Dual Processors and RAM

[Guest]

I am hoping that I can get a solid answer on this RAM question of mine. I
understand that 32-bit XP can only at BEST read 4 Gb of ram. However, if I
am understanding that correctly that is due to the physical limitations of a
32-bit processor 2^32. I also understand that a dualcore processor shares
resources and that dual processors do not. With that being stated it it then
possible for a dual processor machine running windows xp sp2 to use up to 8
Gb of RAM.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[John John]

I am hoping that I can get a solid answer on this RAM question of mine. I
understand that 32-bit XP can only at BEST read 4 Gb of ram. However, if I
am understanding that correctly that is due to the physical limitations of a
32-bit processor 2^32. I also understand that a dualcore processor shares
resources and that dual processors do not. With that being stated it it then
possible for a dual processor machine running windows xp sp2 to use up to 8
Gb of RAM.

No. Windows XP 32-bit cannot use more than 4GB RAM regardless of the
processors being used.

John

 

[Bob I]

No, the 32 bit operating systems only handle a 4 GB address space.

 

[Tim Slattery]

I am hoping that I can get a solid answer on this RAM question of mine. I
understand that 32-bit XP can only at BEST read 4 Gb of ram. However, if I
am understanding that correctly that is due to the physical limitations of a
32-bit processor 2^32. I also understand that a dualcore processor shares
resources and that dual processors do not. With that being stated it it then
possible for a dual processor machine running windows xp sp2 to use up to 8
Gb of RAM.

No. You're still limited to a 32-bit address space. I suppose it would
be possible for the hardware makers to arrange things so that each
processor had a separate 4GB of RAM, but then you couldn't share
things between the processors, you couldn't run multiple threads of
the same programs on different processors.

The only way to exceed 4GB is to use 64-bit hardware and software.

 

[Bob I]

No. You're still limited to a 32-bit address space. I suppose it would
be possible for the hardware makers to arrange things so that each
processor had a separate 4GB of RAM, but then you couldn't share
things between the processors, you couldn't run multiple threads of
the same programs on different processors.

The only way to exceed 4GB is to use 64-bit hardware and software.

Or have 2 32bit computers! ;-)

 

[Rock]

I am hoping that I can get a solid answer on this RAM question of mine. I
understand that 32-bit XP can only at BEST read 4 Gb of ram. However, if
I
am understanding that correctly that is due to the physical limitations of
a
32-bit processor 2^32. I also understand that a dualcore processor shares
resources and that dual processors do not. With that being stated it it
then
possible for a dual processor machine running windows xp sp2 to use up to
8
Gb of RAM.

As others have said, No. And x86 XP will not see all of the 4GB RAM if that
much is installed. Some will be used by hardware devices so what is seen in
XP is somewhere from about 2.7GB to 3.5GB or so, depending on the hardware.

http://members.cox.net/slatteryt/RAM.html