4GB memory

[JBrown]

Is it true that to use 4GB memory you need 64 bit Vista?

Thank you,[email protected]

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Essentially, yes. The 32-bit version has 4GB of address space, but a portion
of that will be used for the hardware. Typically, this is about .7-1.2GB,
leaving 2.8-3.3GB of address space for the installed physical memory.

With SP1 installed, the system will report the correct amount of installed
memory, but this does not change the limitations imposed by the available
address space.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Is it true that to use 4GB memory you need 64 bit Vista?

Yes. Two points:

1. All 32-bit client versions of Windows (not just Vista/XP) have a
4GB address space. That's the theoretical upper limit beyond which you
can not go.

But you can't use the entire 4GB of address space. Even though you
have a 4GB address space, you can only use *around* 3.1GB of RAM.
That's because some of that space is used by hardware and is not
available to the operating system and applications. The amount you can
use varies, depending on what hardware you have installed, but can
range from as little as 2GB to as much as 3.5GB. It's usually around
3.1GB.

Note that the hardware is using the address *space*, not the actual
RAM itself. The rest of the RAM goes unused because there is no
address space to map it too.

2. For most users of Vista, that average value of 3.1GB is as much RAM
or even more RAM than most people can make effective use of. Unless
you run particularly memory-hungry programs, installing more RAM than
that does next to nothing for you and is a waste of money.

 

[B. Smith]

It's usually around 3.1GB

wrong, its usually around 3.3 GB

range is 3.1 to 3.5

Wrong.
That would be the median.
Not the mean.

 

[B. Smith]

what I say is based on experience looking at many many many computers

you need a graphic card with more than 512 mb to go as low as 3.1

and how many have more than 512? not so many......

That may be true.
Yet you gave a range....then a deduced 3.3.
You are mathmatecically challenged ... as you gave a median ...not an
average.
You would need a proven sampling size based on a population in the 100's of
millions.
You don't wanna play statistics with me.

 

[B. Smith]

That's retarded in this day and age. There should be no RAM limits.

My PC has 6000 GB of RAM.
Yet I can only address 3 of 'em.
Get a book.
You can read, yes ?
try calculating what 8-bit, 16-bit ,32-bit, 64-bit means.
Then learn decimal, binary, and hexadecimal number systems.

Then relax.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

That's retarded in this day and age. There should be no RAM limits.

Yeah! And why don't they print more money? Then we all can be rich!

ss.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

The 32 bit edition of Windows Vista will only utilise around 3.3 to 3.5GB of
memory therefore to use more than 3.3/3.5GB you will need the 64 bit
edition.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

wrong, its usually around 3.3 GB

range is 3.1 to 3.5

No, the range, as I said, goes from as little as 2GB to as much as
3.5GB. My estimate of what it usually is an approximation. Whether my
3.1GB or your 3.3GB is right hardly matters, since the difference is
tiny. I think my number is reasonably accurate, since it's what my
experience has shown, but it depends on what hardware is installed and
it's clearly not 100% accurate.

 

[B. Smith]

The 32 bit edition of Windows Vista will only utilise around 3.3 to 3.5GB
of memory therefore to use more than 3.3/3.5GB you will need the 64 bit
edition.

And yet ... 64 bit Windows can't possible hand off 4 GB of RAM to 32 bit
applications.

Untill applications catch up ...64 bit Windows is a lone dog with too many
fleas.

So the stupid PC's sold with 8 GB RAM are a cheap scam.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I know this is a little off subject... but I see now that a lot of PC's
are coming coupled with 7GB of ram or more with Vista 64-Bit. I would
think that would cripple the system with so much ram. So are the days of
having 'too much' RAM over?

There have never been days of "having 'too much' RAM."If you have more
RAM than you can make effective use of, you have wasted some money,
but other than that waste of money, there are no disadvantages to
having more RAM than you need.

 

[B. Smith]

There have never been days of "having 'too much' RAM."If you have more
RAM than you can make effective use of, you have wasted some money,
but other than that waste of money, there are no disadvantages to
having more RAM than you need.

