Utilizing all 8GB of physical memory

arpharazon · 03-10-2008, 12:36 AM

When I built my computer, I installed 4 - 2GB sticks of memory. I didn't realize at the time that my choice of OS, WinXP (SP2), would only recognize 4GB.
Motherboard/BIOS recognizes all 8GB, and System Information shows "Total Physical Memory" as 8,192.00MB, but "Available Physical Memory" as 2.66GB, so somehow this part of Windows is seeing all 8GB, but I don't think I can be using almost 5.5GB, so the "available" 2.66GB must be what's left from the System Properties recognized 4GB. Though there is a LOT of crap running per Task Manager.
The question is, even if XP won't ever see/use 8GB, how can I force hardware and software to use the "unrecognized by XP" physical memory. I've got a ton of space on 2 - 500GB hard drives, but I'd rather use P/M and avoid Virtual Memory/caching.

Thanks.

Kesava · 03-10-2008, 12:47 AM

on a 32-bit OS, it can only recognice a certain amount of memory. to use the full 8 gb you will need to buy xp pro 64-bit.

PC eye · 03-10-2008, 01:08 AM

Forget XP Pro 64! Even eith Vista's 64bit Ultimate edition the full 8gb won't be available due to limitattions imposed by the current chipsets on boards. You may see roughly 7gb for the total.

The max that Vista's 64bit editions can realize is 8gb. For XP 2-3gb tops is all anyone will need unless working with CAD development softwares or something like software design with intense graphics. For the rest that is simply overkill there.

arpharazon · 03-10-2008, 02:27 AM

Overkill is my middle name, especially with this machine. Another OS is out of the question, with as much crap as is installed on this machine now, I don't want to start over that badly.
I had seen some reference to various hardware and the memory address they access. Not sure how to get to that point, though.
The motherboard is definitely not where the limitations are. It's rated for 8GB max.

[-0MEGA-] · 03-10-2008, 03:08 AM

As the others have said, the 2.66GB is all the RAM that can be utilized by your system currently, so all the other memory is being wasted. You would need to upgrade to a 64 bit OS.

PC eye · 03-10-2008, 04:02 AM

The facts on the boards now seeing 8gb or 16gb for max over the older models seeing 4gb for the max is simply put the newer boards are still using the 4gb max design as far as the chipsets are concerned. Even while the 64bit editions of Vista support upto 8gb you have two things already working against you there namely the limitations seen with the 32bit kernel and the drawback of the current chipsets.

Some do report seeing some 3.2gb available ram with 4gb of memory installed. But you are still dealing with the 4gb barrier for the most part. Microsoft even has their own page seen on this for Vista the newer version seeing drawbacks with 4gb not 8gb being installed. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605

Still have doubts? Ask Dan! http://www.dansdata.com/askdan00015.htm

just a noob · 03-10-2008, 09:39 PM

you need a 64 bit os for all the ram to be utilized, the most a 32 bit os is like 3.25gb or so im told, but if you get windows vista ultimate 64 bit you can utilize 128gb of ram lol

PC eye · 03-11-2008, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by just a noob

you need a 64 bit os for all the ram to be utilized, the most a 32 bit os is like 3.25gb or so im told, but if you get windows vista ultimate 64 bit you can utilize 128gb of ram lol

The MS information on their 64bit edtition shows upto 8gb only supported on the Basic and 16gb on the Home Premium 64bit editions. The MS information goes as follows.

Memory specifications

All editions of Windows Vista 64-bit provide increased memory support beyond the standard 4 gigabytes (GB) available with 32-bit editions. Refer to the specific edition of Windows Vista 64-bit to determine maximum memory capacity.

Windows Vista Edition64-bit memory support

Home Basic
8 GB

Home Premium
16 GB

Ultimate
128+ GB

Business
128+ GB

Enterprise
128+ GB
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...ons/64bit.mspx

While all that is wonderful the praticality of even 4gb at this time lacks. The increased support seen with the Ultimate 64 edition is due to having networking features in that edition not seen in the Home Premium or Basic edtiions. For desktop use the chipsets still haven't cut through the 4gb barrier for those quite yet.

MrRandom · 03-11-2008, 02:02 AM

128 gigs of ram? how is that possible? imagine gaming on that :O

2048Megabytes · 03-11-2008, 02:10 AM

How much does it cost to upgrade from 32-bit Basic Vista to 64-bit Basic Vista? I heard someone said you can do it for $10. Is this true?

03-10-2008, 12:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
arpharazon New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	Utilizing all 8GB of physical memory When I built my computer, I installed 4 - 2GB sticks of memory. I didn't realize at the time that my choice of OS, WinXP (SP2), would only recognize 4GB. Motherboard/BIOS recognizes all 8GB, and System Information shows "Total Physical Memory" as 8,192.00MB, but "Available Physical Memory" as 2.66GB, so somehow this part of Windows is seeing all 8GB, but I don't think I can be using almost 5.5GB, so the "available" 2.66GB must be what's left from the System Properties recognized 4GB. Though there is a LOT of crap running per Task Manager. The question is, even if XP won't ever see/use 8GB, how can I force hardware and software to use the "unrecognized by XP" physical memory. I've got a ton of space on 2 - 500GB hard drives, but I'd rather use P/M and avoid Virtual Memory/caching. Thanks.

