32bit CPU and 4gb memory

Emlyn_Dewar · 19 Mar 2008 at 15:37

If you were to team up 4gb of memory and a 32bit CPU would you see similar effects to using 4gb and a 32bit OS? As in, would the system boot fine but just not see all of the memory?

I was thinking about going for an upgrade whilst PC5300 So-Dimm is so extreme cheap. I am waiting on an upgrade for my CoreDuo which would allow me to use a 64bit OS and 4gb memory, however, I just wanted to know if the system would actually boot with a 32bit CPU and 4gb.

helmutcheese · 19 Mar 2008 at 15:45

It would be the same issue with 3-3.5GB avail, its mainly down to the OS.

Yeggstry · 19 Mar 2008 at 16:00

helmutcheese said:
It would be the same issue with 3-3.5GB avail, its mainly down to the OS.

This ^ and use the search next time.

simonnance · 19 Mar 2008 at 16:02

depends what else you have in the system, size of GFX memory ect.

AFAIK a 32Bit OS, which is all your 32bit CPU can run, is limited to 4GB of memory adress space, this INCLUDES all the added components you might have, so if you have a 512MB GFX, and a X-FI XtremeGamer with 64MB X-RAM that carves 576MB off that address space, likewise with other components. A 64Bit OS has much more mem address space, thus can have 4/8GB ram and quad crossfire 3870s ect without running out of space.

Least thats what i was told, people can correct me if i am wrong.

Emlyn_Dewar · 19 Mar 2008 at 16:11

Yeggstry said:
This ^ and use the search next time.

I know about the whole NO 4gb WITHOUT 64bit OS issue, this was not what I was meaning though.

All the problems I see here are people using 4gb memory on a 32bit OS with a 64bit CPU... I just wasn't sure if it was the same deal when I was using a 32bit CPU, I'm not remotely concerned about not seeing all the memory, I'm more concerned if the laptop would boot. (hope I'm making sense)

Just wanted to make sure my non 64bit CPU wouldn't go on fire or buckle and die at the sight of 4gb memory.
Could be a few more weeks before the Core2 arrives.

helmutcheese · 19 Mar 2008 at 19:56

I understood the OP, and thats the only reason I answered as Im sick to the back teeth of 4GB+32bit Dupe Threads.

steve258 · 19 Mar 2008 at 20:49

Yes it will work fine with 4Gb as long as the motherboard supports it.

mame · 19 Mar 2008 at 22:07

I can't think of a motherboard that takes a 32bit CPU and can take 4gig of RAM.

helmutcheese · 19 Mar 2008 at 23:23

Well I had NF2 so 3 Ram slots.

Emlyn_Dewar · 20 Mar 2008 at 11:22

Thanks for the help, I'll give it a go to see, worst comes to worst I'll wait until the Core2 arrives.

Jonnygrunge · 20 Mar 2008 at 11:35

Guys hopefully for the FINAL time!, this is why a 32-bit OS cannot utilize any more than 4GB . A computer or OS said to be 32-bit usually allows also 32-bit memory addresses; a byte-addressable 32-bit computer can address 2 to the power of 32 = 4,294,967,296 bytes of memory, or 4 GB. Since this is the largest size of RAM it can address, other hardware containing RAM reduces this further, eg. 768MB VGA reduces down to about 3.2GB and so on......

Emlyn_Dewar · 20 Mar 2008 at 11:40

I wasn't asking about the OS though and am not concerned with how much memory I see. I was only interested if the 32bit Yonah would boot, seems it will though.