32bit - 64bit supporting memory issues.

Random_23 · 30 Oct 2007 at 12:47

I currently have 32bit and dont fancy getting the 64bit. I want to upgrade to 4gig memory so I have a couple of questions.

1 - Will 4gig run OK in a 32bit OS machine I know it will only see 3.25 but it will use the rest of unseen memory?

2- Will a Service pack ever change this ? ie let 32bit OS see 4gig or more?

3- How much will it be to upgrade from 32bit to 64bit?

wombraider · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:36

1. No
2. Seriously doubtfull ( 99.9% no )
3. How long is a piece of string ( depends on what O.S. u want to get - ie linux would be free )

stoofa · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:39

1. The OS will only "use" what it can address.
So no, it won't use all 4GB.
However 32bit Windows will happily run on a machine with 4GB.

2. The restriction is in the fact it is a 32bit OS - No service pack can possible fix this.
Upgrading to a 64bit OS is the only way around it.

3. As above - all depends what type and speed of memory you need.
DDR2-667Mhz will be nice and cheap, DDR333 not so I'm afraid.

Andeh · 30 Oct 2007 at 14:12

wombraider said:
1. No
2. Seriously doubtfull ( 99.9% no )
3. How long is a piece of string ( depends on what O.S. u want to get - ie linux would be free )

what he said

ray t · 2 Nov 2007 at 09:45

I have XP Pro X64, running on a P5B Delux board and a E6600 cpu. However, when I install my 4 x 1Gb ram, the computer only sees 2.5(ish)Gb. I also used the scanner on Crucials website, and that sees 4 x 512Mb sticks installed. But if I take 2 of the sticks out, the scanner sees 2 X 1Gb sticks.

Does anyone know why this is happening and if there is a fix for it?

Combat squirrel · 2 Nov 2007 at 09:48

enable large memory support in bios ? u defo running 64bit windows?

ray t · 2 Nov 2007 at 10:37

I hope so. That is what I bought. The box and disc say Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. Is this 64-bit?

gurusan · 2 Nov 2007 at 11:28

Make sure memory remapping is enabled int he bios

ray t · 2 Nov 2007 at 13:06

Not too sure what you mean by that mate

Cob · 2 Nov 2007 at 13:16

It's the very top option in the Northbridge Chipset Config menu (right above the memory timings).

Andeh · 2 Nov 2007 at 13:55

ray t said:
I hope so. That is what I bought. The box and disc say Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. Is this 64-bit?

yes, that is the 64bit edition of XP

matja · 2 Nov 2007 at 14:30

The OP didn't state the OS? 32 bit Windows 2003 and Linux can use up to 64GB

Fire Wizard · 2 Nov 2007 at 14:37

matja said:
The OP didn't state the OS? 32 bit Windows 2003 and Linux can use up to 64GB

Hey matja, that is true to a certain extent. The above only applies though with PAE (Physical Address Extension) support.

matja · 2 Nov 2007 at 16:32

Fire Wizard said:
Hey matja, that is true to a certain extent. The above only applies though with PAE (Physical Address Extension) support.

Which has been around over 10 years now, since the Pentium Pro