Memory

Willbo · 28 Sep 2007 at 11:06

Hey everyone, I've currently got a PC with 4GB ddr2 installed and running Windows Vista 64bit. Unfortuntely I'm not able to get my wi-fi to work in 64bit as there are no drivers available for it.
I'm thinking of going back to 32bit Vista, what size memory will be available to me? Is there any real need for 4gb at the moment? I use my PC mainly for gaming and will be getting Crysis etc in the next few months

Teaf · 28 Sep 2007 at 11:13

Willbo said:
What size memory will be available to me?

3GB to 3.5GB, sometimes depends on the motherboard a little but that is the range you are looking at

Is there any real need for 4gb at the moment?

4GB? No... 3GB? Yes.

Games have been shown and proven that they can use more than 2GB of RAM, but none I've seen use over 3GB therefore giving some room for Vista overheard and any shared graphics RAM, 3GB is ideal.

Willbo · 28 Sep 2007 at 11:15

so even if i was to keep the 4gb installed and downgrade to vista 32bit, the memory would be shown as 3 - 3.5gb and would be used ok, probably better than 4gb? thats promising to hear, i've had no real luck with 64bit drivers since installing this version of vista. do you think future service packs for vista will fully enable access to 4gb when needed?

mame · 28 Sep 2007 at 11:16

how about a dual-boot setup? you can switch back whenever you like then plus be able to play games on vista 64. Unless the game needs an internet connection that is.

Teaf · 28 Sep 2007 at 11:19

Willbo said:
so even if i was to keep the 4gb installed and downgrade to vista 32bit, the memory would be shown as 3 - 3.5gb and would be used ok, probably better than 4gb? thats promising to hear, i've had no real luck with 64bit drivers since installing this version of vista. do you think future service packs for vista will fully enable access to 4gb when needed?

Unfortunately it's a memory capacity limit with 32bit operating systems in general, 64Bit OS's allow you to see a lot higher. I recently went from Vista 64Bit to Vista 32Bit. I had 4GB on Vista 64Bit but switched to 2GB and sold 2 sticks. I've noticed little difference when gaming or using Windows in general... apart from the dial on the meter showing 40% RAM usage instead of 20%.

Admiral Huddy · 28 Sep 2007 at 11:27

I've heard from one of our techie chaps, not sure how true this is, but 32bit OS do use all 4GB of memory but it's not all shown. The upper memory is used for system services etc..