Question about RAM recognition in XP Pro 32-bit

Motoman · 13th Jan 2008, 04:13 AM

...something I have never been really clear on...

Let's say you build a new machine with an MSI K9A2 Platinum mobo - which has the ATI 790FX chipset.

Then let's say you stick 4 1Gb RAM sticks in it...and the BIOS recognizes all 4Gb just fine.

In Windows on the System Properties, it shows 3Gb. I have variously seen XP Pro boxes either fully show 4Gb there, or not. This one doesn't.

The MSI tech guy assures me that it's really just a reporting problem...that the system is actually using all 4Gb.

What do you think?

PsYkHoTiK · 13th Jan 2008, 08:20 AM

Memory Limits for Windows Releases (Windows)

32bit Windows has a 4GB addressable memory limit. This however includes all of the cache, ram, and buffers in your PC (ram, graphics card ram, hdd, etc).

So you have 4 sticks for a total of 4GB but the amount that windows sees and uses is just over 3GB usually.

Motoman · 13th Jan 2008, 08:45 AM

Hmmm...I have a high-end Toshiba laptop here with 4Gb of RAM that is reported correctly...and I believe the Quadro video chipset has dedicated memory besides that too...?

There's not the slightest chance that I'm going to use Vista - hopefully ever...but what about gaming under XP 64-bit?

PsYkHoTiK · 13th Jan 2008, 08:48 AM

Haha. Not using Vista is like holding back the tide. They will pull the plug on it in 2-3years tops.

Is that high end laptop using 64bit? Ram will be 'detected' as 4GB in BIOS, but in Windows unless if it is 64bit, it won't be able to be fully utilized.

In all honesty, XP64bit is an 'abandoned' OS. Go Vista 64bit. Most of the crap that it gets is due to the mis-informed anyways. Its really not all that bad. I've personally used Vista for quite a while and I really like it. With all things new there is a slight learning curve. But if you want to do 4GB, a 64 bit OS is needed, and of the 64bits, Vista x64 is the best.

Motoman · 13th Jan 2008, 09:09 AM

Yes, "resistance is futile" etc. Been there, tried it, would rather switch to Linux and run everything under emulation. With luck, Windows 7 will be usable.

Thanks for your input...does anyone have any experience gaming with 64-bit XP? I happen to have it here and believe I can find drivers for my devices (I think), but am not sure of what the interaction between 32-bit games and the 64-bit OS would be like - would just like to be able to take advantage of all 4Gb of RAM.

...oh, and no, the laptop (although it came with Vista from the factory) is running 32-bit XP.

PsYkHoTiK · 13th Jan 2008, 10:51 AM

I have XP x64 too.

I've gamed on it and I had weird issues then. x64 Vista has better support.

One thing though, x64 runs a lot smoother.

Even when I ran it with 1GB on XP x64.

Chai · 13th Jan 2008, 11:51 AM

Given a choice, I would rather go for Vista 64 than XP 64. I'm still using XP 32 BTW.

peaz · 13th Jan 2008, 02:07 PM

Vista 64 of course. It's where M$ actually did a good job implementing 64bit codes on a consumer OS.

I've been using Vista 64 for almost a year now. No complains. Games works perfectly on 32 bit mode.

zy · 13th Jan 2008, 02:54 PM

should i run dual boot Vista.. hmmm ..

install both 32 & 64

cvasquez · 19th Feb 2008, 10:15 AM

It never shows all 4 Gigs complete because of addressing issues. I have a total of 4 Gigs of RAM and my Mobo is only reporting 3 Gigs.

13th Jan 2008, 04:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
Motoman Warming up Join Date: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 106 Reputation: 62 Rep Power: 3	Question about RAM recognition in XP Pro 32-bit ...something I have never been really clear on... Let's say you build a new machine with an MSI K9A2 Platinum mobo - which has the ATI 790FX chipset. Then let's say you stick 4 1Gb RAM sticks in it...and the BIOS recognizes all 4Gb just fine. In Windows on the System Properties, it shows 3Gb. I have variously seen XP Pro boxes either fully show 4Gb there, or not. This one doesn't. The MSI tech guy assures me that it's really just a reporting problem...that the system is actually using all 4Gb. What do you think?

