Memory Upgrade

[Gary]

I want to upgrade the memory on my HP Compaq Pavilion 1220N to the max
possible. I ran a program called CRUCIAL-The Memory Experts and the results
said I could add a max 4GB of DDR2 memory if the Windows XP Home Edition,
ver 5.1 SP3 I am using is 32 bit. How can I tell if the Windows I am using
is the 32 bit version.

 

[Jose]

I want to upgrade the memory on my HP Compaq Pavilion 1220N to the max
possible.  I ran a program called CRUCIAL-The Memory Experts and the results
said I could add a max 4GB of DDR2 memory if the Windows XP Home Edition,
ver 5.1 SP3 I am using is 32 bit.  How can I tell if the Windows I am using
is the 32 bit version.

One way is to go to Start, Run, winmsd <enter>

Under System Summary for the Processor, you will see on or the other:

If it starts with x86: 32-bit
if it starts with ia64: 64-bit

Jose

 

[Craig Coope]

One way is to go to Start, Run, winmsd <enter>

Under System Summary for the Processor, you will see on or the other:

If it starts with x86: 32-bit
if it starts with ia64: 64-bit

Jose

Really?

I have a 64 bit processor but it's never been used as such as I only
have a 32 bit version of Windows...but it still says x86.....

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I want to upgrade the memory on my HP Compaq Pavilion 1220N to the max
possible.

Why? For most people, it's waste of money. How much you can make
effective use of depends on what apps you run. Running XP, very few
people will see any improvement at all by going that high.

I ran a program called CRUCIAL-The Memory Experts and the results
said I could add a max 4GB of DDR2 memory if the Windows XP Home Edition,

Very misleading. 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 to.

And finally, even that 3.1GB is way more than most people running XP
can make effective use of.

ver 5.1 SP3 I am using is 32 bit. How can I tell if the Windows I am using
is the 32 bit version.

Almost certainly you have the 32-bit version. Almost anybody who has
to ask is running the 32-bit version.

But if you want to check to be sure, enter WINVER at the Start | Run
line.

 

[John John - MVP]

Really?

I have a 64 bit processor but it's never been used as such as I only
have a 32 bit version of Windows...but it still says x86.....

If you install a 64-bit Windows version then it will show your processor
as a 64-bit type.

John

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I want to upgrade the memory on my HP Compaq Pavilion 1220N to the max
possible. I ran a program called CRUCIAL-The Memory Experts and the results
said I could add a max 4GB of DDR2 memory if the Windows XP Home Edition,
ver 5.1 SP3 I am using is 32 bit. How can I tell if the Windows I am using
is the 32 bit version.

There are no 64-bit versions of WinXP Home, WinXP TabletPC, or
WinXP MCE.

If you have to ask, you're almost certainly running the 32-bit
version of WinXP Pro. I'm not trying to be facetious; I'm sure you'd
have noticed paying several thousand dollars more for the Itanium or
Itanium II CPU required to run the original 64-bit version of WinXP Pro,
or whether or not you purchased a computer with an AMD Athlon64 or Intel
EM64T CPU. Also, because WinXPx64 is available only as an OEM license,
it doesn't come in a box.

Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Overview
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/overview.asp

To verify for yourself, Click Start > Run, type in "Winver" and
press <Enter>. If the resulting dialog box does not _explicitly_ state
that you have "Windows XP 64-Bit Edition" or "Windows XP Professional
x64 Edition," then you have a 32-bit OS.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Paul]

I want to upgrade the memory on my HP Compaq Pavilion 1220N to the max
possible. I ran a program called CRUCIAL-The Memory Experts and the results
said I could add a max 4GB of DDR2 memory if the Windows XP Home Edition,
ver 5.1 SP3 I am using is 32 bit. How can I tell if the Windows I am using
is the 32 bit version.

The maximum configuration appears to be 4 x 1GB PC2-3200 (DDR2) memory. Faster
memory can be used for slower applications, which is why Crucial is listing
a 1GB DDR2 PC2-5300 module for $16.99 . The motherboard controls the speed,
and will make the module run at the slower speed the Northbridge supports.

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Pavilion a1220n Series (DDR2)

http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator_new/modelsinfo.asp?SysID=25819

The motherboard has a Northbridge and Southbridge chip on it. The
Northbridge contains the memory controller and drives the dual
channel memory.

