4gb ram

[jjmcray]

Before I say anything, I just want to tell you all that I'm not posting this here just to get bashed about how no one would ever need 4GB of RAM on their XP 32bit setup... Thanks...


Anyway, I just installed 4GB of RAM on my system, and yes, I did add the /PAE and /3GB to my boot.ini file already.

However, under my system properties, the RAM still shows up as 2.87 GB. Anyone know what the problem is?

[DrkZ90]

There'0s no problem, 32-bit OS's just can't use more than 3 GB of RAM anyway, and how much it sees depends on your motherboard and what's attached to it...

to take full advantage of 4GB of RAM, you'll need a good 64-bit OS... avoid 64-bit XP at all costs, it barely works... Windows Vista x64 is the only 64-bit Windows that works flawlessly, and it's what I'm using now /my PC has 4 GB of DDR2 RAM)

[Commander Thor]

There'0s no problem, 32-bit OS's just can't use more than 3 GB of RAM anyway, and how much it sees depends on your motherboard and what's attached to it...
OBJECTION!

A 32-bit OS /can/ indeed use/support up to 4 gigs of memory.
Now, this is all memory, RAM, VRAM, X-RAM (If equipped), ect.
So, if you have a video card that uses, say 1 gig of VRAM, and a sound card with 512 X-RAM, then the max supported would be 2.5 gigs of RAM.
Or whatever your config is.

to take full advantage of 4GB of RAM, you'll need a good 64-bit OS... avoid 64-bit XP at all costs, it barely works... Windows Vista x64 is the only 64-bit Windows that works flawlessly, and it's what I'm using now /my PC has 4 GB of DDR2 RAM)
64-bit XP with Server2003 SP3 works amazing (The SP3 for Server '03, and XP x64 is the same update, yet it doesn't show up on Windows Update).
Windows 7 x64 also works flawlessy, BTW.

But I will agree, grab a x64 OS to utalize all your memory.

[DrkZ90]

There's no way you'll have 0 MB of VRAM ever, even with an IGP, since you'll have to share from the main RAM... so, it's actually true that a 32-bit OS will NEVER use all 4 GB of RAM as main RAM...

I've used XP SP3 x64 a couple of times, and most 32-bit programs either have compatibility and performance issues, or don't work at all... something that doesn't happen on Windows Vista x64... I'm not counting Windows 7 since it's a Release Candidate, and it will expire in August anyway, so jjmcray is better of getting Vista x64 if he wants Windows now, or wait for 7 a couple of months...

PS: I know Win7 Beta and RC work almost as flawlessly as Vista SP2 x64, I have both on Dual-boot (Vista SP2 x64 and Win7 RC x64 at the moment), is just that there are still some stuff on the RC that needs to be finished before being a reliable OS...

[jjmcray]

Well, I've got a 512 MB video card, and pretty much everything else is on board, like sound, ethernet, modem etc... So shouldn't I be getting at LEAST 3 gigs? Not 2.87...?

[Mzor203]

Well, I've got a 512 MB video card, and pretty much everything else is on board, like sound, ethernet, modem etc... So shouldn't I be getting at LEAST 3 gigs? Not 2.87...?

A couple reasons for that could possibly be... specifications on different pieces of hardware aren't only exact. Like, my brothers have ipods that say '4gb hard-drive', but in reality, they only have about 3.75 gigs of space on them. So what you have may be lower than what was advertised.

Secondly, it's not ONLY windows XP that doesn't always utilize all of the memory. Sometimes your motherboard may only use a portion of it, for whatever reason.

In any case, I'm not sure what exactly you're doing to be using all of that memory on Windows XP, but whatever it is, it must be insane.

[Dagenadriel]

A couple reasons for that could possibly be... specifications on different pieces of hardware aren't only exact. Like, my brothers have ipods that say '4gb hard-drive', but in reality, they only have about 3.75 gigs of space on them. So what you have may be lower than what was advertised.

Secondly, it's not ONLY windows XP that doesn't always utilize all of the memory. Sometimes your motherboard may only use a portion of it, for whatever reason.

In any case, I'm not sure what exactly you're doing to be using all of that memory on Windows XP, but whatever it is, it must be insane.
Gaming could easily use up that, and even more.

[HelloWorld123456]

ì have 8GB ram on my AMD motherboard lofl and i barely exploit them xD

[Aηdy]

Windows 7 64-bit works perfectly with 4gb RAM.

[jjmcray]

Well I've got a 32 bit processor... can't really afford to get a new processor and mobo right now...

EDIT: Holy crap, nevermind, just read that my processor supports 64-bit operating systems... But they don't sell XP anymore, right...? And if I managed to get my hands on a copy of 64-bit XP, could I install it without losing my current files? I recently went through the daunting process of downgrading from Vista to XP, and I don't feel like reinstalling everything again...

[DrkZ90]

Don't get 64-bit XP UNLESS you really know what you are doing... 64-bit XP is actually Windows Server, they even use the same updates...

for gaming and everyday use, you MUST get Windows Vista x64 or Windows 7 if you have Windows... 64-bit XP has a couple of problems for everyday use and it's not worth using...

Right now, you can pre-order Windows 7 for $49.99 (I recommend getting the $99.99 Professional, since it has XP-mode to run old programs) on Circuitcity.com, or get Vista now, and then upgrade to 7 for just $9.99... you could get Windows 7 Ultimate that way...

EDIT: I read you have a Vista license, so you could painlessly upgrade from XP to Vista, and from Vista to 7 when it's released, you can preorder the $49.99 or $99.99 version without fear...

Only thing is, you CAN NOT upgrade from a 32-bit XP, to 64-bit Vista, or 32-bit Vista to 64-bit 7... you'll need to do a fresh install one way or another....

Last but not least, Windows Vista and Windows 7 licenses allow you to install either a 32-bit or 64-bit version of the OS, in the language you want as long as you have the disc... Windows XP's license doesn't allow that...