Using 4GB of RAM on 32 bit Win 10?

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Dimitri

Member
I have 4 GB or RAM and I'm running Win XP right now. XP only seems to recognize 3.25 of RAM and so I've been thinking now of going to Win 10, so that I can use the full 4 GB.

I've always thought that not seeing the full 4 GB was a XP thing, but now I'm reading an article that says its a 32 bit thing and that I'd need a 64 bit Windows (and I don't have a 64 bit processor) to use the full 4 GB.

Which is it?

Would going to 10 make things better memory wise, given the extra 750 MB of RAM I'd gain, or would it be canceled out by an OS that's a bigger resource hog?
 
Are you sure you dont have a 64-bit CPU? Which CPU you running?

If you do, just get 64-bit copy of Windows 10

But, yeah with a 32-bit CPU you are pretty much stuck with 4GB useable!
 
What do you have as far as specs?

Normal apps use more RAM in a 64 bit environment, with 4 GB you'd see about the same either way. It'd be worthwhile to upgrade from XP though.
 
Fellas, you misunderstood me. My question is this:

I have 4 GB RAM on a 32 bit processor, but XP only recognizes 3.25. I want to be able to use the full 4. Is windows seeing only 3.25 of my 4 GB because its XP and XP doesn't see beyond 3.25, or is it because its 32 bit and you can't have more than 3.25 on 32 bit.

In other words, if I keep my 32 bit processor and update from 32 bit win XP to 32 bit win 10, will win 10 see the whole 4 GB and be able to use it, or do I have to, if I want the whole 4 GB usable, go 64 bit.
 
We didn't misunderstand..

it's cause you have a 32-bit CPU.

Only way around it is to upgrade to 64-bit CPU and matching copy of Windows 10

You will have this limitation unless you upgrade! Even with a 64-bit O/S its likely you'll still only see what you see now, as I guessing your system is using a portion for other tasks like onboard graphics
 
I can't use the full 4 GB on a 32 bit OS???! Goddamn it!

750 MB for other tasks??? I've never heard of stuff like that before. So can I just disable the onboard graphics in the device manager, since I'm using an off board card? Would that free memory up?
 
Dimitri said:
I can't use the full 4 GB on a 32 bit OS???! Goddamn it!

750 MB for other tasks??? I've never heard of stuff like that before. So can I just disable the onboard graphics in the device manager, since I'm using an off board card? Would that free memory up?
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It probably won't make a difference, visually, and your not going to notice anything as far as performance goes.

Nowadays you want minimum 8GB...Ideally 16GB on a 64-bit platform.

Unless you upgrade CPU, and windows, 4GB is what it is essentially.

Is there any chance you may have a 64-bit capable CPU?? If that were the case and you didn't realize, then you can just upgrade windows to 64-bit, and grab a dirt cheap 8 or 16gb ram kit, then you'll have something tangible!
 
I wish it was 4 GB! I can't remember windows ever not showing me my full RAM, where the hell'd 750 MB go!? But anyway,

no I've got a 32 bit. These are my specs:

Athlon II X2 250 3 Ghz

3.25 GB RAM

ATI Radeon HD 4300/4500 Series
 
Yeah man,,,see that is a 64-bit capable CPU/.. just upgrade windows and grab a cheap ram kit

I'm gonna guess your ram is DDR2?
 
Dimitri said:
That's 64 bit??? So then if I install 64 bit Win 10 I'll get the whole 4?

No, its DDR3.
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Yup,. it's 64-bit capable!!!

I'd imagine since you have dedicated GPU that on 64-bit you would see the 4GB, however upgrade to 64-bit just to try to see a tiny extra chunk of RAM is a waste of money...I'd also upgrade the RAM to max out your board. What motherboard you got? You could go to 16GB potentially for like 60 bucks or so I'd wager
 
I don't know what the MB is, but I'm not looking to spend any money. I have a chance to update to 10 for free.

I don't game, the most memory intense thing I do is internet browsing with 100ish tabs, lots of watching videos online and stuff like that. So, I think the extra 750 MB of RAM would be a good bump given my activities, unless it would be nullified by the newer OS.

Would I get any better performance from going 32bit->64bit?
 
Dimitri said:
I don't know what the MB is, but I'm not looking to spend any money. I have a chance to update to 10 for free.

I don't game, the most memory intense thing I do is internet browsing with 100ish tabs, lots of watching videos online and stuff like that. So, I think the extra 750 MB of RAM would be a good bump given my activities, unless it would be nullified by the newer OS.

Would I get any better performance from going 32bit->64bit?
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If your not going to upgrade anything else, and given the usage you said you do..I wouldn't bother doing anything at all. How are you getting an upgrade to Windows 10 for FREE?

You will have zero noticeable difference, except your heart wont beat as fast if you visually see 4GB on your screen,.
 
Dimitri said:
with 100ish tabs
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You can't effectively use that many tabs, and are just wasting what little resources you have.

You can't migrate a 32 bit OS as an upgrade, 64 bit would have to be a fresh install.
Dimitri said:
Fellas, you misunderstood me.
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I'm pretty sure you misunderstood us :p

Applications utilize more RAM in a 64 bit environment, you'd effectively get a similar experience with an extra 750 MB on 64 bit as you would without the 750 MB on 32 bit.

It'd be worth throwing some more RAM into that system.
 
I'm still wondering how he is getting a FREE upgrade to windows 10 from XP... aside from the fact it wouldn't be an upgrade, it would need to be full install.

EDIT: Thanks @beers for helping with the big words like utilize and environment!!
 
Laquer Head said:
I'm still wondering how he is getting a FREE upgrade to windows 10 from XP... aside from the fact it wouldn't be an upgrade, it would need to be full install.
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Technically you can install 10 and not activate it ever. It's not all that crippled either.
Dimitri said:
750 MB for other tasks???
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It's used for addressing all your other stuff. Like video card, usb controller, hd controller, etc. Way back when they mapped the access of all that stuff to the top end of the address range.
 
Unless things have changed, you have 30 days to activate before you can no longer log in.
 
johnb35 said:
Unless things have changed, you have 30 days to activate before you can no longer log in.
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Is that recent? Last time I checked it there wasn't a lockout period anymore. Just a few things you can't directly do and the "Active Windows" watermark in the bottom right.
 
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