[kamran5461]

i have vista 32 bit ultimate version.
i have 4 gigs of corsair xms2 pc2-6400 installed and i see 4 gigs being read by bois but in windows, it only shows 3 gigs. so i went into bios and enabled memory remap and then booted up again. now it shows only 2 gigs of ram in windows.
*** man?

 

[gonX]

Try launching CPU-Z (get it from www.cpuid.com) and see what it says on the memory tab, with and without the memory remap (PAE)

 

[Choggs396]

It's because you are running the 32-bit version. There is a technical, computational limitation (not exactly sure how, someone else will probably elaborate) of 32-bit operating systems, that only allow them to use about 3 gigs of RAM, including Video RAM... that is why the Max varies depending on what Video card you have.

If you purchased a retail copy of Vista, it includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. If you purchased an OEM copy, I've heard you can call Microsoft and they'll ship you a 64-bit copy for a minimal fee (around $10?) if you provide them with your Vista Serial number (make sure you're registered, too).

But until then, it's impossible to use all 4 gigs on a 32-bit operating system.

 

[kamran5461]

i was running 64 bit version and it would show all 4 gigs after i enable the map remapping. so u might be right about that. now i am back on vista 32 cuz the 64 bit version' wasn't installing all the updates(some of them were important and not just recommended)

p.s. cpu-z is reading all 4 gigs.

 

[Choggs396]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamran5461 i was running 64 bit version and it would show all 4 gigs after i enable the map remapping. so u might be right about that. now i am back on vista 32 cuz the 64 bit version' wasn't installing all the updates(some of them were important and not just recommended) p.s. cpu-z is reading all 4 gigs.

Yeah, CPU-z will read all the memory, but the problem is it can't actually be used by a 32-bit operating system. I was actually considering getting 4GB or RAM, but I decided on installing 32-bit Vista, so I just went with 2GB for the meantime - at least until drivers improve for 64-bit. I might pick up another 2GB in the future if I decide to switch up, though.

 

[technik]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/32_bit explains it well enough in the top paragraphs that most people should get the idea

 

[iampoor]

exactly

you need 64 bit for wimdows to "use" all the memory

 

[DuckieHo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Choggs396 It's because you are running the 32-bit version. There is a technical, computational limitation (not exactly sure how, someone else will probably elaborate) of 32-bit operating systems, that only allow them to use about 3 gigs of RAM, including Video RAM... that is why the Max varies depending on what Video card you have. If you purchased a retail copy of Vista, it includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. If you purchased an OEM copy, I've heard you can call Microsoft and they'll ship you a 64-bit copy for a minimal fee (around $10?) if you provide them with your Vista Serial number (make sure you're registered, too). But until then, it's impossible to use all 4 gigs on a 32-bit operating system.

2^32 = 4,29,4,967,296 bits

Therefore, a OS has only 4GB of unique memory addresses. However, Windows reserves some for devices leaving 3.5GB left (not 3GB). However, video memory requires address and takes away additional total memory. You can enable PAE which adds another translation table to increase memory addresses.

 

[Teh Evil Cupcake]

All 32 bit OS's can only recognise 3GBs. If you got the retail vista, you should be able to upgrade to 64 bit for around $10 I think.

 

[DuckieHo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teh Evil Cupcake All 32 bit OS's can only recognise 3GBs. If you got the retail vista, you should be able to upgrade to 64 bit for around $10 I think.

No.... 32-bit Windows can recognize 3.5GB.

 

[this n00b again]

32 bit windows will only show a max of 3.5 gb of ram.

but some will reserve the memory pointer address, for other resources, (not applicable to all)

so yours may only show a max of 3.25 gb of ram.

if you want to make use of more than that get x64 bit, vista.

if you have the retail version you have both 32 and 64 bit. it should ask you which one you want to install when installing.

all 4 gb will show up on cpu-z and bios, its a operating system limitation

 

[jonny1989]

your not going to get all 4 gigs,32bit is limited to 3.5 gigs do to the lake of bits that it can handel at one time with woul be (32) 64bit has a way higher amount and can support 100 of 1000 of gigs of ram.

 

[DuckieHo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny1989 your not going to get all 4 gigs,32bit is limited to 3.5 gigs do to the lake of bits that it can handel at one time with woul be (32) 64bit has a way higher amount and can support 100 of 1000 of gigs of ram.

(2^64) = 1.84467441e19 bits (or 2 exabytes)

Not quite true either. 64-bit OS have imposed limitations which is usually either 128GB or 16GB (depending on OS).

 

[ian209]

phew, glad i read this b4 buying 4GBs of ram

 

[Litlratt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamran5461 i have vista 32 bit ultimate version. i have 4 gigs of corsair xms2 pc2-6400 installed and i see 4 gigs being read by bois but in windows, it only shows 3 gigs. so i went into bios and enabled memory remap and then booted up again. now it shows only 2 gigs of ram in windows. *** man?

The 4Gb with a 32bit system will be even worse with your Creative Labs sound card. You will lose hardware acceleration with more than 2Gb.

 

[LiNERROR]

it depends on the amount of hardware you have... for example on my machine i see 3.25GB... but on my server i see 3.68gb...

 

[Retoric]

Think this explain it well

http://www.dansdata.com/askdan00015.htm

 

[Namrac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Litlratt The 4Gb with a 32bit system will be even worse with your Creative Labs sound card. You will lose hardware acceleration with more than 2Gb.

What?

I've never heard anything like that.

 

[Litlratt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Namrac What? I've never heard anything like that.

If you have XP32 and 3 or 4 Gb enabled , open dxdiag and run the sound test.
If I remember correctly, the general consensus was that Creatives drivers were attempting to use the same memory addresses as the additional ram.
I can do a screenie of the hardware buffering not supported prompt if you like.

 

[lightningfr]

thats what happened to me now im running 64 bit and it see's all 4 gig