03-10-2008, 12:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
Kesava Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Age: 17 Posts: 2,993	on a 32-bit OS, it can only recognice a certain amount of memory. to use the full 8 gb you will need to buy xp pro 64-bit. __________________ formerly Kuzba Cpu:Intel Q6600 2.4Ghz @ 3.4Ghz Hsf:Zalman CNPS 9700 LED Ram:Generic 2 Gb 800 Mhz Gpu:XFX 8800 GT 512mb @ 700/1750/2000 Mobo:Gigabyte P31-DS3L Case:Centurion 532 3dmark06:13518 MSN=kesava8@hotmail.com

03-10-2008, 01:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,005	Forget XP Pro 64! Even eith Vista's 64bit Ultimate edition the full 8gb won't be available due to limitattions imposed by the current chipsets on boards. You may see roughly 7gb for the total. The max that Vista's 64bit editions can realize is 8gb. For XP 2-3gb tops is all anyone will need unless working with CAD development softwares or something like software design with intense graphics. For the rest that is simply overkill there. __________________ Youtube falls short of Google's expectations http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5336532 Congress studies how people track your online use http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5337932

03-10-2008, 03:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
[-0MEGA-] Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Concord, NH Age: 19 Posts: 26,413	As the others have said, the 2.66GB is all the RAM that can be utilized by your system currently, so all the other memory is being wasted. You would need to upgrade to a 64 bit OS. __________________ Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 3.83GHz Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L ATI HD 3870 GDDR4 @ (840/2332) 4GB (2x 2GB) DDR2-850 500GB SATAII HD w/16MB SilverStone 750W +12V@60A 3DMark06: 11593

03-10-2008, 04:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,005	The facts on the boards now seeing 8gb or 16gb for max over the older models seeing 4gb for the max is simply put the newer boards are still using the 4gb max design as far as the chipsets are concerned. Even while the 64bit editions of Vista support upto 8gb you have two things already working against you there namely the limitations seen with the 32bit kernel and the drawback of the current chipsets. Some do report seeing some 3.2gb available ram with 4gb of memory installed. But you are still dealing with the 4gb barrier for the most part. Microsoft even has their own page seen on this for Vista the newer version seeing drawbacks with 4gb not 8gb being installed. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605 Still have doubts? Ask Dan! http://www.dansdata.com/askdan00015.htm __________________ Youtube falls short of Google's expectations http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5336532 Congress studies how people track your online use http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5337932

03-10-2008, 02:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
arpharazon New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	Overkill is my middle name, especially with this machine. Another OS is out of the question, with as much crap as is installed on this machine now, I don't want to start over that badly. I had seen some reference to various hardware and the memory address they access. Not sure how to get to that point, though. The motherboard is definitely not where the limitations are. It's rated for 8GB max.

03-10-2008, 09:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
just a noob Diamond Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: cardboard mansion Posts: 1,017	you need a 64 bit os for all the ram to be utilized, the most a 32 bit os is like 3.25gb or so im told, but if you get windows vista ultimate 64 bit you can utilize 128gb of ram lol __________________ free crysis killer I got 300mhz celeron@450mhz 32mb of ram windows 98 ati rage 8mb card baby :P

03-11-2008, 02:02 AM	#9 (permalink)
MrRandom Silver Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: canada, eh?! Age: 16 Posts: 185	128 gigs of ram? how is that possible? imagine gaming on that :O __________________ Dell Inspiron 1501 -2 Gig RAM- -120 Gig Hard Drive- -AMD Turion 64X2- -1.8 GHz - -Windows Vista Home / UBUNTU - "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars" - Les Brown

03-11-2008, 02:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
2048Megabytes Platinum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mainland United States Posts: 810	How much does it cost to upgrade from 32-bit Basic Vista to 64-bit Basic Vista? I heard someone said you can do it for $10. Is this true? __________________ "Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder." -- George Washington Operating Systems: 32-bit Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Processor: AMD Athlon 4600+ Dual-Core (2.4 gigahertz) Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-M78SM-S2H Memory: 2 gigabytes of Super Talent PC2-6400 Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8200 Power Supply: OKIA-450ATX, 450 Watt

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
is my memory runing on dual channel ?	maroon1	Computer Memory and Hard Drives	11	05-21-2006 07:20 PM
Finally ready!	MrBucket	Video Cards and Monitors	29	04-26-2006 01:41 PM
8gb of memory	fade2green514	Computer Memory and Hard Drives	13	04-06-2006 01:41 AM
please help	Skribe	Computer Memory and Hard Drives	8	10-27-2005 09:26 PM
memory overclocking guide pt 1	Rick G	CPUs and Overclocking	4	07-08-2004 02:46 AM