You have a 32 bit OS which cannot utilize all 4 GB of ram

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durdle Class A You have a 32 bit OS which cannot utilize all 4 GB of ram

This.

 

i know this is an old post but it might just have become relevant again. If my PC can't use all 4GB of my 2 x 2GB Ram, then why does my MoBo have 4 Ram slots?
Theoretically I could fill all 4 slots and have 16GB of G-Skill RipJaw, but would the PC only be able to use 3GB of it ?

Russell.

 

Some RAM modules are 256 and 512mb only. So if you had 4x512mb of memory, that would only be 2gb of ram. 4 slots doesn't mean 4gb max, especially on an older computer when 512mb was considered a large module. Also, a 32-bit OS can see about 3.5gb if you have 4gb installed.

 

thanks for the reply Spliff. i don't understand it though. but if we keep going i might getthere. I have 4 slots available on my mobo. I have (did have) 1 x 2GB in slot 1 & 1x2GB in slot 2.
you seem to be saying that my (32bit system) can only 'see' about 3GB - 3.5GB?
so what i am asking is this ... would i be wasting my money if i bought another 2 sticks of 2GB Ram, or maybe 2 x 4GB sticks, for the empty slots. would i still only be able to use 3GB and the rest be wasted ?

Russell.

 

@ Russ
You could not use that RAM in Windows even though your hardware can handle it. If you want around 8GB or whatever you said, you have to have the x64 (64-bit) version of Windows. Though you could boost the shared VRAM a little (probably would notice a great difference boosting VRAM seeing stock is 512mb)... it would still be a waste on a x86 (32-bit) Windows installation.

 

soooo.... maybe a new OS is in order , 64bit ? i need a new OS anyway. hehe.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bicolormoth;15575436
thanks for the reply Spliff. i don't understand it though. but if we keep going i might getthere. I have 4 slots available on my mobo. I have (did have) 1 x 2GB in slot 1 & 1x2GB in slot 2.
you seem to be saying that my (32bit system) can only 'see' about 3GB - 3.5GB?
so what i am asking is this ... would i be wasting my money if i bought another 2 sticks of 2GB Ram, or maybe 2 x 4GB sticks, for the empty slots. would i still only be able to use 3GB and the rest be wasted ?

Russell.

If you don't consider the loss of 512mb it wouldn't all be such a waste. It's best to have all RAM modules of the same size, same brand, same speed and latency ('matched' pairs). If you have an older motherboard, it might not recognize a larger module. You would need to check a compatibility chart for that board to make sure the RAM modules would be recognized. For example, some motherboards may only recognize a 512mb module as the largest, and only of a certain speed. Some motherboards are even picky about the brands of memory they can use. Motherboards are rather cheap. You can get a newer motherboard for under $100 dollars, 8gb of memory for $50, and a processor for anywhere between $60 to $200 that would be capable of a 64-bit OS.

 

If you have an older motherboard, it may not even recognize a 1GB module, forcing you to use 512mb modules. If you want to run a 64-bit OS, you will need a 64-bit processor. This would probably involve buying a different motherboard. A bare system can be built for cheap. Don't go to the store and buy a prebuilt system because you are wasting your money. You're paying hundreds of dollars more for a warranty and customer support that will not last the lifetime of the computer, and you will probably never use. Build it yourself and save some cash; plus you'll have more options.

If you have a recent motherboard, you can get 4GB on one module for about 25 dollars online. 8GB for $50, or 16gb for $100.

 

Spliff, interesting stuff but a little over my head. where do you find all the info to match your RAM with the Mobo.? my mobo is: Gigabyte MA770T-UD3 and my Ram is: 4Gb(2x2) G Skill pc3 1333mhz Cas 8 Ripjaw. it has been running with 2 slots filled, but one stick has failed, so it is running with one stick right now. but i have ordered another pair and will RMA the duffer, so i will have 4 x 2GB sticks (2 matched pairs) = 8GB.

well, instead of being lazy i did some 'Googling' and found this:
www.legitreviews.com/article/985/1/

it says this about my Mobo & Ram: Memory

4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory (Note2)
Dual channel memory architecture
Support for DDR3 1666(OC)/1333/1066 MHz memory modules
Support ECC memory (Note 3)

Russell.

 

You need a 64Bit OS to allocate memory of 4GB and beyond (VRAM on GPU's also account for total system memory).

Your motherboard can support lots of memory, but if you don't have a 64Bit OS it won't see most of it. It's a software limitation not hardware mate.

 

well, as i am looking to update my OS anyway, i think it would be a smart move to go with 64-bit. (?)
I am also looking at upping the RAM (ordered yesterday) and looking at replacing my ageing eVGA 8800gt (512mb) with something a bit newer. (400/500 series?).

as usual, thanks for the explanations guys.

