4gb memory on XP...

Kazatan

Kazatan

Kazatan

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I'm sorry for what i assume will be a repeat post, but I actually couldn't find a post that specifically answered my questions.

Im going to be using Windows XP Pro (32 bit) until Vista is properly supported, so for 6 months or so.

I have just bought 4gb ram, 2 lots of 2x1gb OCZ ram and the motherboard is an Asus P5B.

I know about the reasons windows has a 4gb limit on memory (being a 32bit OS) but if i go and stick the 4 sticks of ram in can i still run it in dual channel mode?
This would probably depend on the Mobo as well as the OS?
 
Just Run 2Gb for now. It will run in dual channel but there's not much point. 2Gb will run anything sweet as a nut in 32 bit XP.

Regards

AndyOcUK
OcUK Tech Dept. :cool:
 
arfur said:
stick the lot in, it should run in dual mode and you'll get 3.7Gb ish...
Click to expand...

Sadly, you can't really use more than 2Gb on Win XP because of the way the Memory is addressed. XP uses 2Gb of the kernel and 2Gb for the application, but it automatically allows 2Gb for each application so it sets up a virtual pagefile big enough to let you run more than 1 application and then swaps them in and out. One application could find itself running entirely from RAM, but 2 applications and it's back to the virtual pagefile on the HDD.

It is possible to fool the OS into using 1Gb for the kernel using a switch /3GB but that actually slows down the operating system as the kernel now has to be paged to and from disk.

Anyway, as has been said before - 2Gb is plenty until Vista 64 gets debugged. And you will need to use Vista 64 as Vista 32 still has the same memory limitations as XP 32-bit.
 
Are we then correct in assuming that anybody running 3dstudio max or photoshop will still be limited by the operating system (xp) and that 4 gig is a waste of time? I use these two apps and was contemplating more ram until it becomes beneficial to migrate to vista.
 
Chris Beard said:
Any 64-bit OS can utalise the RAM, windows is not the only option.
Click to expand...

Even XP X64 won't use the 4Gb because they just copied the memory managemnet routines unfortunately. And no, Windows isn't the only option, but it's the only realistic option for most users who want to play games etc.
 
well i dont really know what this means but in system information it says i have 4096mb ram, i assume this is it just being correct and i cant actually use all this ram?

i am running a lot of image editting and movie apps along with demanding games (not at the same time ofc) so i thought more ram = better!

anyways, i have this 4gig ram and ill be damned if im just going to not use some of it! :p :D

thanks for the replies though.

also on a different note, the bar stewards at microsoft had the cheek to tell me i'd invalidated there ToS by changing my motherboard and that i wasn't allowed to activate my windows!
took 10 minutes to get them to understand that i was entitled to validate and then another ten minutes as i couldnt understand the letters in the 12873612 digit long code they read back to you!
 
Kazatan said:
also on a different note, the bar stewards at microsoft had the cheek to tell me i'd invalidated there ToS by changing my motherboard and that i wasn't allowed to activate my windows!
took 10 minutes to get them to understand that i was entitled to validate and then another ten minutes as i couldnt understand the letters in the 12873612 digit long code they read back to you!
Click to expand...

Was it an OEM copy of XP? And was it an identical motherboard?
 
AndyOcUK said:
Just Run 2Gb for now. It will run in dual channel but there's not much point. 2Gb will run anything sweet as a nut in 32 bit XP.

Regards

AndyOcUK
OcUK Tech Dept. :cool:
Click to expand...

2 gig is sweet as a nut, 3 seems to be even sweeter in practice - its noticeable. That just my own observation and feeling having tried it out.

To answer the ops question, yes, even though you can only see only 3GB, it's still in dual channel. Load up CPU identifier to verify.
 
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