13th Jan 2008, 08:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
PsYkHoTiK "Little" Devil Join Date: 8 Apr 2004 Location: On the "throne" Posts: 14,743 Reputation: 4681 Rep Power: 66	Memory Limits for Windows Releases (Windows) 32bit Windows has a 4GB addressable memory limit. This however includes all of the cache, ram, and buffers in your PC (ram, graphics card ram, hdd, etc). So you have 4 sticks for a total of 4GB but the amount that windows sees and uses is just over 3GB usually. __________________ Intel SLAPL 4.3GHz @ 1.35v : 2x2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 1066 : Asus P5K Premium : WD RE3 250GB x2 RAID 0 : 3ware 9650SE-2LP : G92 8800GTS 512mb 820MHz Core : XFi Platinum : Silverstone OP650 : Silverstone TJ-07 : Dtek FuZion CPU : Swiftech MCW60 : MCP655 : Thermochill PA120.3 w Scythe Ultra Kaze CPU-Z: SLAPL : SLA9U : FX-55 : DDR 600 : VX www.techarp.com PsYkHoTiK's Meanderings

13th Jan 2008, 08:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
PsYkHoTiK "Little" Devil Join Date: 8 Apr 2004 Location: On the "throne" Posts: 14,743 Reputation: 4681 Rep Power: 66	Haha. Not using Vista is like holding back the tide. They will pull the plug on it in 2-3years tops. Is that high end laptop using 64bit? Ram will be 'detected' as 4GB in BIOS, but in Windows unless if it is 64bit, it won't be able to be fully utilized. In all honesty, XP64bit is an 'abandoned' OS. Go Vista 64bit. Most of the crap that it gets is due to the mis-informed anyways. Its really not all that bad. I've personally used Vista for quite a while and I really like it. With all things new there is a slight learning curve. But if you want to do 4GB, a 64 bit OS is needed, and of the 64bits, Vista x64 is the best. __________________ Intel SLAPL 4.3GHz @ 1.35v : 2x2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 1066 : Asus P5K Premium : WD RE3 250GB x2 RAID 0 : 3ware 9650SE-2LP : G92 8800GTS 512mb 820MHz Core : XFi Platinum : Silverstone OP650 : Silverstone TJ-07 : Dtek FuZion CPU : Swiftech MCW60 : MCP655 : Thermochill PA120.3 w Scythe Ultra Kaze CPU-Z: SLAPL : SLA9U : FX-55 : DDR 600 : VX www.techarp.com PsYkHoTiK's Meanderings

13th Jan 2008, 10:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
PsYkHoTiK "Little" Devil Join Date: 8 Apr 2004 Location: On the "throne" Posts: 14,743 Reputation: 4681 Rep Power: 66	I have XP x64 too. I've gamed on it and I had weird issues then. x64 Vista has better support. One thing though, x64 runs a lot smoother. Even when I ran it with 1GB on XP x64. __________________ Intel SLAPL 4.3GHz @ 1.35v : 2x2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 1066 : Asus P5K Premium : WD RE3 250GB x2 RAID 0 : 3ware 9650SE-2LP : G92 8800GTS 512mb 820MHz Core : XFi Platinum : Silverstone OP650 : Silverstone TJ-07 : Dtek FuZion CPU : Swiftech MCW60 : MCP655 : Thermochill PA120.3 w Scythe Ultra Kaze CPU-Z: SLAPL : SLA9U : FX-55 : DDR 600 : VX www.techarp.com PsYkHoTiK's Meanderings

13th Jan 2008, 11:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 28,116 Reputation: 4649 Rep Power: 82	Given a choice, I would rather go for Vista 64 than XP 64. I'm still using XP 32 BTW. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

13th Jan 2008, 08:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
Motoman Warming up Join Date: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 106 Reputation: 62 Rep Power: 3	Hmmm...I have a high-end Toshiba laptop here with 4Gb of RAM that is reported correctly...and I believe the Quadro video chipset has dedicated memory besides that too...? There's not the slightest chance that I'm going to use Vista - hopefully ever...but what about gaming under XP 64-bit?

13th Jan 2008, 09:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
Motoman Warming up Join Date: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 106 Reputation: 62 Rep Power: 3	Yes, "resistance is futile" etc. Been there, tried it, would rather switch to Linux and run everything under emulation. With luck, Windows 7 will be usable. Thanks for your input...does anyone have any experience gaming with 64-bit XP? I happen to have it here and believe I can find drivers for my devices (I think), but am not sure of what the interaction between 32-bit games and the 64-bit OS would be like - would just like to be able to take advantage of all 4Gb of RAM. ...oh, and no, the laptop (although it came with Vista from the factory) is running 32-bit XP.

13th Jan 2008, 02:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
peaz ARP Webmaster Join Date: 13 Oct 2002 Location: http://atpeaz.com/ Posts: 8,595 Reputation: 1673 Rep Power: 32	Vista 64 of course. It's where M$ actually did a good job implementing 64bit codes on a consumer OS. I've been using Vista 64 for almost a year now. No complains. Games works perfectly on 32 bit mode. __________________ Ken Ng Tech ARP Follow me at Twitter Blogs @ http://www.atpeaz.com/

13th Jan 2008, 02:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
zy zynine.com Join Date: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 13,491 Reputation: 2276 Rep Power: 43	should i run dual boot Vista.. hmmm .. install both 32 & 64 __________________

19th Feb 2008, 10:15 AM	#10 (permalink)
cvasquez Newbie Join Date: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 17 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	It never shows all 4 Gigs complete because of addressing issues. I have a total of 4 Gigs of RAM and my Mobo is only reporting 3 Gigs.

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