What's the max memory I can have in...

Ramodkk

Ramodkk

VIP Member
Hey guys, what is the most RAM windows can recognize and actually use in:

XP Pro 32-bit
XP Pro 64-bit
Vista 32-bit
Vista 64-bit

??????

Thanks for the info!! :D
 
XP and Vista 32bit is the same, basic 4gbs but less is seen because of hardware eating some up. XP 64 bit can see 128gbs. Vista 64 basic-8gbs. Vista 64 Premium-16gbs. Vista 64 Ultimate, Business and Enterprise is 128gbs+
 
WOW. When would you need 128gbs of ram? That would be crazy!
Guess they make it extra, extra, extra future proof, eh? :D (not really, I know...)
 
the maximum memory that a 32 bit processor can address is 2 to the power of 32 (4GB) , in theory 64bit processors can address up to 16 Exabytes (16 million terabytes) although its a long time before an OS will ever implement that kind of limit.
 
Ermm, no they cant, its simple maths really, 32 bit processors cannot address more than 4gb. Your motherboard may be capable of more, and you can physical have more than 4gb if you want, but if your on a 32bit cpu, no more than 4gb can ever be used.
 
just look at how much ram some of microsoft's 32-bit server oses can handle ...

If implemented, AMD64 could potentially address 4 exabytes of memory in a 32-bit environment
 
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Only some version of Microsoft Server (i.e 2008 and Datacenter) can use up to 64GB by using Physical Address Extension, however the CPU is never physically addressing more than 4GB. Plus only some applications can make use of this (SQL server for instance)
 
yes, the cpu is addressing more than 4 GB. All application can make use of it, with 2 or 3 GB going to each process. Only if an application needs more than this 2/3, must it be coded differently
 
It's okay, these discussions comes up every now and then :)

You need to differentiate between physical and virtual address space, and how the cpu translates from virtual to physical. Then you will understand
 
Ok well your clearly not here to argue which is good, so maybe youd like to explain why you think that a 32bit cpu can address and use more than 4GB.

from my understanding it cant be done, and only more than 4GB can be used via hardware hacks such as PAE.
 
One of the methods to do it, you have mentioned already yourself: PAE. your brianmadden link also touches this subject.

The virtual address space is always fixed at 4 GB, but the size of the physical address space depends on the translation method. And PAE allows the cpu to go beyond 4GB
 
Hmm ok, I always thought that the cpu was never really addressing the extra space and it was just a hack that allowed a bigger virtual memory pool. my apologies.
 
nyhk said:
It's okay, these discussions comes up every now and then :)

You need to differentiate between physical and virtual address space, and how the cpu translates from virtual to physical. Then you will understand
Click to expand...

Homenet said:
hehe sure thing, maybe you need to get your hands on a computer architecture book and have a read :)
Click to expand...

Guys, you are taking it far to serious! ;)

nyhk said:
and sometimes these discussions are a waste of time :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, let's be friends instead :)
 
I know many people likes to call it a "hack", but it is actually a bit more than that. On the physical side, it is as good as running a 64-bit OS. The downside is the limited virtual address space, which grows very large in the 64-bit edition
 
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