4 gig ram on win 32

Jabbs · 13 Oct 2009 at 12:54

I did a search but it never showed anything i was looking for, i am using Win 7 32 atm and have upgraded to 4 gig ram, now i know it won't show the full amount due to the limitations of 32 bit.

It says i have 3.25 gig ram, but i reading on some forums users saying that includes Graphics card memory and normal ram combined when gaming is this true ? i just thought i had 3.25 gig of memory to use and my normal 1gig of memory on my 5850 on top.

.Griff. · 13 Oct 2009 at 12:57

A 32 bit OS can only address 4gig of memory. That includes Ram, Vram (Graphics card memory), HD Cache etc..

It doesn't matter if you're gaming, working, watching "adult" movies or so on.

gsf600y · 13 Oct 2009 at 13:00

I'd have said you've got 3.25 GB that Windows can use, and your graphics card has an additional 1 GB.
Unless Windows can only address a total of 3.25GB at any one time, and that how graphics card RAM is used.
As you can tell, I dunno

EDIT: just seen previous reply - so with 3.25 reported in Windows, 250MB of his graphics card memory is "wasted"?

derkaderka · 13 Oct 2009 at 13:36

I dont think all of the gfx card memory is directly mapped into address space

Jabbs · 13 Oct 2009 at 13:55

So i guess its time to upgrade to 64 bit then to fully utilise it, thanks for the replies.

Pho · 13 Oct 2009 at 13:56

Unless you're using the RC, then if you can get hold of a 64 bit disc you can probably use your current license key with it. I think this is the case if it's a retail copy anyway.

Totality · 13 Oct 2009 at 15:09

I had the same thing when I had 32-bit Windows 7 installed. Showed the reserve memory to be taking up the rest. Installed Windows 7 64-bit and reports back 4gb fully useable.

I had a look at the time and people were stating that in Vista or older builds it states you have 4gb available on a 32-bit machine but you don't so Windows 7 is more "honest" or something? Either way, upgrade to 64-bit and you'll be sorted.

Jabbs · 16 Oct 2009 at 08:13

Is there anywhere you can still download the RC of 64bit seems you can no longer get it from microsoft.

bledd · 16 Oct 2009 at 10:43

windows 7 32bit should only be used on netbooks

jas72 · 16 Oct 2009 at 14:29

or really old pcs that don't have 64bit processors

mrk · 16 Oct 2009 at 16:04

jas72 said:
or really old pcs that don't have 64bit processors

They should be upgraded to 64bit processors!

marc2003 · 16 Oct 2009 at 16:07

mrk said:
They should be upgraded to 64bit processors!

what if the mobo doesn't support it? there are plenty of old pcs capable of running windows 7 without breaking a sweat. any old athlon xp/pentium 4 pc with 2gb ram will run it fine.

mrk · 16 Oct 2009 at 16:09

To hell with old pcs!

Aod · 16 Oct 2009 at 21:14

mrk said:
To hell with old pcs!

my old IBM T41 only has a 32-bit cpu (that's soldered to the motherboard). should i be forced to not run Windows 7 on it?

this is actually a moot argument - ATI decided not to release graphics drivers for it and lenovo are blaming ATI...

bledd · 16 Oct 2009 at 22:53

jas72 said:
or really old pcs that don't have 64bit processors

should be running xp

JessicaD · 19 Oct 2009 at 22:53

Jabbs,

To learn more about the differences to 32-bit vs. 64-bit architecture and which version within Windows 7 would best meet your needs, please go here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/64-bit-support.aspx?tabid=2&catid=1

Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Team