Get a new OS.

 

Hey beers leave some answers for us others

 

Yeah get a new OS, 32bit XP only supports up to 3GB of RAM, the motherboard supports more.

 

Yep, you won't see more than 3GB available under any 32 bit OS. It's the limit to it. Either sell half your memory, or get a 64 bit OS.

 

4GB is the limit for system ram on a 32bit os. Though VRAM takes up part of that.

Sent from my phone...

 

In my experience, it's generally ~3.25GB that will often be usable (the rest is lost due to addressing reservation space and perhaps other stuff), but it can vary up or down some depending on the configuration. Windows should tell you how much it is "detecting" in the System Properties.

I'd honestly get a new OS. Windows XP and 32-bit are time to be retired on newer setups. If it's got 8GB RAM, it either has no business having a 32-bit OS, or it has no business having as much RAM. So, if you won't be doing that, drop down to 4GB RAM and do whatever with the rest. It's being wasted sitting there doing nothing. You're already going to lose some with 4GB as it is, but as I imagine these are four 2GB modules, there's no harm in having 4GB.

 

Is there any possibility of you getting a 64 bit OS? That is the only thing preventing you from being able to use all 8gb.

 

ok, so i'll remove some.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by allikat Yep, you won't see more than 3GB available under any 32 bit OS. It's the limit to it. Either sell half your memory, or get a 64 bit OS.

Not true at all. You can see around 3.4-3.5GB on XP 32-bit depending on the hardware.

On 32-bit OS that support PAE, you can see 64GB (i.e. Windows Server 2003 32-bit).
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...(v=vs.85).aspx

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckySe7ens 4GB is the limit for system ram on a 32bit os. Though VRAM takes up part of that. Sent from my phone...

VRAM does not directly take up the system memory addresses. I/O mapping for devices does though.

 

there is an x64 version of xp if you really want it, but I had a lot of driver issues trying it. If your hell bent on staying in that era of OS, server 2k3 x64 is probably the better choice.

 

If I remember right, Windows XP 64-bit essentially is Windows Server 2003. Even though WIndows Server 2003 is the server version of Windows XP anyway, it still had differences and never really got the large backing so far as drivers and compatibility go. I wouldn't recommend either of them for such a use (as a primary home OS). If you want 64-bit in this day and age, I'd just get a more modern Windows version. Going with an older and more obscure version will just bring more hassle down the line.

 

Get a newer OS and make sure its 64-bit. Your missing out on half your RAM and your stuck at DirectX 9.

Windows 7 Home Edition 64-bit is $100 for a OEM disc and product key.

 

32bit operating systems are generally able to utilize a maximum of 3.5gb of ram.
With integrated graphics card using shared system RAM, this is normally then set to around 3.25gb that is usable by windows (or whatever operating system you are using)

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckieHo;15573198
Not true at all. You can see around 3.4-3.5GB on XP 32-bit depending on the hardware.

On 32-bit OS that support PAE, you can see 64GB (i.e. Windows Server 2003 32-bit).
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa366778(v=vs.85).aspx

VRAM does not directly take up the system memory addresses. I/O mapping for devices does though.

Thanks for the clarification.

Sent from my phone...

 

Just upgrade your OS to 64bit Version. Nice time to get a Windows 7 64bit