Total memory in XP pro sp3

[granjan]

My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
amounts of memory?

 

[granjan]

Okay...thanks for your reply. Seems really crazy to me but what do
I know.

: Because that is the way the motherboard was designed( the Windows
XP
: 32-bit part is immaterial). Why was it designed that why? You
would need
: to ask Dell.
:
: granjan wrote:
: > My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her
Dell
: > XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
: > computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32
bit
: > system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB
memory
: > for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support
different
: > amounts of memory?
: >
: >
:

 

[JS]

As Bob I said it's a motherboard design issue.
But I doubt even if it did support 4GB your friend
would see any improvements.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
amounts of memory?

None of it really matters - if you (or your friend) are not using the memory
you currently have - purchasing more memory will do nothing for you.

First off - Windows XP 32-bit only 'supports' up to 4GB - and it won't even
make all that available to you. You'll end up with between 2.75GB and 3.5GB
available for use.

Second - it is highly unlikely you (or your friend) are even coming close to
using 2GB of memory - much less 4GB. Memory is not going to speed up your
computer if you are not already using the maximum level now. Unless you
edit videos, render 3D graphics or do some heavy calculations - it is
unlikely you even use 1GB.

Anyway - www.crucial.com...

Dell XPS 600
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=XPS 600
8GB maximum - but would need a 64-bit OS to utilize more than 2.75-3.5GB
anyway - which, again - it is unlikely you are even using 1GB.

Dell Dimension 8400 (Media Center Edition)
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Dimension 8400 MCE (Media Center)
4GB maximum - but would need a 64-bit OS to utilize more than 2.75-3.5GB
anyway - which, again - it is unlikely you are even using 1GB.

You sure on that model number for your friend?

As for your direct question - don't overthink. You said they were different
models - there's your answer.

 

[Paul]

My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
amounts of memory?

The warning is repeated on the Crucial web site as well.

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=XPS 600

The limitation seems to be for real. (Max 2GB in WinXP 32 bit.)

http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/19262700.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=&s=gen

My guess is, this is related to the BIOS design. There are other
(retail) brands of motherboards, using the Nforce4 SLI Intel chipset,
which don't have that memory limitation. I don't think we can blame
Nvidia for this.

I checked around the Dell forums, and it doesn't look like anyone
has managed to defeat that limitation.

Paul

 

[Bob I]

What seems crazy? They can design around whatever memory type and amount
they believe will satisfy a price point. People buying computers
should review the specs if they are concerned about future upgrades.

 

[smlunatick]

My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
system.  My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit.  Why do they support different
amounts of memory?

Windows XP Home is limited to 2 GB of RAM (Microsoft's decision.)

Windows XP Professional is supposed to be limited to 4GB of RAM

Windows MCE is a "tweaked" verison of Windows XP Pro for enhanced
video playing and TV. Since it is based on XP Pro, it gets the XP Pro
limit.

However, all these different RAM sizes are "moot" since these are
based on 32 bit processor coding and at most your will get 3.25 to 3.5
GB of RAM. This is the extreme limit because of most 32 bit
processors are limited to this.

(Only the limited Windows XP Pro 64bit can start to use the 4GB of
RAM. However, support / drivers are very limited.)

 

[granjan]

Thanks to all of you for the good information. I guess that settles
that question...she has to stick with 2 GB.

My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her
Dell
XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
amounts of memory?

Windows XP Home is limited to 2 GB of RAM (Microsoft's decision.)

Windows XP Professional is supposed to be limited to 4GB of RAM

Windows MCE is a "tweaked" verison of Windows XP Pro for enhanced
video playing and TV. Since it is based on XP Pro, it gets the XP
Pro
limit.

However, all these different RAM sizes are "moot" since these are
based on 32 bit processor coding and at most your will get 3.25 to
3.5
GB of RAM. This is the extreme limit because of most 32 bit
processors are limited to this.

(Only the limited Windows XP Pro 64bit can start to use the 4GB of
RAM. However, support / drivers are very limited.)

 

[Bob I]

Windows XP Home is limited to 2 GB of RAM (Microsoft's decision.)

Windows XP Professional is supposed to be limited to 4GB of RAM

Windows MCE is a "tweaked" verison of Windows XP Pro for enhanced
video playing and TV. Since it is based on XP Pro, it gets the XP Pro
limit.

However, all these different RAM sizes are "moot" since these are
based on 32 bit processor coding and at most your will get 3.25 to 3.5
GB of RAM. This is the extreme limit because of most 32 bit
processors are limited to this.

(Only the limited Windows XP Pro 64bit can start to use the 4GB of
RAM. However, support / drivers are very limited.)

Citation for that 2 GB limit please?

Only Starter Edition has constraints
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778(VS.85).aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_xp

 

[SC Tom]

My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
amounts of memory?

Windows XP Home is limited to 2 GB of RAM (Microsoft's decision.)
===========

Incorrect. Home is not limited to 2GB.

