amount of memory

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wasted

Hi

I'm researching on the purchase of a new computer. One I've seen advertised
comes with Vista Home Premium, and has 8GB of RAM. But I seem to recall
reading that Vista can't use more than 4GB. Is that right - if so, what
would be the gain from 8GB, if any?

Thanks
 
All 32-bit operating systems are limited to a 4gb memory map, of which
approximately .75gb is not available for Windows use due to memory mapping
for hardware devices. 64-bit operating systems can access more than 4gb of
memory. So yes, 8gb of memory would be wasted money if the operating system
is a 32-bit one.
 
All 32-bit operating systems are limited to a 4gb memory map, of which
approximately .75gb is not available for Windows use due to memory
mapping for hardware devices. 64-bit operating systems can access more
than 4gb of memory. So yes, 8gb of memory would be wasted money if the
operating system is a 32-bit one.
Click to expand...

Not quite true. 32 bit versions of Linux can access 64gb.
 
Hi

I'm researching on the purchase of a new computer. One I've seen advertised
comes with Vista Home Premium, and has 8GB of RAM. But I seem to recall
reading that Vista can't use more than 4GB. Is that right
Click to expand...


Not exactly.

First, it depends on whether you run 32-bit Vista, or whether you run
64-bit Vista (on a 64-bit processor).

If you have 64-bit Vista, it can easily use 8GB, and even more.
However, what applications do you run that could make use of so much
RAM? Despite the number of people who repeat that more RAM is better,
it's true only up to a point. And for most people who don't run
especially memory-hungry apps (such as video-editing or
photo-editing), that point is usually around 2GB. Most people, even
with 64-bit Windows, will see no difference in performance between 2GB
and 8GB.

With 32-bit Vista (which most people run), you are limited to a 4GB
address space. 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 not
available to the operating system and applications. The amount you can
use varies, depending on what hardware you have installed, but is
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 so, what
would be the gain from 8GB, if any?
Click to expand...


With 32-bit Vista, none at all. With 64-bit Vista, depending on what
apps you run, *probably* none.
 
Installed SP1.... System Information now reports full 4 gig mem. Before SP1
only reported 3.2 gig. Don't know if OS actually is using 4 gig.
 
No, it is not using the entire 4gb of memory. But since so many people were
mad about the old "3.06gb" report (or thereabouts, the actual amount varied
from system to system) SP1 changed the report to show the entire installed
memory space even though it cannot be used.
 
Installed SP1.... System Information now reports full 4 gig mem. Before SP1
only reported 3.2 gig. Don't know if OS actually is using 4 gig.
Click to expand...


Nope it's the same 3.2GB that was used before. The only difference is
the way it's reported. Microsoft apparently thinks that this way is
less likely to confuse people, but I think that this way is simply
inaccurate.
 
This is one of the smarter things that Microsoft has done in terms of
human psychology.
Click to expand...


From a psychology standpoint, you might be right. But from an accuracy
standpoint, I completely disagree. They are misinforming people, and
in my view that's to be deplored.

They're usually clueless when it comes to making the
user "feel good" about a feature even if it means being a little
deceptive
Click to expand...



Feeling good at the expense of being deceptive is not acceptable to
me.

- the "release" of Vista's SP1 being a prime example.

If users want to see the entire 4gb of memory listed, memory that
they've paid good money for, then let them see it! Ignorance is bliss.
Click to expand...


We clearly disagree.

Besides, most users probably wouldn't notice the difference between 3gb
and 4gb anyway.
Click to expand...


Except on that. I agree completely there.
 
Would you mind telling what system that is?


Hi

I'm researching on the purchase of a new computer. One I've seen advertised
comes with Vista Home Premium, and has 8GB of RAM. But I seem to recall
reading that Vista can't use more than 4GB. Is that right - if so, what
would be the gain from 8GB, if any?

Thanks
 
Val said:
Would you mind telling what system that is?


Hi

I'm researching on the purchase of a new computer. One I've seen
advertised
comes with Vista Home Premium, and has 8GB of RAM. But I seem to recall
reading that Vista can't use more than 4GB. Is that right - if so, what
would be the gain from 8GB, if any?

Thanks
Click to expand...
www.cube247.co.uk - it's the Pegasus ST12 model
 
Ken Blake said:
Not exactly.

First, it depends on whether you run 32-bit Vista, or whether you run
64-bit Vista (on a 64-bit processor).