Some options for the 915GV are listed on PDF page 227 of the following document.
What is says, is you could in principle, use 2x2GB sticks to reach the 4GB
maximum. But if Crucial is happy with 1GB sticks, then use four of those instead.
The slots can hold 8GB of memory, but because the interface on the Northbridge
only has 32 address bits, the processor can only address 4GB. And that is why,
there is no point stuffing 8GB of memory into the motherboard. It would sit
there quite comfortably, but the processor couldn't access half of it.

http://download.intel.com/design/chipsets/datashts/30146705.pdf

Your motherboard is shown here. PTGD-LA (Goldfish3). You'd remove
the existing memory, and put it in an antistatic bag, in case
of future problems. It helps to have spare memory around, if you
ever detect problems with the new memory.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...duct=471588&lc=en&cc=us&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

(from http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...5641&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN)

When you install new memory, it helps to test it first with
memtest86+ from memtest.org . Allow two full "passes" of testing,
before booting into Windows with the new RAM. If any errors
are uncovered, I would not boot into Windows until those errors
are resolved. The memtest86+ program is available to load onto
a floppy diskette, and there is also an ISO9660 file which you'd
use in Nero to prepare a bootable CD.

A second test, is carried out once you get back into Windows.
You can use the Prime95 "Stress Test" as a sensitive test
that the new memory is healthy. I test for at least four hours.
No detected errors are acceptable for this test. Use the default
"blended" test, which uses big chunks and small chunks of memory.
At some point in its execution, it should be using the majority
of your new RAM. it is a more sensitive test of error free operation,
than memtest86+. But I still do both tests anyway.

http://majorgeeks.com/Prime95_d4363.html

It doesn't matter whether your OS is 32 or 64 bits. As far
as I know, the chipset has no memory remapping function. You're
likely to see it report 3.1GB of free memory, whether a 32 bit or
64 bit OS is used. The thing is, the FSB interface on the Northbridge,
has only 32 address bits. So there is no way to shoehorn more
address space into that hardware. Thus, a 32 bit and a 64 bit
OS will face the same limitations of 4GB address space.

You'll be paying 4 * $17 or $68, for 4GB of memory, and then getting
to use 3.1GB or so of memory. Historically speaking, that is still
a great deal (a steal), compared to the prices we used to pay for memory.
Ever since the memory companies started making memory chips on
one foot diameter wafers, we've been awash in cheap memory.

Good luck,
Paul

 

[Gerry]

Ken

winver does not say here whether it is 32 bit or 64 bit. Neither does it
say in System Information as another suggested.

I do know mine is 32 bit.


--


Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Jose]

Really?

I have a 64 bit processor but it's never been used as such as I only
have a 32 bit version of Windows...but it still says x86.....

Really.

If you see x86 on yours, this means you are running a 32 bit version
of Windows XP, so if that is your intent, you are good.

It doesn't tell you if your processor is 32 or 64 but and that was not
the question.

Do you want to know how to figure that out?

You can run 32 bit XP on a 32 or 64 bit processor, but can't run 64
bit XP on a 32 bit processor. Makes sense.

I don't see a way to tell in winver, but maybe I'm missing it.

Here is how MS says to tell if your XP version is 32 or 64 bit:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218

Jose

 

[Craig Coope]

Really.

If you see x86 on yours, this means you are running a 32 bit version
of Windows XP, so if that is your intent, you are good.

It doesn't tell you if your processor is 32 or 64 but and that was not
the question.

Do you want to know how to figure that out?

You can run 32 bit XP on a 32 or 64 bit processor, but can't run 64
bit XP on a 32 bit processor. Makes sense.

I don't see a way to tell in winver, but maybe I'm missing it.

Here is how MS says to tell if your XP version is 32 or 64 bit:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218

Jose

It's my fault. I thought the OP had asked to know if his PC was 64 or
32 and not his version of Windows.

 

[Gerry]

Jose

Bruce Chamber's contribution in another part of this thread is
informative.


--


Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gary]

thanks for all your responses and help. figured out I do have the 32 bit
ver.

 

[Jose]

Jose

Bruce Chamber's contribution in another part of this thread is
informative.

--

Gerry
 ~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got it, thanks.

Jose

 

[Jose]

Jose

Bruce Chamber's contribution in another part of this thread is
informative.

--

Gerry
 ~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay - I read it now. Yesterday I did not have time.

It is informative and borderline amusing. I will do the pricing some
later just for fun.

I have not been here that long and don't recall that question before,
but now know a more effective way to answer it in a single message
instead of 10.

Jose