===========

Windows XP Professional is supposed to be limited to 4GB of RAM

Windows MCE is a "tweaked" verison of Windows XP Pro for enhanced
video playing and TV. Since it is based on XP Pro, it gets the XP Pro
limit.

However, all these different RAM sizes are "moot" since these are
based on 32 bit processor coding and at most your will get 3.25 to 3.5
GB of RAM. This is the extreme limit because of most 32 bit
processors are limited to this.

(Only the limited Windows XP Pro 64bit can start to use the 4GB of
RAM. However, support / drivers are very limited.)

 

[Michael]

Windows XP Home is limited to 2 GB of RAM (Microsoft's decision.)

Says who?

See MS:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778(VS.85).aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_xp

 

[dennis]

This is the extreme limit because of most 32 bit
processors are limited to this.

It is wrong to blame the CPU. 4GB is an artificial limitation in XP.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

<want to see the entire conversation, not just this thread? click on the
link below>
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...p.hardware/browse_frm/thread/a7286a59e5978977
<want to see the entire conversation, not just this thread? click on the
link above>

My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
amounts of memory?

Windows XP Home is limited to 2 GB of RAM (Microsoft's decision.)

Windows XP Professional is supposed to be limited to 4GB of RAM

Windows MCE is a "tweaked" verison of Windows XP Pro for enhanced
video playing and TV. Since it is based on XP Pro, it gets the XP
Pro limit.

However, all these different RAM sizes are "moot" since these are
based on 32 bit processor coding and at most your will get 3.25 to
3.5 GB of RAM. This is the extreme limit because of most 32 bit
processors are limited to this.

(Only the limited Windows XP Pro 64bit can start to use the 4GB of
RAM. However, support / drivers are very limited.)

It is wrong to blame the CPU. 4GB is an artificial limitation in XP.

Some suggested reading:

for dennis:
http://www.geoffchappell.com/viewer.htm?doc=notes/windows/license/memory.htm

for smlunatick:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778(VS.85).aspx

general:
http://blogs.technet.com/markrussinovich/archive/2008/07/21/3092070.aspx
http://www.ofzenandcomputing.com/zanswers/1079

Enjoy.

 

[dennis]

Some suggested reading:

for dennis:
http://www.geoffchappell.com/viewer.htm?doc=notes/windows/license/memory.htm

Yes, I have seen that one before. Why?

 

[dennis]

Sorry, it's not artificial, its the 32 bit addressing. You have to
implement addressing extensions if you want a 32 bit system to address
more than 4 GB of memory addresses.

"addressing extensions" (PAE) is just another way of refer to memory
addresses in a 32bit OS. XP has always supported PAE - it just ignores
anything above 4G, hence it is an artificial limitation.

Prior to SP2, address space above 4G was also supported - until you had
4GB usable RAM.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

<want to see the entire conversation, not just this thread? click on the
link below>
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...p.hardware/browse_frm/thread/a7286a59e5978977
<want to see the entire conversation, not just this thread? click on the
link above>

My friend wants to install an additional 2 GB of memory in her Dell
XPS 600 which has 2 GB already installed. The manual for her
computer says it only supports 2 GB for Windows XP SP3 with 32 bit
system. My Dell Dimension 8400 manual says it supports 4 GB memory
for Windows XP MCE SP3 with 32 bit. Why do they support different
amounts of memory?

Windows XP Home is limited to 2 GB of RAM (Microsoft's decision.)

Windows XP Professional is supposed to be limited to 4GB of RAM

Windows MCE is a "tweaked" verison of Windows XP Pro for enhanced
video playing and TV. Since it is based on XP Pro, it gets the XP
Pro limit.

However, all these different RAM sizes are "moot" since these are
based on 32 bit processor coding and at most your will get 3.25 to
3.5 GB of RAM. This is the extreme limit because of most 32 bit
processors are limited to this.

(Only the limited Windows XP Pro 64bit can start to use the 4GB of
RAM. However, support / drivers are very limited.)

It is wrong to blame the CPU. 4GB is an artificial limitation in XP.

Some suggested reading:

for dennis:
http://www.geoffchappell.com/viewer.htm?doc=notes/windows/license/memory.htm

for smlunatick:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778(VS.85).aspx

general:
http://blogs.technet.com/markrussinovich/archive/2008/07/21/3092070.aspx
http://www.ofzenandcomputing.com/zanswers/1079

Enjoy.

Yes, I have seen that one before. Why?

Why what?

Why did I actually give people references instead of making a comment and
dashing off?
Why did I seemingly direct one link towards you that seemingly backed up
what you said?
Why did I do the opposite for smlunatick, showing them the error in their
2GB XP Home comment?

Why not? Better to have the information out there than not - and better to
actually share it instead of just indirectly reference it without any
further comment - IMO. ;-)

 

[Bob I]

It is wrong to blame the CPU. 4GB is an artificial limitation in XP.

Sorry, it's not artificial, its the 32 bit addressing. You have to
implement addressing extensions if you want a 32 bit system to address
more than 4 GB of memory addresses.