If you have 64-bit Vista, it can easily use 8GB, and even more.
However, what applications do you run that could make use of so much
RAM? Despite the number of people who repeat that more RAM is better,
it's true only up to a point. And for most people who don't run
especially memory-hungry apps (such as video-editing or
photo-editing), that point is usually around 2GB. Most people, even
with 64-bit Windows, will see no difference in performance between 2GB
and 8GB.

With 32-bit Vista (which most people run), you are limited to a 4GB
address space. 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 not
available to the operating system and applications. The amount you can
use varies, depending on what hardware you have installed, but is
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.




With 32-bit Vista, none at all. With 64-bit Vista, depending on what
apps you run, *probably* none.
Click to expand...
Sorry Ken, I think I might have clicked wrongly and replied via email - but
again, thanks for the reply. As I said, the system I am looking at comes
with Vista Home Premium, so I presume that is 32 bit. I will ask them why
they they have put 8GB into it.
 
Sorry Ken, I think I might have clicked wrongly and replied via email
Click to expand...


If you did, I didn't get it. I don't use a real return address in the
newsgroups.

- but
again, thanks for the reply.
Click to expand...


You're welcome. Glad to help.

As I said, the system I am looking at comes
with Vista Home Premium, so I presume that is 32 bit.
Click to expand...



Not necessarily. There is a 64-bit version of Home Premium.

I will ask them why
they they have put 8GB into it.
Click to expand...


And find out whether they give you 32-bit or 64-bit Vista.
 
Looks like 4GB is standard memory, 8GB is an option.

Presumably, one that only makes sense if you also upgrade to a 64bit version
of Windows (or other OS)




Val said:
Would you mind telling what system that is?


Hi

I'm researching on the purchase of a new computer. One I've seen
advertised
comes with Vista Home Premium, and has 8GB of RAM. But I seem to recall
reading that Vista can't use more than 4GB. Is that right - if so, what
would be the gain from 8GB, if any?

Thanks
Click to expand...
www.cube247.co.uk - it's the Pegasus ST12 model
 
wasted said:
Hi

I'm researching on the purchase of a new computer. One I've seen advertised
comes with Vista Home Premium, and has 8GB of RAM. But I seem to recall
reading that Vista can't use more than 4GB. Is that right - if so, what
would be the gain from 8GB, if any?
Click to expand...

32-bit Home Basic, like the other 32-bit Vista versions has a 32-bit
(4GB) address space. Some of that must be used to access video RAM,
the BIOS, etc (see http://members.cox.net/slatteryt/RAM.html), so you
will actually be able to use 3.2 to 3.5GB.

64-bit Home Basic can handle up to 8GB of RAM. Other 64-bit Vista
versions can go higher. Home Premium supports 16GB, and 64-bit
Business, Enterprise and Ultimate will handle 128GB.
 
I am running 64-bit Home premium.
64-bit Home Basic can handle up to 8GB of RAM. Other 64-bit Vista Not true
versions can go higher. Home Premium supports 16GB, and 64-bit Not True
Business, Enterprise and Ultimate will handle 128GB.
Click to expand...
Not True

I was running 4GB Dual Channel of memory. My machine would run, but not
very fast, and with failures. If I ran MCE all I would get is a green
screen.

I searched MS sites to troubleshoot nothing addressed the issue. I found on
the third party vendor site about the 3 GB limit on 64 bit machines.
Changed RAM to 3 GB and everyting works correctly and smoothly.

The Vista 64 Bit versions recognize the extra ram but if you look closer it
only uses 3 GB of the ram. Over this limit cause some glitch in the
algorytms, causing the problems. Why MS keeps telling us it can do this but
actually does not is beyond me.

I am a windows programmer and have always used MS products. With vista I am
getting so fed up, I am considering get an iMac (choke), for home so I don't
have constantly deal with compatibilty, memory and everyting else that vista
was supposed to fix.

Bryan
 
I install 4GB memory ram kingston 1066MHz and my motherboard reads
800MHz speed.
Why?
motherboard GA-P35-DS4 rev1.1(compatible with 1066MHz)
Click to expand...


The "speed" of RAM is actually not its speed, but its speed *rating*--the
speed it's been tested to run at without a problem. The speed it actually
runs at is determined by the motherboard and the BIOS settings.
 
Ken, could you explain this a little more? So memory limitations can be
the result of BIOS settings?
Click to expand...


Well, it's not really "memory limitations." A particular motherboard/BIOS is
designed/set to run memory a particular speed. You can install "faster"
memory, but it won't run any faster unless you change the setting (if there
is a faster setting available).

And if you install slower memory than what the motherboard is set for, you
will still run it at the motherboard setting, but you are pushing the memory
to a speed it's not rated to handle. That's risky and can cause failures.
 
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