Utilizing all 8GB of physical memory

A

arpharazon

New Member
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
just a noob said:
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
Click to expand...

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.
dt_hdr_top_left.gif
Windows Vista Edition64-bit memory support
dt_hdr_top_right.gif
blank.gif


blank.gif
Home Basic
8 GB
blank.gif
blank.gif
Home Premium
16 GB
blank.gif
blank.gif
Ultimate
128+ GB
blank.gif
blank.gif
Business
128+ GB
blank.gif
blank.gif
Enterprise
128+ GB
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/64bit.mspx
blank.gif
blank.gif


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.
 
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?
 
After seeing 2gb to start with you only see any real gain when running a CAD or other memory intensive program where then the additional memory will play a role. Games are designed to run on systems with far less then half of what you are running there. Now you see why it is simply put total overkill at this point even for a high end gaming build.
 
PC eye said:
For desktop use the chipsets still haven't cut through the 4gb barrier for those quite yet.
Click to expand...

Show me where you got that info.? I want to see a link of some proof, and not some site talking about older chipsets, and not your opinion! You said they havent cut it quite yet, Give me some proof that theres not any chipsets that can read over 4gbs like you said. Why your not going to is because theres not one, there all kind of chipsets that can read more than 4gbs. Theres chipsets that can read far more than 4gbs. The Motherboard chipset that I,m on now can read up to 16gbs. About all Gigabyte AM2 and AM2+ boards can read up to 8 or 16gbs. Alot a P35 and all the X38 can read up to 8gbs. I hate to blow your mind but I guess you missed that your (own) Asus motherboard can read up to 8gbs. I guess that kinda kills your little theory.

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1181&l1=3&l2=101&l3=308

4 x 240-pin DIMM, support max. 8GB DDR2 800/667/533 ECC and non-ECC, un-buffered memory

My board

4 DDR2 DIMM memory slots (supports up to 16GB memory)

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ProductID=2442
 
Kuzba said:
you wouldnt notice any difference between say 4 gig and 128 gig while gaming would you>
Click to expand...

A board that would see 128gb at this time if available wouldn't be found in a desktop but like a server station. You might actually see problems with too much memory installed with some games and programs as well as the version of Windows being run. Even with the 64bit edtitions of Vista just going to install a fresh copy of Windows often requires removing 2 out of 4gb of memory until Windows is up and running.
 
yeah i thought so.

on the topic of ram...

i was running vista home premium without any problems... with 2 gb 800mhz ram.

and i know it uses it all, but its not like once it uses it all it starts getting laggy, so if i had 3 gb would i notice and difference?
 
You might see a slight gain with the extra 1gb installed depending on whether that is a single 1gb dimm added to the A channel or a pair of 512s generally not recommended due to mismatching sizes of dimms.
 
ok yeah i was talking about 512's.

usually i would go 1 gb to match my other 2.

but my friend will sell his 2 xms2 512mb sticks for 30 bucks... i wont bother though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top