An 8 GB RAM system with a NV6150 onboard graphics solution is wasted RAM.
Even with that ...64-bit Windows runs like a slug.
Consumer scamming is never a good idea.
Cheap RAM is the reason for that set-up...not the consumer.
You are dismissed.

 

[B. Smith]

You don't wanna play statistics with me.

you are an idiot

what I say is based on experience looking at many many many computers

you need a graphic card with more than 512 mb to go as low as 3.1

and how many have more than 512? not so many......

That may be true.
Yet you gave a range....then a deduced 3.3.
You are mathmatecically challenged ... as you gave a median ...not an
average.
You would need a proven sampling size based on a population in the 100's
of millions.
You don't wanna play statistics with me.

You are dismissed.
You know nothing of value.

 

[+Bob+]

Is it true that to use 4GB memory you need 64 bit Vista?

Thank you,[email protected]

Before you worry about it too much, put 3gb in a machine and try to
actually use it. Go on... give it a try. After reading an article
about this recently, I tried it out. I loaded a slew of applications,
I would not get Vista SP1 over ~1.5mg actual usage. The only thing I
didn't try was eliminating the swap file entirely to see if I could
force everything to RAM.

 

[Brontosaurus Burger AKA Vista!]

PCs with 8 gb of ram are ok, as long as you run a solid full 64 bit os
that all its programs are true 64 bit....

I wonder what os is like that...?

wait.. I know... its linux! lol

Oh yes, Linux the free os that still commands less than one percent of the
desktop. And that is after 10+ years. People look at Linux/Ubuntu and
within an hour figure out how crippled it is. They would rather pay for MS
applications than to use free Open Sores software.


That is a fact.

 

[B. Smith]

the number of users has nothing to do with the value and quality of a
product, nor can it reveal its future.


But I will tell you what the future is. Everything will be based on linux,
windows will be only a distant memory. Vista will be like a long forgotten
nightmare.

Good old linux..
The statistical anomaly.
Its free, yet no one wants it!

LOL.

It has even defeated the uncertainty principle....as it would show up more
often than it does by pure chance.
The probability of finding linux on a PC is less than the probability of
finding an old sneaker being used as a CPU.

Its so good...no one wants it.

 

[B. Smith]

Well duh. That's because it is a 32 bit application, not a flaw in 64
bit Vista!

But the 4 GB RAM will allow you to run more 32 bit apps than the 3 GB in
32 bit. Hell, I have 8 GB and sometimes wish I had more! I use many VMs
in VPC.

64 bit is not a passing fad. It is here. 32 bit will soon be the distant
memory.

So---you think selling 64-bit piss poor systems to consumers is a good idea
?
Not to geeks , mind you...

Old women were being talked into this BS by a best buy flunkie ... until I
stepped in.

Those old women don't need a 64-bit 8 GB RAM pos graphics loser PC being
pre-configured by Gateway.

It was a POS...and 64 bit is years away from mainstream .... years away.
Think consumer for once...not geek -fest '09

 

[the wharf rat]

So the stupid PC's sold with 8 GB RAM are a cheap scam.

They run Linux real good...

 

[B. Smith]

They run Linux real good...

600Mhz P3's run linux too.
I don't want one.

 

[B. Smith]

Yes. Why not? If you want the machine to last more than a 3 years, 64
bit is the way to go now. It beats the hell out of a "32 bit piss poor
system".

Nearly all machines being sold these days are 64 bit hardware. Why
saddle them with a 32 bit OS?


Yeah, about 2 years. The fact that you are seeing 64 bit systems sold to
"little old ladies" says to me that 64 bit is mainstream now. It will
just take people like you another 2 or 3 years to catch up.

Tell me, why would YOU want a 32 bit OS on 64 bit hardware?

Lets see...cause it don't lock up all the time.
Read on and on about 64bit issues with 32bit apps.

My 32 bit will last 10 years.
Guarenteed.

64bit is too far ahead.
They are selling them cause they are stuck with 64 bit CPU's and cheap RAM.

Its all overstock.
That's why a 64bit 8GB RAM system comes with a 6150 in-board graphics.
Real future proof...LOL.
And only $900 bucks !

My 2 year old system smokes it.
SMOKES IT.

HP hires Yes men.