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Windows XP Ram Limit

post #1 of 16
3/9/06 at 7:42pm
Thread Starter 
I know that XP is limited to something like 2.75GB of RAM. Can someone please explain, as detailed, yet simply(that makes no sense, I know) as possible, why this occurs?

Someone is arguing with me that Windows utilizes however much RAM your mobo supports, and I know that he is completely wrong(he's talking about x32).

I really need to just beat him down with this, cause I don't really like him. So anyone who can explain this well, please step up to the plate.
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post #2 of 16
3/9/06 at 7:46pm
LOL! I think the limity for XP is 3GB... Vista is a difference story!
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post #3 of 16
3/9/06 at 7:46pm
Thread Starter 
Yep, any idea why 3gb is the limit?
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post #4 of 16
3/9/06 at 7:54pm
Thread Starter 
Okay. From what I've found:

32-bit systems support a total of 4gb of RAM. Windows takes this and splits it in half, using 2gb for apps, and 2gb for the kernel. If you add the /3g switch the boot.ini, then it uses 1gb for the kernel, and 3gb for apps.

My questions: What does Windows do when I only have one gig of RAM? I don't see it split in half anywhere.

Also, doesn't this render that extra 1gb of RAM useless? I mean if the kernel runs fine when I only have 1gb total, why does it need to steal 1gb to itself?
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post #5 of 16
3/9/06 at 7:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by amped
Yep, any idea why 3gb is the limit?
Especially since I thought it was 4GB
lol hax
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lol hax
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post #6 of 16
3/9/06 at 10:01pm
On my system I use about 450Mb with AIM, FAH, Avast, Desktop Utilities, Microsoft AntiSpyware, RivaTuner, and a ton of FireFox broswers. When I play games (BF2) it goes up to about 1200, so 2GB is great for games. I can't imagine anyone needing more than 2 GB though.
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post #7 of 16
3/9/06 at 10:15pm
This is from a post I made in another topic a long time ago. Windows XP Pro supports up to 4 Gigs of RAM. I've included a link below (MSA555223) that gives a really good breakdown of what Windows does with your memory.

Origonal Message from Topic 66772 post #8
Quote:
Heh, just make sure you don't go building a windows system with that much ram. The only MS Windows that can handle 32GB or more is Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, and Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition.
Quote:
Here's a list of how much RAM the various Windows versions and editions support (as of Nov 2004):

Windows NT 4.0: 4 GB
Windows 2000 Professional: 4 GB
Windows 2000 Standard Server: 4 GB
Windows 2000 Advanced Server: 8GB
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server: 32GB
Windows XP Professional: 4 GB
Windows Server 2003 Web Edition: 2 GB
Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition: 4 GB
Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition: 32 GB
Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition: 64 GB
(Windows XP 64 bit supports upto 128 GB ram)

Microsoft Article 555223

Xaine99
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post #8 of 16
3/11/06 at 5:37am
4gb is common place in the design industry, i think you can go a bit more. But 64bit doesn't really ahvea limit atm as im aware of, or it might be 1tb i read a while back. But nothing to be concerned with lol
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post #9 of 16
3/11/06 at 5:51am
Even though you don't need the 4GB of RAM unless you are a graphics designer or something, it would be cool to have and would give you bragging rights
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post #10 of 16
3/11/06 at 5:54am
i woudlnt mind 4 gig lol.

PLus 2gb gave my firends dad problems so went for 4gig instead lol.

He runs auto cad at 1600x1200 over 2 21" TFT's lol

And he had a 64bit 4000+ summer last year lol.
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