Vista ram capacity

[RScotti]

Hi,
There was a web page that showed the total amount of ram that you can use and I believe x86 was 4 GB
and x64 was (128 GB for Ultimate)
HP is saying that the max for Vista x86 is 3 GB. I know they are wrong but can't find that web site anymore.
Can someone please give me something so I can confirm this to HP?


Here's what they told me:

I would like to inform you that Windows vista X86 will support up to
3GB. If you install a 4GB RAM then you might have compatibility issues
like system freezees, startup issues. I regret that as if now there are
no updates or patches released by HP or microsoft to support for 4GB.
However, if once realesed then you will be receiving an update regarding
the upgrade information. These memory modules have a One-year limited
warranty.

Have a good day,
RScotti

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[canixs]

Some system BIOS is only recognizing 2 gig or 3 gig, it still depending on
your bios at some degree.

 

[RScotti]

Yes I know that but I want the total ram that Vista Ultimate x86 can handle. I know there was a web site but can't find
it anymore.
There are saying it's Vista that is restricting the ram NOT their BIOS

Some system BIOS is only recognizing 2 gig or 3 gig, it still depending on
your bios at some degree.

Have a good day,
RScotti

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[Nasser Dassi]

RScotti,

The abilities of the BIOS are directly proportional to the motherboard.

As for Windows Vista, the x86 version supports up to 4GB of RAM if AWE is
available and configured; otherwise, it will only recognize up to 3GB if the
BIOS and OS are configured as such. Out of the box, however, the usable
allocation is only 2GB for Vista applications (separate from the OS, which
also has a 2GB default-config).

The HP rep was *not* wrong.

If you have 64-bit hardware and install the 64-bit software, then the
theoretical capacity is in the TB-level of memory (something like 16TB
theoretical maximum).

I HOPE THAT HELPS...

 

[RScotti]

Hi Nasser,
What is AWE? I don't know what it is so I don't know if I have it.

RScotti,

The abilities of the BIOS are directly proportional to the motherboard.

As for Windows Vista, the x86 version supports up to 4GB of RAM if AWE is
available and configured; otherwise, it will only recognize up to 3GB if the
BIOS and OS are configured as such. Out of the box, however, the usable
allocation is only 2GB for Vista applications (separate from the OS, which
also has a 2GB default-config).

The HP rep was *not* wrong.

If you have 64-bit hardware and install the 64-bit software, then the
theoretical capacity is in the TB-level of memory (something like 16TB
theoretical maximum).

I HOPE THAT HELPS...

Have a good day,
RScotti

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[Andyistic]

When the CPU is operating in 32-bit mode, it can only manage 4 GB of
physical memory, since that's the limit of 32 bits (0xFFFFFFFF)
Windows splits this in half: the lower 2 GB for apps, the upper 2 GB for the
system (kernel, devices, etc.)
There is an option to allow apps to use 3 GB and just 1 GB for the system.
You can't have all 4 GB for apps, because there would be none for the system
or devices.

With 64-bit mode, the CPU can handle 4 GB * 4 GB (a huge amount) of memory.
The actual limit for motherboards is a lot lower of course because of
electronic restrictions, and amount of power needed to supply all that
memory.
Even with 128 GB of installed memory, Vista and other versions of 64-bit
Windows will allow a lot more than 4 GB for apps, and still have some aside
for the system.
One of the main advantages to using 64-bit Windows is the virtual machine
manager - they can host several sub operating systems simultaneously - each
of them hogging up 4 GBs to themselves. You can't do that with a 32-bit
host!

-- Andy

 

[RScotti]

When the CPU is operating in 32-bit mode, it can only manage 4 GB of
physical memory, since that's the limit of 32 bits (0xFFFFFFFF)
Windows splits this in half: the lower 2 GB for apps, the upper 2 GB for the
system (kernel, devices, etc.)
There is an option to allow apps to use 3 GB and just 1 GB for the system.
You can't have all 4 GB for apps, because there would be none for the system
or devices.

With 64-bit mode, the CPU can handle 4 GB * 4 GB (a huge amount) of memory.
The actual limit for motherboards is a lot lower of course because of
electronic restrictions, and amount of power needed to supply all that
memory.
Even with 128 GB of installed memory, Vista and other versions of 64-bit
Windows will allow a lot more than 4 GB for apps, and still have some aside
for the system.
One of the main advantages to using 64-bit Windows is the virtual machine
manager - they can host several sub operating systems simultaneously - each
of them hogging up 4 GBs to themselves. You can't do that with a 32-bit
host!

-- Andy

So I guess I can only install 3 GB of memory right now? That's what I think HP is saying?
So because of that I will wait till HP fixes the BIOS or whatever to 4 GB. I can't see only using 3 GB since
"I can't trade in memory" it would be a waist to do 3 GB

Have a good day,
RScotti

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