question on the total ram showing in XP

[Debbie Graham]

Now I know that XP doesn't show if you have 4GB of ram but my question is,
even though it doesn't show it does it still use the 4GB? If not then,
since I have 2GB now I should only add another 1GB if I need it?
Debbie

 

[JS]

In round numbers XP can only address 4GB.
Your video card has XXXMB of ram on the card so
that limits XP to 4GB minus the cards XXXMB of memory.

In addition other hardware also takes away additional amounts of memory
(usually a small when compared to the video card)
and the remaining memory (address space) is available for
Windows XP and your applications.

So that 4th GB of ram you installed or will install is mostly
not available to XP.

A link to the white paper titled "Gaming Performance Analysis" by Corsair
Memory Inc. provides a good clear explanation of how a video card effects
the amount of available memory in your PC.
See: http://www.corsair.com/_appnotes/AN804_Gaming_Performance_Analysis.pdf

Intel Chipset 4 GB System Memory Support
http://www.dcomputer.com/ProInfo/support/support/mainboard/4GB_Rev1/4GB_Rev1.pdf

Vista Users with SP1 now report how much physical memory installed on your
computer:
See: Windows Vista SP1 includes reporting of Installed System Memory (RAM):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946003

RAM, Virtual Memory, Pagefile and all that stuff:
Basic information about the Virtual Memory implementation
in 32 bit versions of Windows 2000, XP, 2003 Server etc.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555223

As to adding another 1GB, do you have a specific need
by that I mean a special application that would benefit?

JS
http://www.pagestart.com

 

[meerkat]

Now I know that XP doesn't show if you have 4GB of ram but my question
is, even though it doesn't show it does it still use the 4GB? If not
then, since I have 2GB now I should only add another 1GB if I need it?
Debbie

No point in going passed 3GB, Debs.
bw..

 

[Mick Murphy]

XP 32bit will only use between 3.1 and 3.5G of RAM.
XP 64bit will use all of the 4G.
Install the extra 1G

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Now I know that XP doesn't show if you have 4GB of ram but my question is,
even though it doesn't show it does it still use the 4GB?

No.

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.

If not then,
since I have 2GB now I should only add another 1GB if I need it?

Two points:

1. Very few people running XP need as much as 2GB, let alone more.
Chances are that adding any more RAM will not provide you with any
improvement.

2. If the apps you run are such that adding more RAM will improve your
performance, you can probably use a little more than 3GB, but the
exact amount depends on what hardware you have.

 

[Daave]

Now I know that XP doesn't show if you have 4GB of ram but my question
is, even though it doesn't show it does it still use the 4GB? If not
then, since I have 2GB now I should only add another 1GB if I need it?

Are you absolutely sure that you need more than 2GB of RAM? For most
people, that's way more than enough to run XP.

 

[Debbie Graham]

Thanks for the explanation. No there really isn't ant need right now for
more RAM. I need to upgrade my processor to get the full range of the RAM I
have now. So once I do that I probably will notice a little improvement

Debbie

 

[Debbie Graham]

Thanks guys. Now I know where I stand on my RAM issue.
Debbie

 

[John John (MVP)]

I rather doubt that you need to upgrade the Processor to use the RAM
that you have now. Windows XP only installs on 32-bit processors and
*ALL* 32-bit processors can address 4GB of RAM. You may need to upgrade
something but it won't be the processor.

John

 

[JS]

Upgrading the processor will not do anything to increase the memory
address/max amount range of a 32bit processor, you are limited to the
same theoretical max of 4GB.

A processor upgrade may improve performance but there are some
things that need to be verified before you do so. Also be aware that
most users will not notice/perceive any performance increase that is
less than 20% greater that what you currently have.

JS
http://www.pagestart.com

 

[Debbie Graham]

I mean the speed of the ram I already have. It's supposed to be 1066 (I
think) but the processor is only pushing the 800 something. I'm not fully
using the Rams potential speed

Debbie

 

[Paul]

I mean the speed of the ram I already have. It's supposed to be 1066 (I
think) but the processor is only pushing the 800 something. I'm not fully
using the Rams potential speed

Debbie

Can you give some details about the motherboard make and model, and your
current processor ? Also, the quantity, make and model of the RAM.

Just guessing at the context of the question, it sounds
like you have an Athlon64 X2 system.

DDR2-1066 operation is possible, if the motherboard supports
AM2+ processors, the motherboard CPU support chart lists
a number of Phenom processors, and then you install a
Phenom. The Phenom will drive two installed sticks of
RAM at DDR2-1066. If you install four sticks of RAM,
the Phenom drops down to DDR2-800. So best performance
is possible with two sticks.

If you install an Athlon64 X2, whether installed in
AM2 or AM2+ motherboard, it is limited to DDR2-800.
It would run two or four sticks at DDR2-800.

So a lot of conditions must be met, to run at DDR2-1066.
Some motherboards are not comfortable running high end
Phenom processors. The very worst Phenom draws 140W, which
has been known to damage the Vcore regulator on some
cheap motherboards. And that is why you must carefully
check the CPUSupport chart, before installing a new
processor.

The hottest AMD desktop you can find...
http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUDetail.aspx?id=476

If this is an Intel system, that's a separate story...

Paul

 

[JS]

Need more info.
Please provide Make and model of your PC or
if a home built system the motherboard make and model
and processor make and model.

If you need help on identifying your PC's components
Try Belarc Advisor: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
It does a good job of providing a wealth of information.

JS
http://www.pagestart.com