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    vista 32-bit detecting 4 gig of ram!?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by red123, Jun 17, 2008.

  1. red123

    red123 Notebook Consultant

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    Is it just me or can Vista 32-bit detect 4 gig of RAM now? Some odd reason my M1530 detected an update from window and that update was SP1. I find it a little strange for it to install something that is already on the system. So after the update, my laptop detected all 4 gig of RAM instead of only 3.5.
     
    red123, Jun 17, 2008
    #1
  2. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    Lithus, Jun 17, 2008
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  3. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    omg really?!..

    i think ill downgrade back to 32bit
     
    flipfire, Jun 17, 2008
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  4. red123

    red123 Notebook Consultant

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    That still doesn't explain how come window installed SP1 when I already have it. Unless for some reason I thought I had it, but I really didn't. If that was the case then why install it now after I have been using my laptop for 3 weeks?
     
    red123, Jun 17, 2008
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  5. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    yeah SP1 makes it read installed amount of ram rather than avalible ram very stupid move because you amung many others are now confused.

    It still uses the same amount of ram as before, it just now shows you the amount of installed physical ram.
     
    ViciousXUSMC, Jun 17, 2008
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  6. PhoenixFx

    PhoenixFx Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes, if you use a real tool it will still show 3.5GB or whatever amount it used to show before. I guess now PC vendors can bundle their notebooks with 4GB RAM and Vista 32bit without getting asked too many questions ;)
     
    PhoenixFx, Jun 17, 2008
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  7. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    Just go to the task managers performance tab. It will show total physical memory utilized.
     
    flipfire, Jun 17, 2008
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  8. masterchef341

    masterchef341 The guy from The Notebook

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    32 bit operating systems do not take advantage of the 4 full GB of ram.

    there is other hardware that takes up address space - and there is a strick 4GB limit to that address space with a 32 bit OS.

    so no, no matter what patch, no matter what it says, you are only going to get the use of 3.x GB of ram.
     
    masterchef341, Jun 17, 2008
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  9. StormEffect

    StormEffect Lazer. *pew pew*

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    Vista can detect all 4GB of RAM now, but it still only utilizes around 3.0-3.5GB when using 32bit. This was a good move that should solve a few questions from people who might think they were ripped off.
     
    StormEffect, Jun 17, 2008
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  10. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    I think just the opposite, now people will think they got ripped off when they see "false" advertisement like 4gb of ram used when its not.

    I mean this is like the 10th thread already that we have had about this same issue because of the confusion, now people are going to start to say 32bit can use 4gb of ram, and we will constantly have to correct them.
     
    ViciousXUSMC, Jun 17, 2008
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  11. kanehi

    kanehi Notebook Deity

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    I agree. People should read up on SP1 before asking. But then again asking directly saves time on reading about it... next question?
     
    kanehi, Jun 17, 2008
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  12. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Andy, Jun 17, 2008
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  13. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Reporting the amount of physical memory installed, I believe, was done at the request of Dell/HP/etc...who got tired of people calling and demanding answers to why they couldn't use 4GB of RAM.

    They also asked MS to force people to use a password hint in SP1 because they got too many calls asking about getting around lost passwords.

    So before crabbing at MS...crab at the vendor you bought your PC from :p.
     
    Greg, Jun 17, 2008
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  14. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Yep, it does detect the 4GB now, but it still can't use it all :(
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 17, 2008
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  15. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    I find it a good idea that it says 4gb on 32bit SP1. Like said above, it stops people wondering why their ram is missing.

    Alot of people dont even know about 32bit limitations, chances are they wont care. The fact that is says 4gb makes them happy.

    Then they try use WEI and hope the points go higher. lol.
     
    flipfire, Jun 17, 2008
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  16. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    i guess there shud be a sticky for this as well....since most newbies dont even bother doing some research on google or in NBR itself....most of the issues just keep on coming up again and again....the search box up there must have gotten a bit bored due to the lack of usage.. :D
     
    Andy, Jun 17, 2008
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  17. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    Im working on a master sticky so I will add this to the list of threads, or one of the other threads about the same thing.
     
    ViciousXUSMC, Jun 17, 2008
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  18. Stringer2

    Stringer2 Notebook Guru

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    Yea, and reason why 32bit W cannot see whole 4GB is that the peripherial devices such as display controllers that have additional RAM reduce the main memory size. It is because in W that memory must reside below the boundary, but it cannot be used as regular memory.

    If the article below is to believe, you might not be able to get memory over 4GB even with 64bit Windows. Depending chipset you have. That is almost a year old article, so dunno about current situation.
    http://blogs.msdn.com/hiltonl/archive/2007/04/13/the-3gb-not-4gb-ram-problem.aspx
     
    Stringer2, Jun 17, 2008
    #18