Vista32 and > 3 gig RAM

Can I use Vista 32 bit with 4 gigs RAM? Thought I remember something about
this.
I know with Vista 64 I can.
But...
I really like XP,,can I use 4 gig in XP?
I think maybe it's time to go to Vista..seems like Vista, and Win7 are using
the same driver model, XP dead?
Thanks

Dan

"Dan C." <dantc721@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Can I use Vista 32 bit with 4 gigs RAM?

> I really like XP,,can I use 4 gig in XP?

That's a frequently asked question.

> I think maybe it's time to go to Vista

Don't think, just don't.

> XP dead?

No, of course not. Otherwise, why would you really like it.


--
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to hell with Google.

Dan C. wrote:
> Can I use Vista 32 bit with 4 gigs RAM? Thought I remember something
> about this.
> I know with Vista 64 I can.
> But...
> I really like XP,,can I use 4 gig in XP?
> I think maybe it's time to go to Vista..seems like Vista, and Win7
> are using the same driver model, XP dead?
> Thanks
>
> Dan

Due to addressing restrictions, any 32 bit OS will only be able to
utilize ~ 3 GB of memory. You need a 64 bit OS (any 64 bit OS) to be
able to utilize more than the ~ 3 GB limit.

XP is a good, reliable OS. I don't have any personal experience with
Vista.

Thanks for the quick answers...
Think I will stay with XP for the near future, at least.

Thanks ....I will still install 4 gigs in my new build, If I understand, XP
will only see 3 gigs of it.
Am going to install 2-- 2 gig sticks...hopefully It'll work.

Dan.C.
"RobV" <robv@nowhere.invalid> wrote in message news:g60leq$lvu$1@aioe.org...
> Dan C. wrote:
>> Can I use Vista 32 bit with 4 gigs RAM? Thought I remember something
>> about this.
>> I know with Vista 64 I can.
>> But...
>> I really like XP,,can I use 4 gig in XP?
>> I think maybe it's time to go to Vista..seems like Vista, and Win7
>> are using the same driver model, XP dead?
>> Thanks
>>
>> Dan
>
> Due to addressing restrictions, any 32 bit OS will only be able to utilize
> ~ 3 GB of memory. You need a 64 bit OS (any 64 bit OS) to be able to
> utilize more than the ~ 3 GB limit.
>
> XP is a good, reliable OS. I don't have any personal experience with
> Vista.
>

In article <XJmdnRUDOdOhTR7VnZ2dnUVZ_jednZ2d@giganews.com>, Dan C.
says...
> Can I use Vista 32 bit with 4 gigs RAM? Thought I remember something about
> this.
> I know with Vista 64 I can.
> But...
> I really like XP,,can I use 4 gig in XP?
> I think maybe it's time to go to Vista..seems like Vista, and Win7 are using
> the same driver model, XP dead?
> Thanks
>
You can use 4GB but how much is usable depends on what memory
addressing requirements the hardware in the PC has. A 32 bit OS can
only address 4GB maximum and that includes the hardware so how much RAM
can be used depends on the reserved addresses of the hardware. For
example, a 512MB graphics card in the system is going to result in
256MB less usable system RAM than a 256MB graphics card in the same
system.

Everything from the realtime clock on the motherboard requires an
addressable memory address.

--
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
looking good either. - Scott Adams

"Dan C." <dantc721@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:fu-dnaDW-MfIRh7VnZ2dnUVZ_uWdnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Thanks for the quick answers...
> Think I will stay with XP for the near future, at least.
>
> Thanks ....I will still install 4 gigs in my new build, If I understand,
XP
> will only see 3 gigs of it.
> Am going to install 2-- 2 gig sticks...hopefully It'll work.
>


Ok, for the thousandth time (can this be added to a FAQ?) Vista maxes out,
performance wise, at exactly 1.5GB of RAM, according to Vista / Microsoft
programmers. (ref windows experience index...you can score maximum for RAM
with 1.5GB, but something less than maximum score with LESS than 1.5GB of
RAM)

Can you add more than 1.5GB of RAM to Vista? Of course. Will it improve
performance? NO, unless you are using a specific application that can use
more than 1.5GB of RAM. But, if you are running one of those applications,
you would know that you need more than 1.5GB of RAM, so you wouldn't be here
asking if you can install it.

