utilizing 4gb memory on 32bit OS

[voyagerfan99]

i guess so. There is also a copy of Vista that runs on 64 bit.

Ha. I wouldn't put Vista on this machine if you paid me!

 

[Cromewell]

cromewell when you say 32bit cpu do you mean 32bit OS or are you on about an actual 32bit processor?

Technically, the CPU. But if you are running a 32bit OS on a 64bit CPU then the CPU is limited to 32bit operation.

 

[tyttebøvs]

PAE has already been mentioned, so it might be confusing to say the CPU limits the address space to 4GB, when it is really a piece of code inside Windows that limits it

 

[WhiteFireDragon]

I'll try explaining this a different way (it will still say the same thing though).

A 32bit CPU can address 4GB of memory. To be able to use other devices (stuff integrated on the motherboard, add-in cards, video card, etc) some address have to be given to them.

Say your address range looks like this:
<-------------------------------------- Memory ------------------------------------>

Addresses are then taken from the high end of the range and given to devices. So then your address range looks like this:
<---------------------- Memory ---------------------| |----Devices----------------->

Any memory though would be given an address beyond the new limit, cannot be addressed.

Does that make more sense?

ah i sorta get it now. then based on what you're saying, there will be more space for memory and the system will see more if i take out my sound card or tv-tuner card on the PCI slots? will each memory stick run cooler if i keep all 4 sticks in there as opposed to taking one out?

 

[Cromewell]

PAE has already been mentioned, so it might be confusing to say the CPU limits the address space to 4GB, when it is really a piece of code inside Windows that limits it

True enough. I didn't want to complicate things by bringing PAE into the mix though.

there will be more space for memory and the system will see more if i take out my sound card or tv-tuner card on the PCI slots?

Yes. I'm not sure how much space those use, the big takers are usually video cards with lots of onboard memory (ie 512+MB cards).

Your RAM will run a bit cooler if you take one out but I don't think it's enough to worry about and I'd say you're better leaving all 4 in to keep dual channel.

 

[WhiteFireDragon]

Your RAM will run a bit cooler if you take one out but I don't think it's enough to worry about and I'd say you're better leaving all 4 in to keep dual channel.

then this implies both dual channels will be faster than one dual channel + 1 extra stick?

also, i thought having 4 sticks will share the load between the 4, so it will run cooler as opposed to 3 sticks taking all the load, which will heat up faster. right?

 

[Cromewell]

then this implies both dual channels will be faster than one dual channel + 1 extra stick?

Yes because then all your RAM will be dual channel as opposed to 1/2. Toms Hardware did a test that shows DDR2-800 doesn't really benefit from dual channel (they show a low single digit % penalty for single channel) but I don't usually put much stock in their tests. It is true that memory speed isn't as important now that a single stick of RAM can run at 800MHz DDR though.

also, i thought having 4 sticks will share the load between the 4, so it will run cooler as opposed to 3 sticks taking all the load, which will heat up faster. right?

RAM is powered the whole time, it doesn't really load like say a CPU would.