XP32 2GB to 4GB Upgrade on a P965 Mobo

daveyg

daveyg

daveyg

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I've been looking through the threads and haven't quite found what I'm after, so sorry if this is very similar to many other posts.

I currently run XP32 on a Gigabyte GA-965P-DS4 rev 1, with a E6600 CPU and 2GB (2*1GB) Corsair Value Select PC4200 (533Mhz) (OCUK: MY-096-CS).

The FSB runs at 1066 with the CPU and RAM set to auto, no overclocking, etc. The RAM is detected at 533 and thus doubles to match the FSB and all is good.

I have a 7900GT 256MB Gfx card, although this will be upgraded to a 8800GTS 512mb when it turns up in the post.

Question 1:
I understand XP32 cannot address more than 4gb memory (including Gfx RAM, etc) so with my new Gfx card and 4*1gb RAM XP should see about 3.5gb of usable RAM.

Therefore if I buy another ram kit like my current one (MY-096-CS) is that what will happen, will XP make use of it and will I see any benefit in games?
(I've heard that XP can only commit 2gb to applications, but that then leaves 1.5gb for WinXp to run in - or have I missed the point?)

(sorry that's about 4 questions)

Question 2:
I have heard some people say the p965 chipset does not like 4*1gb of RAM (the mobo claims to support up to 8gb across the 4 slots).

Can anyone confirm or deny this, especially with this mobo, as it will completely scupper the upgrade anyway.

For info I game at 1650*1080, and typically play HL2, TF2, Bioshock, and will be play DiRT and Crysis when I get my new Gfx card. I'm not interested in overclocking and just want to plug everything, set it to auto and go.
 
daveyg said:
Question 1:
I understand XP32 cannot address more than 4gb memory (including Gfx RAM, etc) so with my new Gfx card and 4*1gb RAM XP should see about 3.5gb of usable RAM.
Click to expand...

32-bit Windows will only be able to address around the 3GB mark.

daveyg said:
Therefore if I buy another ram kit like my current one (MY-096-CS) is that what will happen
Click to expand...

As said above, you are not guaranteed to see a set amount of RAM in the Windows environment. However, it will be less than 4GB.

daveyg said:
will XP make use of it and will I see any benefit in games?
Click to expand...

You should see a slightly improvement when you're on the desktop but nothing spectacular, I would have thought anyway.

daveyg said:
(I've heard that XP can only commit 2gb to applications, but that then leaves 1.5gb for WinXp to run in - or have I missed the point?)
Click to expand...

The 2GB barrier is to do with virtual address space and not physical memory itself. In the Windows environment, each application gets its own 4GB virtual address space. This is then split into 2, 2GB dedicated to the Kernel (System) and the other 2GB for the user (Applications).

I believe that the only relevance this has to do with physical RAM is that it can never go beyond that of the applications virtual address space.

This is not to say that adding more than 2GB in your system is useless. It can be handy for the user if they are looking to run a number of copy's of the same application at once.

daveyg said:
Question 2:
I have heard some people say the p965 chipset does not like 4*1gb of RAM (the mobo claims to support up to 8gb across the 4 slots).

Can anyone confirm or deny this, especially with this mobo, as it will completely scupper the upgrade anyway.
Click to expand...

You can sometimes run into trouble trying to run 4 sticks of memory on certain chipset motherboards. However, I honestly can't see with your motherboard causing you any troubles. Now, you will probably have to up the North Bridge voltages a tad so it can handle 4 sticks but that would be perfectly normal. :)
 
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Well yes I could install a 64bit OS but I'm not quite ready for that step yet.

I'm happy to accept between 3-3.5gb RAM under XP32 its not a bad £35 upgrade, but my main concern now is if my P965-DS4 will take 4gb in 4 1gb sticks.

Talk of upping RAM voltage scares the life out of me and I don't want the expense of going to 2x2gb as I have a perfectly good pair of 2*1gb.

I guess I'm looking for a quick win, but don't want to waste my cash if my mobo/chipset is going to cry about it.
 
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Hey Hex, in my opinion, buying the GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit will be a bit of a waste since you will have to down clock them to match the speed of daveyg existing kit. :)
 
Sorry £35 quid was including the delivery, I will get exactly the same RAM as I already have, which is about £25 on OCUK (MY-096-CS), that has to be the best bet for compatability.
 
Thats the same board as I have and i have 4 x 1 gb

going from 2 - 4 gb seemed to improve (make faster) some things in xp slightly
 
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Yes I am considering this as well seeing as the geIL is so cheap.
Even if I don't get much of an improvement now I was thinking that as DDR3 gets better support that the DDR2 might increase in price & so would be more cost effective to get it now for an eventual future 64bit upgrade.

Do 4 x 1Gb geIL PC2-6400C4 800MHz Ultra run ok at their 4-4-4-12 timings & faster?
 
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