4 gigs of memory? why??

[cpt>hollywood]

iv'e always wondered, if XP and $h!$t@ only recognize 3 gigs of ram, why do people put 4 gigs in?

i'm wondering if i should put another 2 in my system just because it's so darn cheap. i'm using this ram...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590

thanks for your explanation!

[theELVISCERATOR]

Vista uses more ram...dunno where you heard that?

[ratbuddy]

Cause 3GB and change is more than 2GB? I do notice a difference even in XP when I alt-tab from a game and back, doesn't seem to take as long to bring the game back up.. Could all be in my mind though..

[rseven]

I think you'll find this (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778(VS.85).aspx) helpful in explaining Windows ram limits. Outside of video editing and Adobe Photoshop there is not much call for 4 gigs of ram in XP.

Cheers! :beer:

R7

[Reefa_Madness]

I don't run Vista, so I don't know for sure, but I thought that I had read that unless you are running the 64-bit version, you are limited in your memory access, just as in XP, with the 32-bit version.

Am I misinformed here?

[cpt>hollywood]

reefa, i've heard exactly that. if i'm misinformed, then i'll admit i'm wrong...

i was thinking for a big $40 i'd just grab some cheap memory, but if it won't help speed up a fast computer to faster, then i'll save my money...

i don't know about vista, but i run XP and hope to never go to vista until MAYBE SP17 :screwy:

according to rseven's link, yes, vista & XP can use 4gig or much more depending if it's 32 or 64 bit, but XP in 32 bit CAN use 4gig. funny, i've always heard 3 was the limit the system can "see"

that said, like rseven says, most programs won't ever need 4 gig, but if ratbuddy is right, even if i perceive my computer being faster, thats a very good thing...

thanks for the replies guys!

[jdf_warrior]

1. 32bit will only address so much physical memory. This includes ram, video memory, etc. From what I've read Vista SP1 will cause Vista to actually report 4gb or more of ram being present, but still doesnt actually use it.

2. Vista definitely uses more ram. I have 64bit Vista Business on my desktop right now. I keep my machine clean, keep things at an absolute minimum when it comes to things running at startup and such. Vista, when it boots up, is already consuming about 1.4gb of my 4gb total.

3. Maybe a single program wont use 4gb, but eating up 4gb is easy depending on what your doing. I personally run alot of VM's. I run one in particular for web design, its a complete replica of the Windows 2003 Server used to run the web server that I maintain remotely. I'll usually give a VM 2 cores and 2gb of ram to run on then minimize it and do my work in the host system. At that point, I have about 600-700mb of ram left, then im trying to open Photoshop and do other things. I'll be upgrading to 8gb of ram asap.

[Same]

Just to clear this up. I see all over the internet people saying 32-bit can only possible handle up to 3gb, and anything over it is impossible. This is complete false. In theory 32-bit can only handle under 4gb sure. But in actuality there are ways around it. Here take a look at this:

Windows XP 32 - 3GB
Windows Vista 32 - 3GB
Windows Server 2003 Standard 32bit - 3GB
Windows Advanced Server 2000 32bit - 8GB
Windows Server 2003 Enterprise 32bit - 32GB
Windows Server 2003 Datacenter 32bit - 64GB


Anyways, on my desktop I run Windows Server 2003 Enterprise 32-bit, and it shows and uses all 4GB. Thanks

[silent bob]

I just put in 4gb in my new Vista Ultimate HTPC , I have onboard and want to reallocate more memory to the video . That is why I am running 4 gb . I have not figured out exactly what I can move to onboard yet but currently scouring the internet for answers



Same , love the avatar!!!!:D

[Moto7451]

One reason would be that two 2GB modules are cheaper than two sets of 1GB and 512MB modules. You can't use one 2GB module and a 1GB module if you plan on keeping your memory in dual channel mode. Also it's hard to run four DIMMS at 1T.

