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- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
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I have been looking at a memory upgrade for a system from the current 1.5GB it has.
It is a DDR system that will eventually become a file/media/web server rather than all of that AND my PC.
If i could find the Ram cheap enough i was going to fill it out with 4 X 1Gb sticks but nowing about the 3Gb barrier decided to do some reading first,
I understand the 3GB barrier for 32 bit OS to the point that it is similar to the very old >640k limit where above this is used for hardware,
But is it just the address space that is used or will memory actually be used?
For example if my graphics card is 256mb and i have 3GB of ram installed the system uses 256mb worth of memory address space above 3GB to talk to the graphics card.
But if i install 4GB is any of the memory actually used or just not visible because the address space for it is in use by the system?
And if the system is actually using it is there any benefit over this to it not being there?
Basically is there anything to be gained by putting 4GB in a 32 bit OS system?
If not i might go with 2 X 1GB and 2 X 512mb instead as although i know it works without pairs or odd pairs a memory advisor tool has stated it should be installed in pairs, and the cost for new would be no differant than 3 X 1GB.
Hope that all makes sense,
Thanks
It is a DDR system that will eventually become a file/media/web server rather than all of that AND my PC.
If i could find the Ram cheap enough i was going to fill it out with 4 X 1Gb sticks but nowing about the 3Gb barrier decided to do some reading first,
I understand the 3GB barrier for 32 bit OS to the point that it is similar to the very old >640k limit where above this is used for hardware,
But is it just the address space that is used or will memory actually be used?
For example if my graphics card is 256mb and i have 3GB of ram installed the system uses 256mb worth of memory address space above 3GB to talk to the graphics card.
But if i install 4GB is any of the memory actually used or just not visible because the address space for it is in use by the system?
And if the system is actually using it is there any benefit over this to it not being there?
Basically is there anything to be gained by putting 4GB in a 32 bit OS system?
If not i might go with 2 X 1GB and 2 X 512mb instead as although i know it works without pairs or odd pairs a memory advisor tool has stated it should be installed in pairs, and the cost for new would be no differant than 3 X 1GB.
Hope that all makes sense,
Thanks