 

heres a idea make a ramdisk then set it up so the pagefile uses that i have done this in the past

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bicolormoth i know this is an old post but it might just have become relevant again. If my PC can't use all 4GB of my 2 x 2GB Ram, then why does my MoBo have 4 Ram slots? Theoretically I could fill all 4 slots and have 16GB of G-Skill RipJaw, but would the PC only be able to use 3GB of it ? Russell.

Because not all Operating Systems are 32-bit. 64-bit can utilize an unlimited amount of RAM (Well not unlimited but we wont reach the number for a long time), whereas 32-bit operating systems can only utilize i think its like 3.4Gb or something like that.
With a 64-bit operating system you could use all 16Gb. In a 32-bit you can only use 3Gb to 4Gb.
If you bought windows 7 just a normal copy it should come with both disks, although if you bought OEM it would have only came with one or the other, not both.

 

yeah, i had an OEM(32-bit) , then my motherboard died and i replaced it with a new one. since then my OS has been telling me it is not a validated copy (or something like that) so i guess i need a new one anyway. bit of a bummer as the OS costs more than the MoBo. GRrrrr. i might go retail 64-bit this time around.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by insomniac42 heres a idea make a ramdisk then set it up so the pagefile uses that i have done this in the past

errrm ... what's a 'ramdisk' ... ?

 

For the motherboard you specified, the memory support list can be found here:

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=3533#ov

Also, concerning running a 64-bit OS, you will need a 64-bit processor. Most modern processors are 64-bit. However, some recent budget processors may be 32-bit only. You cannot run a 64-bit OS with a 32-bit processor.

 

A ram disk is a virtual disk drive that is emulated in ram. However, you can ignore that comment. If you have enough memory (8GB or more) you will not require a page file or virtual memory from windows. If you have enough memory to implement a ramdisk, you wouldn't need to implement paging at all.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by spliff For the motherboard you specified, the memory support list can be found here: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=3533#ov Also, concerning running a 64-bit OS, you will need a 64-bit processor. Most modern processors are 64-bit. However, some recent budget processors may be 32-bit only. You cannot run a 64-bit OS with a 32-bit processor.

all my details are in my sig.

my CPU = Phenom II x4 955BE 3.2Ghz

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bicolormoth all my details are in my sig. my CPU = Phenom II x4 955BE 3.2Ghz

So you will be able to run a 64-bit OS with no problems.

 

woohooo !

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mhill2029 You need a 64Bit OS to allocate memory of 4GB and beyond (VRAM on GPU's also account for total system memory). Your motherboard can support lots of memory, but if you don't have a 64Bit OS it won't see most of it. It's a software limitation not hardware mate.

^^^ This one.
Also you can calculte 32bit limitation and 64bit aswell.
32bit -> calculation 32 times 2. Example : 2x2x2x2x2x... etc etc same for 64bit too.
4294967296 bytes
4294967296 bytes/1024 = 4194304 kilobytes
4194304 kilobytes/1024 = 4096 megabytes
4096 megabytes/1024 = 4GB (is usable ram on 32bit but windows will show you around 3~3.5GB)

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by spliff A ram disk is a virtual disk drive that is emulated in ram. However, you can ignore that comment. If you have enough memory (8GB or more) you will not require a page file or virtual memory from windows. If you have enough memory to implement a ramdisk, you wouldn't need to implement paging at all.

your right to the extent of he has 4gb of ram 3 of which is usable. you missed the whole point. his 32 bit os will only allow him to use 3gb thus leaving 1gb unusable, make a ramdisk for that remaining 1gb and use the ramdisk as the pagefile thus utilizing all 4gb. so before you insert your foot in mouth again please read whole post before attempting to drop your $.02

 

I bet your onboard GPU is taking some of that.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by insomniac42;15585784
your right to the extent of he has 4gb of ram 3 of which is usable. you missed the whole point. his 32 bit os will only allow him to use 3gb thus leaving 1gb unusable, make a ramdisk for that remaining 1gb and use the ramdisk as the pagefile thus utilizing all 4gb. so before you insert your foot in mouth again please read whole post before attempting to drop your $.02

You seem to not understand how memory addressing works. You can't address that remaining (approx) 512mb, even for a ramdisk. It's not possible, because the address of that memory won't fit into any of the CPU's 32-bit addressing registers. How is a ramdisk going to magically address it when windows can't even do it? (the underlying hardware can't even do it as far as windows is concerned, and the kernel controlling the execution mode is running in 32 bit) He needs to upgrade his OS to 64 bit to address that memory; period. And getting more than 8GB would abate the need for any paging at all.

Also, putting a ramdisk in system memory for paging is ******ed. You would be reducing the overall remaining memory, creating a condition that requires even more paging, and the ramdisk wouldn't have enough space to page to, leading to memory shortages and crashes.

Who stuck whose foot in their mouth?