4 GB ram specs?

Ok i was just wondering if i would have to have vista to use 4 GB ram or is there any way i can get XP and use the ram?

 

With a 32bit OS (most installs of XP and Vista) you cannot use all 4GB. You need a 64bit OS to get all 4GB.

 

is there a 64 bit XP OS?

 

XP Pro X64 but is unstable vs Vista X64

 

what do u mean by unstable?

 

XP 64 has a ton of problems with bad drivers. Or inability to find drivers. Unless you know you have 100% compatibility, stay away.

But then again, Vista 64 has the same problem. But it isn't as bad as XP's case was.

 

it's hard to find the drivers you need for x64 XP.

 

so either way im in the bad its just pick the best of the 2 evils as to say.

 

Is vista compatible with all the XP games and software?

 

Not really true, Vista X64 has an X86 system still so it can run all 32 bit stuff as well as 64 bit stuff, which is what XP X64 lacked.

 

Any 64 bit OS has that.
I've used XP x64, it runs 32 bit apps.
But a 32 bit driver wont work on x64.
BTW, its not x86, the whole system is still x86, its a 32 bit subsystem, if you will.

 

So 64 bit Vista runs all XP programs/games/apps?

 

Any program Vista 32 bit will run, Vista 64 bit will run. It's a question of computability between XP and Vista, not a question of whether 64 bit will run it.

 

ohhh i got 64bit windows.. its prety awsome.. but the only thing i see that can actually utilize the coding is games... so far no other application i seen can use it.

BUT yeahhh.. Take it from me.. i just finished putting 64bit vista on my PC today.. and finding all the drivers was a HUGE pain... idk if i could recommend it. But atleast my OS is prety clean with barely any anything on it to start up now.


ohh yeah.. and i guess the 4 gigs of ram is prety sweet.. I went from 50% memory usage with 3gigs (when 32bit was on) to about 30% memory usage when i switched to 64bit to utilize all the 4gigs.. and also make sure your Bios supports it. i had to update my bios before doing this.

 

It sucks that in order to utilize all 4GB's of ram Microsoft forces the customer to waste money the 64 bit of Vista which is not well supported and the majority of PC's ship with a 32bit version.

 

Ummm. All 32 bit Oses have this limit, so you have to razz on Mac and Linux too (although Linux makes it easy to acquire a 64bit disc). And the only real reason that 32bit support is better is since the hardware hasn't caught up yet (think ahead a year or two where 4GB of RAM is normal, so 64bit OS is a must. Also, from what I've heard, people haven't had trouble finding drivers except for obscure hardware.). Lastly, you should be able to use your same key on the 64 bit version of Vista.

 

Please educate yourself about the difference between hardware limitations and intentional evil marketing tactics before spewing anti-microsoft stupidity.


32 bit means there are 4294967296 bytes of addresses, meaning 4GB, exactly. Not all of this can be used for the system memory. All hardware requires address space.

64 bit is 18446744073709551616 bytes of addresses, meaning... 17,179,869,184 GB.

So microsoft is doing nothing to limit the consumer, and offer their 64 bit version to anyone who own the 32 bit version at no extra cost. Take it up with notebook manufacturers who put the 32 bit on prebuilds. Microsoft didn't make that choice.

 

Im afraid PAE doesnt really work and its impractical

64bit is your best option for 4gb or more.

 

You cannot use 32bit drivers...that is the problem I am referring to.