Again, if you have 1.5GB of RAM in Vista, adding more RAM will not improve
performance.

Relating this to new hardware purchase: Start with 2GB of RAM. Yes, that
is more than 1.5GB of RAM, but I've never seen a stick of 1.5GB of RAM, nor
have I seen a stick of 768MB of RAM. And buying a 1GB stick plus a 512MEG
stick would be kind of silly.

But not as silly as installing 4GB of RAM for an OS that maxes out
performace at 1.5GB. Wasted money. -Dave

so for general office software its 1 GB for vista and 512mb for XP?


"Conor" <conor_turton@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:6ei4dlF76uafU1@mid.individual.net...
> In article <XJmdnRUDOdOhTR7VnZ2dnUVZ_jednZ2d@giganews.com>, Dan C.
> says...
>> Can I use Vista 32 bit with 4 gigs RAM? Thought I remember something
>> about
>> this.
>> I know with Vista 64 I can.
>> But...
>> I really like XP,,can I use 4 gig in XP?
>> I think maybe it's time to go to Vista..seems like Vista, and Win7 are
>> using
>> the same driver model, XP dead?
>> Thanks
>>
> You can use 4GB but how much is usable depends on what memory
> addressing requirements the hardware in the PC has. A 32 bit OS can
> only address 4GB maximum and that includes the hardware so how much RAM
> can be used depends on the reserved addresses of the hardware. For
> example, a 512MB graphics card in the system is going to result in
> 256MB less usable system RAM than a 256MB graphics card in the same
> system.
>
> Everything from the realtime clock on the motherboard requires an
> addressable memory address.
>
> --
> Conor
>
> I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
> looking good either. - Scott Adams

"~AlicGinnis~" <alik@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:YIOdnTmvM7gCnBnVnZ2dnUVZ_gednZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> so for general office software its 1 GB for vista and 512mb for XP?
>

Uhhhh....no. XP is slow with 512MB, and it's slow with 768MB. It's
tolerable with 1GB.

I'd suggest 1.5-2GB for either. -Dave

"Dave" <noway@nohow.not> wrote in message
news:g60o2l$l3q$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>
> "Dan C." <dantc721@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:fu-dnaDW-MfIRh7VnZ2dnUVZ_uWdnZ2d@giganews.com...
>> Thanks for the quick answers...
>> Think I will stay with XP for the near future, at least.
>>
>> Thanks ....I will still install 4 gigs in my new build, If I understand,
> XP
>> will only see 3 gigs of it.
>> Am going to install 2-- 2 gig sticks...hopefully It'll work.
>>
>
>
> Ok, for the thousandth time (can this be added to a FAQ?)

Is there a FAQ list for this group?

"TVeblen" <killtherobots@hal.net> wrote in message
news:a6Cdna_nW9Ze9hnVnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>
> "Dave" <noway@nohow.not> wrote in message
> news:g60o2l$l3q$1@registered.motzarella.org...
> >
> > "Dan C." <dantc721@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:fu-dnaDW-MfIRh7VnZ2dnUVZ_uWdnZ2d@giganews.com...
> >> Thanks for the quick answers...
> >> Think I will stay with XP for the near future, at least.
> >>
> >> Thanks ....I will still install 4 gigs in my new build, If I
understand,
> > XP
> >> will only see 3 gigs of it.
> >> Am going to install 2-- 2 gig sticks...hopefully It'll work.
> >>
> >
> >
> > Ok, for the thousandth time (can this be added to a FAQ?)
>
> Is there a FAQ list for this group?
>
>

There should be. I'll start one:

1) My computer locks up on me at random times, especially when I'm running
my favorite game, or starting Windows. It seems to be OK usually (for a
while anyway) when I reboot, so I'm wondering if maybe my memory or possibly
my motherboard or video card is bad. What should I do?
A: Replace your failing power supply with a good name-brand power supply.
If you're not sure what power supply to buy, post your mainboard's exact
model number here and the experts in this ng will gladly offer some
suggestions.

That should be the number one FAQ permanently on the top of the list. IMHO
It seems that at least 80% (maybe more) of homebuilt systems experience this
exact problem sometime before they outlive their usefulness, for the simple
reason that most builders give little or NO thought to picking out the RIGHT
power supply to begin with. GIGO -Dave