4GB of memoray & 2x GTX 280 1GB`s in SLI - How much memory will XP Pro 32-bit see?

Sylver123 · 14 Nov 2008 at 21:05

4GB of memory & 2x GTX 280 1GB`s in SLI - How much memory will XP Pro 32-bit see?

Hello!

If I had 4GB of DDR2-3 system memory and also had 2x GTX 280 1GB`s in SLI mode in the same system, how much of my main system memory would my XP Pro 32-bit see and still be able to use out of the 4GB?

Thank you for responding.

Chimerical · 14 Nov 2008 at 21:14

With 2GB of GPU memory, the OS may only be able to see 2GB out of your 4GB of RAM.

Also, how do you have DDR2-3?

TheRedZealot · 14 Nov 2008 at 21:20

If I had 4GB of DDR2-3 system memory

If he had ddr2 or 3

Chimerical · 14 Nov 2008 at 21:22

TheRedZealot said:
If he had ddr2 or 3

Oh right yeah

Sylver123 · 14 Nov 2008 at 21:24

Chimerical said:
With 2GB of GPU memory, the OS may only be able to see 2GB out of your 4GB of RAM.

Well, i hope it won`t be any lesser than 2GB out of 4GB.

Chimerical said:
Also, how do you have DDR2-3?

Not at the moment but will have when building my new compete I7 system next year.

Sylver123 · 14 Nov 2008 at 21:48

Is there anyone here that uses, or has used XP Pro 32-bit with 4GB of main system memory and also running two 1GB Graphics Cards in SLI / CrossFireX in there system that can tell me if 32-bit Windows XP can see at least 2GB out of the main system memory?

Thank You!

Sylver123 · 14 Nov 2008 at 23:38

Just so that everyone knows, i`ll be using Vista as well for high end gaming, and so won`t need to worry about memory problems, but my main OS will still be XP Pro 32-bit for some time and will also be used for high end stuff, and as you know, it would be a waste of time using XP if it would see less than 2GB system memory with this kind spec. so does anyone have an answer to my question? :confused:

Thank you!

Amnesia · 14 Nov 2008 at 23:42

just make sure you buy the 64bit version of vista

ticklemebougy · 14 Nov 2008 at 23:47

You can also pickup a copy of XP proffesional 64Bit if you want to see all your RAM in XP.

fobose · 14 Nov 2008 at 23:51

Shouldn't "Sli" 1024MB cards use 1024MB in total, rather than 2048 combined? So he should see around 3GB (perhaps a bit under?).

Sylver123 · 14 Nov 2008 at 23:55

ticklemebougy said:
You can also pickup a copy of XP proffesional 64Bit if you want to see all your RAM in XP.

Thank you for responding but I already have a fully licensed XP Pro 32-bit and I don`t really want to purchase another WindowsXP as well as Vista.

fobose · 14 Nov 2008 at 23:57

I am pretty sure with Vista 32/64bit you can use the serial for either, so if you buy 32bit you can format using a 64bit DVD and your 32bit key will still work. Is XP the same? ;D

Werewolf · 15 Nov 2008 at 00:06

I suspect with 2x 1gb video cards Windows 32bit will see something under 2gb of main system ram, probably a few mb under it.

IIRC it's not just the video ram that eats into the allowance but various other bits (including any memory addresses used by things like sound and network cards).

Sylver123 · 15 Nov 2008 at 00:07

so a system with 4GB or more main system memory, combined with 2x 1GB Graphics Cards in SLI mode, will 32-bit version of Windows XP Pro with latest service pack SP3 will still be able to see and use at least 2GB of the main system memory, yes / no?

MeatLoaf · 15 Nov 2008 at 00:07

fobose said:
Shouldn't "Sli" 1024MB cards use 1024MB in total, rather than 2048 combined? So he should see around 3GB (perhaps a bit under?).

No when i tried XP on my machine it could only see around 2.5G out of 4Gb so it must have taken away 768Mb for each card.

meghatronic · 15 Nov 2008 at 00:14

Sylver123 said:
Just so that everyone knows, i`ll be using Vista as well for high end gaming, and so won`t need to worry about memory problems, but my main OS will still be XP Pro 32-bit for some time and will also be used for high end stuff, and as you know, it would be a waste of time using XP if it would see less than 2GB system memory with this kind spec. so does anyone have an answer to my question?

Thank you!

Why not just abandon XP?

Glaucus · 15 Nov 2008 at 00:14

Werewolf said:
I suspect with 2x 1gb video cards Windows 32bit will see something under 2gb of main system ram, probably a few mb under it.

IIRC it's not just the video ram that eats into the allowance but various other bits (including any memory addresses used by things like sound and network cards).

yep, it's everything so any memory anywhere in the system. Luckily these aren't large. But you will see under 2GB...

if you have vista why is your main system still going to be xp. that makes little sense. Unless you have some sort of old cad program that doesn't work on vista 64

Sylver123 · 15 Nov 2008 at 00:22

AcidHell2 said:
yep, it's everything so any memory anywhere in the system. Luckily these aren't large. But you will see under 2GB...

if you have vista why is your main system still going to be xp. that makes little sense. Unless you have some sort of old cad program that doesn't work on vista 64

I take it with just slightly under 2GB of system memory when using 32-bit version of Windows XP Pro will still be ok, and nothing to worry about?

Glaucus · 15 Nov 2008 at 00:23

Sylver123 said:
I take it with just slightly under 2GB of system memory when using 32-bit version of Windows XP Pro will still be ok, and nothing to worry about?

well it won't explode or anything. but why spend all that money on a system where half of it is wasted?

Sylver123 · 15 Nov 2008 at 00:31

AcidHell2 said:
well it won't explode or anything. but why spend all that money on a system where half of it is wasted?

It won`t be wasted as for really high end stuff, i`ll be using vista anyways, but there's no point im me Installing my XP as well in dual boot, when it may only see less than 2GB.