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    3.4GB vs 3.0GB

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by hitman047, Nov 19, 2007.

  1. hitman047

    hitman047 Notebook Guru

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    Howdy folks!

    I've been reading mixed results that windows XP Pro 32-bit recognizes only 3.0GB (instead of 3.4GB). Can someone confirm that?
    I totally understand why it doesn't show 4GB, but atleast 3.4GB is plausible (as opposed to just 3GB).
    Also, I've read reports that most programs in XP Pro can "see" no more than
    3GB :(

    If the real practical upper limit is 3.4GB, then i'd certainly buy 4GB ram; otherwise buying 3GB will save some money.

    Thanks in advance
     
    hitman047, Nov 19, 2007
    #1
  2. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    I believe XP Pro only recognizes 2.75 GB of memory.

    You wont notice any difference between 2 and 4gb of memory anyways, as the normal user will pretty much never need more than 1.5gb of memory.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Nov 19, 2007
    #2
  3. Apollo13

    Apollo13 100% 16:10 Screens

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    The figures I've read usually are 3.2 to 3.4 GB. I think 3 GB is often referred to simply because it's usually advisable to buy 3 GB max - most of the time you can't buy 3.5 GB or 3.25 GB.

    I believe by default programs in XP and Vista 32 are limited to 2 GB RAM, but there is a hotfix that ups this to 3 GB. You can't expect a program to be able to utilise 3.399 GB of 3.4, though - the OS and other programs do need some RAM!
     
    Apollo13, Nov 20, 2007
    #3
  4. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    Hi, the amount of RAM available for the OS depends on how much memory address space your hardware takes. The more it takes, the less RAM available for the OS. In my Sony laptop, I only have 3 out of 4 GB RAM available.

    The easiest way to find out how much RAM will be available for your system is to just plug in 4 GB RAM. But if you don't want to get into the hassle of returning your RAM, and you want to know for sure before purchasing your RAM, there is a way to find out but it takes a bit long to figure out.

    Click on the Start Menu -> Run... and type devmgmt.msc. Hit enter. Click on the View Menu -> Resources by Connection. Double click on the memory tree. Here you will see a list of memory map for your hardware. Calculate the total amount of memory address taken by the hardware. Subtract the number from 4GB, and you will get the number available for the OS. Please note that the number is in HEX so you have to know how to read hexadecimal number. Google for hexadecimal number conversion if you are not familiar with hex number.
     
    hendra, Nov 20, 2007
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  5. Macpod

    Macpod Connoisseur

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    actually, XP pro SP2 should recongnise 3.4 gb of ram without any hotfixes. I just installed 4 gb of ram and 3.4 shows up without any other action on my part.....

    This is on a desktop though. and i have 4x1gb stocks.
     
    Macpod, Nov 20, 2007
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  6. Jalf

    Jalf Comrade Santa

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    I think some of you are getting a few things mixed up.
    XP can recognize up to 4GB of RAM, of which *roughly* 3.4GB (depending on hardware and drivers configuration) will be visible to applications.

    Individual applications can use up to 2GB of virtual memory each.
     
    Jalf, Nov 20, 2007
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  7. NeRo45

    NeRo45 Notebook Evangelist

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    Is this XP 32-bit or 64-bit? From what I know you need a 64-bit OS to recognize 4gb RAM (or 3.4gb whichever it is)
     
    NeRo45, Nov 20, 2007
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  8. Jalf

    Jalf Comrade Santa

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    32-bit. And no, like any other 32-bit OS, it can handle 4GB of memory.
     
    Jalf, Nov 20, 2007
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  9. NeRo45

    NeRo45 Notebook Evangelist

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    Hmm I wonder why I was told to get Vista Business 64 with 4gb RAM
     
    NeRo45, Nov 21, 2007
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  10. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    Perhaps because the chipset or the BIOS for your system limit the memory address space to just 4GB.
     
    hendra, Nov 21, 2007
    #10