4GB and 32-bit Install
- Thread starter DJ Prem
- Start date
Neither.
The /3GB switch simply allows applications to allocate 3GB of user-mode memory, and only 1GB of kernel-mode memory. Normally, the balance is 50:50 at 2GB user-mode and 2GB kernel-mode. This is because this is the ideal balance in 32-bit Windows. The /3GB switch exists for certain edge cases, such as when running SQL Server on a 32-bit server.
/PAE mode is for supporting more than 4GB of physical memory on a 32-bit machine. It is only functional on certain Windows Server releases.
Basically, you need to upgrade to Windows 7 x64. There is no alternative.
Both the /3GB and /PAE switches can be considered temporary "hacks" of their era (when x64 processors didn't exist). That's why x64 releases of Windows no longer support these switches at all.
The /3GB switch simply allows applications to allocate 3GB of user-mode memory, and only 1GB of kernel-mode memory. Normally, the balance is 50:50 at 2GB user-mode and 2GB kernel-mode. This is because this is the ideal balance in 32-bit Windows. The /3GB switch exists for certain edge cases, such as when running SQL Server on a 32-bit server.
/PAE mode is for supporting more than 4GB of physical memory on a 32-bit machine. It is only functional on certain Windows Server releases.
Basically, you need to upgrade to Windows 7 x64. There is no alternative.
Both the /3GB and /PAE switches can be considered temporary "hacks" of their era (when x64 processors didn't exist). That's why x64 releases of Windows no longer support these switches at all.
Windows 7 has XP Mode (basically a 32-bit VM of XP Pro that is more neatly integrated with the host OS than a regular Virtual PC 2007 VM is).
/USERVA switch is unrelated.
There are no boot switches which will allow you to use the full 4GB of memory. The issue is that there is a 4GB virtual memory address space. So whilst the vast majority of this is mapped to your physical memory, unfortunately some of it must be mapped to other devices such as your graphics card.
A system like that in your signature should be running Windows 7 x64. Otherwise it is not going to ever reach its full potential.
/USERVA switch is unrelated.
There are no boot switches which will allow you to use the full 4GB of memory. The issue is that there is a 4GB virtual memory address space. So whilst the vast majority of this is mapped to your physical memory, unfortunately some of it must be mapped to other devices such as your graphics card.
A system like that in your signature should be running Windows 7 x64. Otherwise it is not going to ever reach its full potential.
Soldato
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Thanks of the lighting fast responses.
The only reason I'm not using 64-bit is some of my applications don't work in 64-bit at the present time
What about this switch is the the same thing /USERVA=3072. Sorry for the stupid questions.
what applications u running that dont work in 64 bit still??
You'll need to upgrade to a 64Bit operating system, Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit is highly recommended 
.
And this.
.And this.
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