[Zanai]

Just to clear this up. I see all over the internet people saying 32-bit can only possible handle up to 3gb, and anything over it is impossible. This is complete false. In theory 32-bit can only handle under 4gb sure. But in actuality there are ways around it. Here take a look at this:

Windows XP 32 - 3GB
Windows Vista 32 - 3GB
Windows Server 2003 Standard 32bit - 3GB
Windows Advanced Server 2000 32bit - 8GB
Windows Server 2003 Enterprise 32bit - 32GB
Windows Server 2003 Datacenter 32bit - 64GB


Anyways, on my desktop I run Windows Server 2003 Enterprise 32-bit, and it shows and uses all 4GB. Thanks

You sure thats the case for XP? I used to run 4gb ram in my OCed mobile athlon, had a few errors to start with but cleared with up with a bios update. Played around with several different configurations before i fixed it and 4gb (4x 1Gb sticks in dual) was signifcantly quicker than 2gb in dual and 3gb in single when it came to general os performance multitasking etc.. but that was only how it felt no physically evidence for that, however it definatly encoded videos a hell of alot quicker so im inclined to believe tmpgenc was using all 4gb of memory.

Anyone else had similiar experiences?

[smokie mcpott]

xp and vista are not limited to 3gb
installed 4gb into my 32 bit system and with my 512mb card it gave me 3.25, with the 256mb card i had 3.5gb

in my experience 3.25-3.5 > 3

[grumperfish]

I have 4 gigs in my system and 32-bit Ubuntu and XP use 3.5GB. The increased bandwidth from running it in dual channel far outweigh the small loss of 512MB. Also, any game I play can use up to a full 2GB leaving 1.5GB for background tasks.


Vista (64-bit) sees all 4GB, but I've yet to really have a large need for many 64-bit applications so it's more or less just an attempt at future-proofing.

[Tyranos]

http://www.brianmadden.com/content/article/The-4GB-Windows-Memory-Limit-What-does-it-really-mean-

[Same]

When I say they are limited to 3GB thats a rough estimate. Its 4GB MINUS whatever you have in your PCI slots, video memory, etc.

[Zanai]

When I say they are limited to 3GB thats a rough estimate. Its 4GB MINUS whatever you have in your PCI slots, video memory, etc.

Id still rather have 4gb of memory in dual/matched than 3gb in single perforamnce wise anyways.

[Mr.Guvernment]

Because DDR2 ram has been dirt cheap so people are buying it now while they can before prices skyrocket when DDR3 ram starts to ramp up... (Q3-Q4)

[devilchrist]

There is a significant performance difference using 4gb and 2gb in both 32bit and 64bit operating systems.

Turn off your virtual mem(one that windows designate on HD). you'll find how just how fast windows run out of physical mem(ram) with only 2GB.

the slow app switch has mostly to do with When windows has to use virtual mem, I with 4GB installed I never run in to memmory shortage error message with virtual mem turned off. Unless i'm running multiple explorers, photoshop, Oblivion, P95, and all other sorts of programs..

[nightelph]

OOOOkay, here it is: 32-bit OSs (XP or Vista) can use up to four gigs of ram, MORE so with virtualization. But it cannot properly utilize all four gigs. As stated above, you start with four gigs and subtract. I've seen four gigs register as 2.5. Thats said, I run Vista 64bit with four gigs and am very pleased. Think HL2 fakefactory mod.
MS Link (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888137/en-us)

[jokers_greg]

it's all about memory remapping. If you're running an OS thats 32-bit, you'll only recognize 3 and change gigabytes of RAM. However, if you run a 64-bit OS (when i say OS i mean home user OS's not server) you can utilize anywhere from 8 to even 128Gb of RAM. This is why people using 64-bit Vista, often have 8Gb configurations.

[cpt>hollywood]

so guys....bottom line, with XP and a 32 bit system...(i said it's XP right?) would YOU spring for the $40 and get 2 more sticks of 1GB matched ram for a grand total of 4 gig?

can i expect to see a difference on a Q6600 system OC to 3.2?

thanks!!

[duffman69]

Ive just put 2gb more in my system, bringing it up to 4gb in total, on vista 32bit, and System properties only recognises 3.50gb. Upgrading to 64bit later on today thoug ;)
Id say go for it, i got mine because i was ordering something anyway, and the ram is so cheap (half the price i paid 9 months ago), it cant hurt can it!

[juane414]

Can you expect to see a difference? Yes.
Is it worth $40? Up to you.

You will notice an increase in performance with any upgrade if you look hard enough, even if its small.