognized all 4 gigs (even if it was only addressing 3).

    Then, I wiped the drive and installed Vista Ultimate. Now the system is only showing 3GB.

    Anything to be worried about here?
     
    illini07, Sep 26, 2008
    #1
  2. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Installed SP1 ? 32-Bit ?
    How much is it addressing now ?
     
    Andy, Sep 26, 2008
    #2
  3. BigHops323

    BigHops323 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    96
    Messages:
    726
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    this would mean you initially had a 64bit edition of home premium but when you upgraded to ultimate you used a 32bit version(capped at 3-3.75GB RAM)
     
    BigHops323, Sep 26, 2008
    #3
  4. StrongerThanAll

    StrongerThanAll Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    89
    Messages:
    994
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    no, they dont ship the 64-bit version, and i noticed the same thing in my laptop
     
    StrongerThanAll, Sep 26, 2008
    #4
  5. StrongerThanAll

    StrongerThanAll Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    89
    Messages:
    994
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    [​IMG]
     
    StrongerThanAll, Sep 26, 2008
    #5
  6. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206

    OP: You'll need Vista xx SP1 to display 4GB as the Installed Memory (RAM).
     
    Andy, Sep 26, 2008
    #6
  7. matmat07

    matmat07 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    404
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    At first, vista showed what was used. Since SP1, it shows what is installed.
     
    matmat07, Sep 26, 2008
    #7
  8. illini07

    illini07 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Thanks all, it didn't occur to me that I hadn't yet gotten around to upgrading to SP1 yet.
     
    illini07, Sep 26, 2008
    #8
  9. never2fast

    never2fast Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    91
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Do this apply to all Vista SP1? cause my desktop is SP1 and only shows 3.25GB.
     
    never2fast, Sep 27, 2008
    #9
  10. sleey0

    sleey0 R.I.P. AW Side Topics

    Reputations:
    1,870
    Messages:
    7,976
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    If I see another one of these threads I am going to KILL MYSELF WITH MY NEW Z520!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111

    People need to use the search funtion or, better yet, understand the limitations of a 32-bit OS.

    ARAHHAOGJDKL:AJSDGJ:SDGJALGASD
     
    sleey0, Sep 27, 2008
    #10
  11. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,843
    Messages:
    8,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Sleey0, it isn't quite that straightforeward either.
    Someone did a search through the MSDN library - and in fact a 32-Bit OS can use more than 4GB, but if I remember correctly 1GB would be used by hardware directly or so.

    Effectively - you can't really use more than 3GB on a 32-Bit OS, but the remaining 1GB can be used to support graphics memory as an example...
     
    DetlevCM, Sep 27, 2008
    #11
  12. joeskie

    joeskie Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    97
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Well, I upgraded my Z from 3 to 4 and notice a HUGE difference in real world applications, especially in Stamina mode. In speed mode, not so much.

    Even though task manage never goes above 3gb that can be used. Maybe the Intel integrated graphics utilize the extra memory very well. I don't know.

    As to the OP, install SP1 and you should see it all... But even if you don't, performance should be exactly the same weather it says 3 or 4gb.
     
    joeskie, Sep 27, 2008
    #12
  13. illini07

    illini07 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Chillax buddy, you clearly think about things too much. If you actually READ my OP, you will see that I am well aware of the fact that a 32-bit OS can only address 3GB. I simply wondered why, when switching from one 32-bit OS to another, the 4th GB ceased to be shown or recognized.

    And yes, perhaps a search might have turned something up, but I was running out the door when I posted it. You really shouldn't be so high-strung; wouldn't want you to have a heart attack...
     
    illini07, Sep 27, 2008
    #13
  14. DanyBui81

    DanyBui81 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    122
    Messages:
    626
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    i don't know how many times this question has been asked it should be sticked =p
     
    DanyBui81, Sep 27, 2008
    #14